Shows
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 64: Audience Choice of TopicsSend a textCold water doesn’t mean quiet water. We open the lines for a live, no-frills breakdown of early-season tactics that actually catch in back bays and coastal inlets, from snap-jigging for March stripers to building fluke bucktails that look right where it counts—viewed from below. I share the exact lure sizes, colors, and retrieves that keep bites coming when temps are stubborn, plus how to rig a simple teaser system to target weakfish and fluke on the same drift without retying. If you’ve been wondering how small to go, how fast to move...
2026-02-1759 minFat Dad Fishing ShowEP 63: Bucket List Fishing Trip To The Amazon with Erik CohenSend a textMost anglers wait for the “right time” to chase a dream trip—and then life moves the goalposts. We decided to flip that script, tracing a real path from a cold New Jersey winter to a seaplane touching down on a tea-colored Amazon tributary where peacock bass punch topwater baits like sledgehammers. This is a step-by-step, no-mystique breakdown of how to plan, book, and fish a bucket list adventure without getting burned.We dig into the decisions that matter: why a mobile, floating-cabin operation can beat a fixed lodge when water levels swing...
2026-02-1253 minFat Dad Fishing ShowEP 62: We Can’t Fish, So We Talk About It with Captains Josh and BenSend us a textWinter slammed the Mid-Atlantic, but we’re not wasting it. We trade the skunk for strategy with a practical guide to thriving off the water: how to rebuild reels the right way, why baitfeeder spinning reels shine for tog and sheepshead drops, and how to use YouTube without drowning in highlight reels. We chase the channels that actually teach, share a few lesser-known creators worth your time, and talk through the quiet habits that pay off big when the thaw hits.If you fish from a kayak, this is your tune-up. We...
2026-02-031h 06
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 61: Fishing for Anything, Everywhere with Justin LernerSend us a textWinter shut down the ramps, so we opened the map. We brought on traveling angler and musician Justin Lerner to chart a course from Florida inlets to Northeast canyons, with a hard left into South America where Golden Dorado blow up topwater like it owes them money. Justin grew up in New Jersey, lives on Florida’s east coast, and treats tactics like a universal language: fish the environment first, species second. That lens reframes snook as trout with palm trees, explains why reds and specks share the same points, and shows how a...
2026-01-271h 17Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 60: Bucktails That Consistently Catch FishSend us a textA bucktail can be the most forgiving lure in your box—or the most finely tuned instrument—depending on how you build and fish it. We sat down with Ed of Captain Hank’s Tackle to break Bucktails 101 into practical choices that catch more fish: the right head for your water, the right hook for your bite, and the right hair for your target.We start with head shapes and what they actually do underwater. Ball heads ride clean and keep the point up for back bay fluke. Minnow heads shift weight...
2026-01-201h 07
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 59: Recapping 2025 and Chasing 2026Send us a textThe mics may be scratchy and the coughs unavoidable, but the mission couldn’t be clearer: turn a growing fishing show into a real-world family. We kick off 2026 with an honest 2025 recap, a salute to the Osprey party boat trip that brought chat names to life, and a peek at the download surge that pushed the pod into the top 25% across 64 countries. Numbers aside, the heartbeat is community—connecting anglers, lifting small businesses, and making space for the kind of days you remember years later.We lay out a season shaped by i...
2026-01-1359 min
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 58: Mastering Trout in Cold Weather with Chris MatusonSend us a textCold winds, canceled boats, and cabin fever don’t have to end your season. We head upstream to chase winter trout in clear, moving water and break down a simple, reliable playbook: ultralight gear, two confidence lures, and the patience to fish slow and low. With Chris Matusin joining Rich, we dig into what holdover trout actually do when temperatures drop and why the best water isn’t the obvious stock truck pull-off, but the bends, seams, and plunge pools where oxygen and food collide.We get specific about setups that matt...
2025-12-231h 03
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 57: Night Bites, Secret Squirrels, & Tackle Truths with Stefanos (Sport Fishing Outlet)Send us a textThe best fishing conversations start with a simple truth: the right presentation beats the biggest hype. We sit down with Stefanos, the mind behind Sport Fishing Outlet, to unpack what actually works—from cold-river walleye to night-striper missions and land-based fluke that rival boat limits. If you’ve ever wondered why your wrist is moving but your lure isn’t, or how a tiny weight dot can turn a floater into a suspender that hangs in the strike zone, you’re in the right place.We start with why night fishing wins mor...
2025-12-161h 27Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 56: Annual Tog Trip Recap: Last-Drop Tautog Drama On The OspreySend us a textA sold-out party boat, a weird current, and a deck full of strangers who felt like old friends—this Osprey trip had a little bit of everything. We kick off with a starfish cameo and an early keeper that set the tone, then watch the day shift into a thoughtful grind as wind and swing made structure feel like a moving target. Between moves, we trade stories, compare notes, and soak in why the Osprey crew is so respected: JP’s quick decisions, mates who retie without ego, and a tone that keeps the...
2025-12-0945 min
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 55: From Kayaks To Head Boats, Your Questions AnsweredSend us a textCold water shrinks the feeding window, but it doesn’t close the door. We break down how to keep catching when the temps drop—reading birds and bait from the sand, shifting targets when the tog bite dies, and picking kayak hulls that actually match your water and body. George shares a cautionary tale about leaving a premium surf setup on the beach and the routine that got it back, then walks us through a pragmatic surf plan: work a defined stretch, watch party boats and birds, move with the bait, and downsize penc...
2025-12-021h 11
Miracles Cafe with Dakini WildLisa Natoli | Self Inquiry Meets A Course In MiraclesIf you have ever been intrigued by the teachings of Self Inquiry, then you are in for a treat with this captivating conversation featuring Lisa Natoli. In this deeply engaging and insightful dialogue, Lisa takes us on an enlightening journey through her experiences with A Course in Miracles and her profound exploration of Self Inquiry. The discussion is rich with authenticity and honesty, as Lisa shares her personal insights with a refreshing openness that is both beautiful and moving. Throughout our talk, she offers practical tips for incorporating Self Inquiry into daily life, whether you are grappling with physical...
2025-12-011h 24Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 54:Ten Saltwater Fishing Mistakes And How To Avoid ThemSend us a textBoats piled on a blitz, motors roaring, and someone floors it straight through the bunker. We’ve all watched the bite die in seconds. This week, we break down the most common saltwater mistakes and share the simple, high-impact fixes that turn chaos into confident results. Rich is joined by Scotty Sevins to dig into smart stealth around bait, how to plan by tide and wind, and why “following the fleet” is a shortcut to nowhere.We get practical about what actually moves the needle. You’ll hear how to approach pods wit...
2025-11-181h 07
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 53: Tackling Tautog with Frank Mihalic - Roasters to JumbosSend us a textCold water finally clicked the “on” switch, and we leaned all the way into it: a full tautog system that works from New Jersey reefs to Rhode Island boulder fields. We brought Frank Mahalik on to open the tackle bag and the playbook—how to lock your drag without popping fish, why a mono top shot turns a broomstick into a shock absorber, and the exact V-rig that puts a whole white crab in the strike zone without helicoptering in heavy current. If you’ve ever wondered whether weight spooks fish, you’ll love the s...
2025-11-111h 02Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 52: Stripped Seas: How Menhaden Mismanagement Threatens Our FisheriesSend us a textSchools of bunker once blacked out our bays; now many anglers chase scattered pods and skinny bass while ospreys circle empty water. We sat down with Captain Paul Eidman of Menhaden Defenders to unpack what changed, why the new ecosystem science calls for much tighter quotas, and how a single industrial fleet can reshape an entire food web. This is a straight look at menhaden—the forage that fuels stripers, birds, whales, and the bait that keeps lobster and crab fisheries moving.We trace the cascade: Atlantic herring collapsed first, industrial ca...
2025-11-041h 12
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 51: Why Some Anglers Catch More When They Say Less with Chell BaybaySend a textCold air, numb hands, and a white crab that changed everything. That’s the scene Chell Baybay paints as she walks us through the drop, the thump, and the surge that sealed her first double-digit tautog—a moment that turned a late-start angler into a fixture on New Jersey head boats.We dig into why tog fishing hooks so deep: the fight starts at the bite, and winning is all timing, patience, and feel. Shell breaks down the quiet focus she brings to crowded rails, how she reads taps without overreacting, and why...
2025-10-281h 07Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 50: Surf-Casting The Fall Striper Run with George Bucci (Throwback Episode)Send us a textMiss the shoulder-to-shoulder blitzes where bass erupted at your feet? We dig into how to make moments like that repeatable by reading the beach, timing the wind, and picking simple surf lures that just work. With surf-casting standout George Bucci, we go past reports and chase what truly moves fish in the fall: weather windows, bait behavior, and structure.We start with the forecast because it decides your odds. The first punch of a nor’easter can be electric, and a crisp northwest wind often drives bunker straight into the sand—exac...
2025-10-231h 30
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 49: The Anatomy Of A Fall Run: Structure, Bait, And Smart ReleasesSend us a textThe surf is alive, the foam lines are loud, and the biggest stripers of the season are sliding into casting range. We invited Bayside Dave to dig into a land-based masterclass: how to read Long Beach Island’s sandbars, troughs, and rip seams, and how to choose baits and lures that turn those spots into steady hookups. Whether you fish beaches, jetties, inlet edges, or bayside docks, this guide puts you exactly where the fish want to feed.We start with structure: spotting the whitewater that marks a bar, identifying the da...
2025-10-211h 10
Fat Dad Fishing ShowFall Flip: From Sheepshead to Stripers with Capt. Scotty SevinsSend us a textWe step through the storm gate into fall fishing, trading summer sheepshead grind for backwater striped bass, smarter leader choices, and tactics that work when oxygen rises and bait stacks. Gear gets practical, lures get both bigger and smaller, and we keep the focus on memory, community, and respecting spots.• nor’easter as the real seasonal trigger and oxygen reset• back bay bass patterns as temps drop below 70• leaders, live bait, circle hooks, and bite trade-offs• why smaller profiles often catch the biggest fish• popping corks and shrimp patte...
2025-10-141h 19
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 47: Seasonal Closures, Flawed Data, and Striped Bass with Jim Hutchinson Jr.Send us a textWe unpack the proposed 12% striped bass mortality cut, why “closure” likely means a short seasonal window, and how flawed MRIP effort estimates are steering the debate. We compare regional impacts by month, weigh status quo against quick fixes, and argue for better data, smarter timing, and real habitat work.• What a seasonal closure actually means and when it would land• Why MRIP effort overestimates cast doubt on a 12% cut• Spawning stock biomass context and the 1995 comparison• Regional wave closures and uneven impacts by state• Harvest vs release mortality and...
2025-10-0858 min
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 46: Beach Brawling with Nick HonachefskySend us a textWe confront the push for “no targeting” on striped bass, challenge shaky mortality data, and argue for smart, consistent rules that protect spawning fish without killing access. Then we spotlight the Barrier Island Beach Brawl—part surf tournament, part charity engine—that brings anglers together and feeds local families.• status of striped bass regs and the risk of no-targeting• why bad data and unclear methods undermine policy• smarter closure timing around spring spawn• need for consistency across states and sectors• early guardrails for the fast-growing sheepshead fishery• the Barrier...
2025-10-0147 min
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 45: Bearded Dad Meets Fat Dad: A Tale of Two WatersSend us a textRich and Jay explore the differences and surprising similarities between freshwater and saltwater fishing, proving that techniques from one world can successfully translate to the other.• Jay discusses his journey from casual angler to creator of the 45,000-member Kayak Fishing Dads Facebook group• Detailed breakdown of transitional bass fishing tactics as summer gives way to fall• Why suspending jerkbaits often outperform floating models for subsurface presentations• How freshwater bass tactics can be effectively applied to saltwater striped bass fishing• Candid conversation about whether forward-facing sonar and spot lock techn...
2025-09-1859 min
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 44: Multi-species with River Queen Capt. Kayla HaileSend a textCaptain Kayla Hale shares multi-species fishing strategies for the northern Chesapeake, from striped bass tactics to smallmouth techniques. She reveals exciting news about her custom Rockproof jet boat being built for her guide service.• Fish below surface commotion for bigger striped bass• Minnow plugs and glide baits produce quality stripers in the fall• Striped bass migration patterns change from Chesapeake Bay to New Jersey beaches• Blue catfish pose serious threat to Chesapeake ecosystem unlike snakeheads• Winter white and yellow perch fishing on ultralight tackle offers excellent cold-weather opportunity• Brac...
2025-09-1156 min
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 43: Fishing Rods 101 with John CreelySend us a textWe dive deep into the art and science of fishing rod selection with returning guest John Creeley, former co-host and current rod builder for Advanced Fishing USA. This episode unpacks everything from rod action to material composition to help you make better equipment choices for your target species.• Every rod has a specific purpose - no single rod is perfect for all applications• Rod actions (extra-fast to slow) significantly impact hook-setting ability and sensitivity• For sheepshead and tog, moderate action rods provide the perfect blend of feel and forgiveness•...
2025-09-0454 minFat Dad Fishing ShowEP 41: Throwback Episode - Targeting Cobia with Capt. Joey LeggioSend us a textCaptain Joey Leggio shares his expertise on targeting Cobia off the coast of New York, revealing how this once-rare trophy fish has become a viable target species. We explore effective techniques for finding and catching these powerful gamefish, along with the shifting fisheries that have brought them north.• When sharks appear (especially blacktips and spinners), Cobia are likely following close behind• Position downwind of bunker schools rather than casting directly into them• Use a "knocker rig" with light weight and fluorocarbon leader instead of heavy snag hooks• Keep the firs...
2025-08-211h 16
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 40: Chasing Albacore: The Thrill of Run-and-Gun Fishing with Rob CrossleySend us a textFalse albacore season is approaching fast, and we're diving into everything you need to know about targeting these explosive gamefish. Rob Crossley shares his expertise on gearing up and tactics for the brief but thrilling albie run that hits Northeast waters in late summer.• Using fast-action 7'3" rods with more glass for the right balance of accuracy and strength• Selecting 20-pound braid with 20-pound fluorocarbon leader for optimal casting and fighting power• Choosing epoxy jigs as primary lures and switching hook orientation for better hookups• Approaching schools carefully—staying 10...
2025-08-141h 02
Fat Dad Fishing ShowEP 39: Stalking the Shoreline: Late Summer Tactics with Bayside DaveSend us a textLate summer fluke fishing offers unique challenges and opportunities as water temperatures rise and fish begin transitioning from bays to inlets. With the right approach, anglers can still enjoy productive fishing despite changing conditions.• Understanding beach structure is critical - focus on troughs between beach and sandbars rather than deep holes• Lighter tackle outperforms heavy gear in the surf - 7' medium rods with 3000-series reels and 15lb braid• Use lighter bucktails (3/8-3/4oz) with ball heads that won't dig into sand• 75% of fluke strikes come on teasers position...
2025-08-071h 21