The old sea lion Santiago, after 84 days of bad luck without fishing, goes out to sea with the goal of catching a giant swordfish. A young apprentice, a daughter and a couple of Americans passing through the island and interested in the fisherman are waiting for him on the shore. After much effort, he manages to catch the fish he was looking for, but the current carries him out to sea. Hoping that the wind will carry him to shore, hungry and tired, he notices a group of sharks heading towards the boat and decides to fight them, establishing some strange connection with the fish he has caught.