A heated territorial dispute between Shawn Pomrenke and Chris McCully over alleged illegal mining escalated from a tense on-water confrontation into an explosive physical fight at the Nome harbor, leaving both crews shaken and the entire Bering Sea Gold community stunned by how quickly pressure and rivalry boiled over into chaos.

The normally quiet Nome harbor in Alaska turned into a battleground on the afternoon of June 18, 2025, after rising tensions between two Bering Sea Gold crews finally boiled over into a shocking physical confrontation.

What began as a heated dispute on the water earlier that morning escalated into a full-blown brawl on the docks, involving accusations of illegal mining, threats made with a pickup truck, and a long-brewing feud between two of the show’s most talked-about figures: Shawn “Mr.

Gold” Pomrenke and rival miner Chris McCully.

Witnesses at the harbor reported that the conflict began hours earlier during active dredging operations.

McCully’s crew had allegedly moved dangerously close to a section of seabed that Pomrenke claims as part of his established mining territory.

Although territorial lines on the Bering Sea can be a constant source of friction, this particular encroachment—if intentional—was seen by Pomrenke as a direct challenge.

Crew members described the initial exchange over radio as “tense enough to crack steel.”

According to a deckhand who overheard the argument, Pomrenke radioed sharply, “You know exactly where my line is—back off.

” McCully’s crew responded with an equally sharp retort: “If you want it, come enforce it.

” From that moment, the dispute spiraled.

The Pomrenke crew accused McCully’s operation of “claim jumping,” a term that carries heavy weight in Nome’s competitive mining scene.

McCully’s crew, on the other hand, accused Pomrenke of trying to intimidate newer dredgers into staying away from profitable ground.

By early afternoon, both crews had returned to the harbor, but rather than cooling down, tensions escalated rapidly.

Multiple eyewitnesses said the shouting began even before the vessels finished docking.

A bystander recalled hearing one of Pomrenke’s crew yell, “You’ve been snakes all season,” followed by McCully stepping onto the dock to confront him directly.

The situation worsened when Pomrenke himself arrived in his pickup truck.

Several people at the scene reported that he drove toward the group faster than necessary, braking hard only a few feet away from McCully’s crew.

Some described this as intimidation; others said Pomrenke was simply too angry to think clearly.

One harbor worker claimed, “I thought he was going to ram somebody.

He looked absolutely done.”

Tempers snapped after a crew member from McCully’s side allegedly mocked Pomrenke’s declining gold totals this season, saying, “Maybe you’d find more gold if you weren’t too busy whining.

” That comment, witnesses agree, was the breaking point.

Pomrenke rushed forward, and a physical fight erupted—pushing, swinging, shouting, and several attempts by both crews to separate the two main men.

For nearly 30 seconds, chaos reigned on the docks.

One of McCully’s divers attempted to restrain Pomrenke, while Pomrenke’s longtime partner Cody Moen was seen shouting at McCully, accusing him of “stealing hours of production” through illegal tactics earlier in the day.

The confrontation eventually ended after harbor staff intervened and demanded both crews vacate the area.

No arrests were made, but law enforcement confirmed they were called and later questioned several participants.

So far, no charges have been filed.

This explosive confrontation is only the latest chapter in a long, messy rivalry.

Over the past several seasons, McCully’s rise from newcomer to serious competitor has rubbed Pomrenke—once the undisputed king of Nome’s gold dredging scene—the wrong way.

Tensions worsened this year as shrinking profit margins and tighter competition increased pressure on every operation involved.

Off-camera sources say Pomrenke feels this season slipping away, and the incident at the harbor could cost him crucial time, resources, and possibly even legal penalties if the dispute continues.

Meanwhile, McCully’s crew insists they have done nothing wrong and that Pomrenke is “panicking because he’s losing ground.”

As of now, both sides are back at sea, but many in Nome believe this feud is far from over.

With the gold season short, dangerous, and fiercely competitive, every hour counts—and emotions often run hotter than the dredge engines themselves.

What happened at the harbor may be a sign of even bigger conflicts looming just beneath the surface of the Bering Sea.