The Old Man and The Sea berkisah tentang Santiago, seorang nelayan tua yang berpengalaman. Namun di suatu waktu, ia melewatkan delapan puluh empat hari tanpa menangkap seekor ikan pun. Di masyarakat, ia kemudian disebut sebagai salao, yaitu bentuk terburuk dari ketidakberuntungan.
Santiago is an aging, experienced fisherman who has gone eighty-four days without catching a fish. He is now seen as "salao" (colloquial pronunciation of "salado", which means salty), the worst form of unlucky. Manolin, a young man whom Santiago has trained since childhood, has been forced by his parents to work on a luckier boat. Manolin remains dedicated to Santiago, visiting his shack each n…