After World War Two, Johnny Duval returns home to the bayous of Louisiana where he was a U.S. Coast Guard bar pilot.

However, after serving in the Coast Guard, Johnny is affected by stress from losing the destroyer escort under his command, blaming himself for the loss of the ship that was torpedoed.

In the meantime, Johnny is distracted from his bride to be, Toni Rousseau by the visit of a spoiled rich city girl Janet Hilton whose father P.T.

Hilton buys up land in the bayous and posts the areas for no hunting or fishing which results in devastating effects to the local culture.

Local hot head and Johnny's rival Mike Kalavich knocks down the Hilton's signs and goes poaching on their land.