🎣 From Brooklyn docks to battling 800-lb tuna offshore — meet Kyle Kolante, the young captain who's built a life chasing fish and fearlessly facing the sea.
In this episode, we sit down with professional fisherman and charter captain Kyle Kolante to explore the high-stakes world of offshore tuna fishing, his appearance on Wicked Tuna, and what it really takes to make a living on the water.
His journey from fishing in diapers to captaining his own tuna boat
The real-life challenges of running charters in rough seas
Behind-the-scenes stories from Wicked Tuna
What it’s like fishing 100 miles out near the Statue of Liberty
His experiences with shark tournaments, tugboats, and freezing winters
How to break into the tight-knit fishing industry
And the truth about what being “fishy” means
Whether you're a seasoned angler, someone dreaming of life on the water, or just curious about the real grit behind the fishing lifestyle — this conversation is raw, honest, and packed with salty wisdom.
📍 Learn more or book a charter with Kyle:
👉 https://www.fatbackcharters.com
📱 Follow: @fatbackcharters on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
#ProfessionalFisherman #WickedTuna #TunaFishingNYC #BrooklynFishingCharters #KyleKolante #FatbackCharters #OffshoreTunaFishing #SportFishingLifestyle #HowToBecomeAFisherman #TunaFishingBoat #SheepsheadBayFishing #SharkTournamentBrooklyn #NYCFishingStories #FishingNearStatueOfLiberty #MarlinFishingNewYork #CharterCaptainAdvice #CommercialFishingLongIsland #FishingWithDadStories #FatbackChartersNYC #HowToCaptainATunaBoat #charters
🕒 Timestamps (Clickable Chapters)
0:00 – What makes a fisherman “fishy”?
0:17 – Meet Kyle Kolante: From diapers to deep sea
0:54 – Chasing giant tuna off the Brooklyn coast
1:35 – Fishing out of Sheepshead Bay – home waters
1:50 – Kyle's experience on Wicked Tuna (Nat Geo)
2:30 – What it takes to make it as a charter captain
3:00 – Becoming good: Time, mentors, and trial by ocean
3:35 – Fishing through storms, rain & 25 mph winds
4:09 – Charter limits & pushing boundaries to catch
4:40 – The 800-lb tuna battle at Montauk
5:00 – Still selling fish right on the dock
5:25 – Litchfield Distillery sponsor break
5:54 – Why women outfish the guys on charters
6:07 – Breaking into the fishing world as a young captain
6:58 – Kyle’s tugboat days: two weeks on, no going home
7:30 – Most brutal tugboat experience – Philly winter dredge job
8:18 – Getting dragged by a ship rope? Just another day
8:42 – "Tools of ignorance" – the brutal gear fishermen wear
9:10 – Sports vs Fishing: same toughness, different field
9:18 – Brooklyn Shark Tournament & reigning champs
9:58 – Business school dropout turned pro fisherman
10:52 – Sport fishing industry: luxury yachts & Bahamas gigs
11:46 – Can you age out of fishing? Kyle’s answer
12:00 – Fishing off the Statue of Liberty – wild but real
12:56 – Getting a hook in the nose: classic rookie moment
13:41 – The science of fishing: tides, wind, clouds, instincts
14:00 – Kyle’s “hostage” strategy: We stay till we catch
14:15 – Where to follow or book with Kyle: Fatback Charters
14:28 – Wrap-up and shoutouts to sponsors & Works Branding
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A big thanks to our sponsors
https://litchfielddistillery.com
https://www.triplestitch.com
https://www.bgcgwater.org
❤️ Sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Waterbury
A big thank you to Atlas Studios for powering the marketing and distribution of this podcast — your expertise in launching bold ideas and building lasting audiences means the world.
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