Gloucester native Britton Shackelford has had the opportunity of a lifetime, appearing as one of the main characters on National Geographic Channel’s “Wicked Tuna North vs. South” television series.

Shackelford, who owns a charter business on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, said he was chosen out of more than 30 charter captains that regularly operate out of North Carolina’s waters.

Filming for the series, which bring fishermen from New England down the coast to compete against North Carolina fishermen, began in January, Shackelford said.

The premise of the show is based on the disappointing season fishermen in the north had and their hopes of salvaging their finances by fishing for the elusive bluefish tuna in unfamiliar North Carolina waters before the experienced locals beat them to the catch.

The program showcases the new battlefield for the northern captains and how they must conquer new styles of fishing, treacherous waters and some of the Outer Ba...