One day, a young man unexpectedly shows up in the small town, and word quickly spreads that he has inherited a fishing boat and a small house from his uncle. Martin Poulsen is not a fisherman, but he decides to become one. He finds a good helper, Mikkel, who has been fishing for many years, and his nephew, Anders, who has his eye on Marie from Møllegården. One day, Martin meets the oldest girl on the farm, Anna, and quickly falls in love with her. This, along with his interest in fishing, becomes a thorn in the side of the small community's largest cutter owner, who has until now been regarded as a minor king.