In this episode of Get The Net, we sit down with Ethan Bryant, skipper of Te Ariki Nui in the Pelagic Charters fleet, to talk about one of the wildest career pivots in New Zealand fishing.
Less than a decade ago Ethan was running a tyre shop and working in the automotive world. Now he’s built a name as one of the most effective and hardest-working skippers in the country, spending nearly 300 days a year on the water and leading clients through the madness of the Three Kings fishery.
But behind the results is a real personal cost too, and Ethan speaks openly about how life on the boat takes him away from his young family and how much that sacrifice weighs on him. We get into what makes Ethan and Pelagic so dangerous at the Kings, from teaching everyday anglers how to fight properly on heavy tackle, to chasing the fish that keep serious fishos awake at night.
Ethan opens up about his obsession with swordfish, the forgotten art of nighttime swordfishing, & some properly insane stories from the boat — including a 16-hour battle with a monster broadbill and the constant push to find the grander sword he knows is out there. It’s clear how addicted he is to the job and the fishery, but just as clear that this lifestyle demands a hugely understanding wife and a familywilling to back the mission.
We also unpack just how special the Three Kings can be. Ethan’s crew tagged the most striped marlin of any charter boat in New Zealand last season, but unbelievably they actually caught more swordfish than marlin.
Add in blue marlin, kingfish, bluefin tuna, and the pressure of trying to protect one of the country’s most iconic fisheries, and this episode is stacked with hard-earned knowledge, huge fish stories, and a very real look at what it takes to become one of the top charter skippers in the game — not just professionally, but personally as well.
This one isn’t just about big fish — it’s about obsession, sacrifice, family, and what it really takes to build a life around chasing the next bite.
✅ Ethan Bryant @esb.offshore & @pelagic_charters_nz (IG)
✅ https://www.youtube.com/@esb.offshore
✅https://www.facebook.com/ PelagicChartersNZ
✅ https://pelagiccharters.co.nz
⏱️ Chapters /Segments
(00:00) – Meet Ethan Bryant
Ethan’s path into the game has been anything but ordinary. He shares how he went from running a tyre shop to becoming the skipper of one of the hottest boats in the Pelagic Charters fleet.
(10:00) – The wildest blue marlin footage you’ll ever see
We revisit some unbelievable blue marlin footage shot from the top of the tuna tower — the kind of content that shows just how chaotic and visual this fishery can be.
(20:00) – Night-time swordfishing
Ethan tells the story of the marathon broadbill fight that broke Jonsey & lit a fire in him for swordfishing.
(30:00) – Marlin, kingfish and the magic of the Three Kings
Ethan breaks down what makes the Three Kings such a special and unpredictable place to fish.
(40:00) – How night-time jigging for southern bluefin tunabegan
Ethan talks through how they started piecing together a new way to target southern bluefin at night, and what it means to be a charter skipper whose job is not just to catch fish, but to create unforgettable experiences for clients.
(50:00) – Pacific bluefin tuna | The brutal fight that tests every angler
Not all tuna fights are created equal. Ethan explains why Pacific bluefin are the real deal.
(60:00) – Showing the real Three Kings on YouTube
Ethan shares why he’s putting more of the real charter experience onto YouTube — the highs, the grind, and what people don’t always see from the outside.
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🎵 Music Used
✅ Proctor, Topher Mohr & Alex Elena
✅ Satellites, Swello
✅ Momentum, Zplit
✅ Source (YouTube Audio Library)
🎥 Production Notes
✅ Shot on: Sony A7iii + Sennheiser Mics
✅ Edited in: Adobe Premiere Pro
✅ Shot, Edited & Produced by Nick Hoyle
