A 106 inch tuna he reckons was over 300 kilos, landed on a leader less than half the strength it should've been. And that's just one of the stories.

This is Part 2 with Alex Simon, and it's all stories. If you haven't heard Part 1, go back for how he got into this. This one is the wild stuff.

Alex walks us through the fish that put him on the map. A 106 inch giant that came up and ate a floating bunker ten feet from the boat, hooked by his mate DJ on 60 pound leader when it should've been 130. Four and a half hours of fighting, a harpoon, a broken rod, and another hour and a half getting dragged around before the three of them got it in the boat. It had about 60 pounds of bait in its stomach.

Then the January night fish. Mid winter, so cold they spent an hour breaking ice off the boat just to leave the ramp, then ran 70 to 80 miles offshore into the dark with nothing to show for it. On the way back in, in pitch black, a 96 inch fish ate a popper and took two hours to land. The other half of the crew were out there in a centre console with no top and no radio, just a handheld.

He tells the big eye redemption too. A few years after the big eye that beat him and made him cry, he found a pack of them 90 miles out and hooked seven in a session, breaking off five as they tore swivels and split rings apart.

And the one he calls a dream come true. Amagari, the Spanish lure maker whose gear he'd thrown for years, flew in and fished with them. First feed of the day, Alex casts Amagari's prototype stick bait, works it three times, and a 100 inch fish eats it.

No clickbait, no bullshit. Just the real story.

📍 Alex Simon: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/salt_silverbak/⁠📍 Sammy Tilliard: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thereelblackbeard/⁠⁠⁠📍 Aclassic Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/⁠📍 Host: Dan Muntz: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/danmuntz/⁠

Want to join our next episode? Jump into our broadcast channel on Instagram to get new guest announcements and send in your questions!

Have an epic ocean story or know someone who does?

Hit us up via DM or our Instagram broadcast channel.💬 Drop a review and subscribe for more epic stories!

Cheers!

🎙 Guest: Alex Simon & Sammy Tilliard

🎙 Host: Dan Muntz

#bluefin #tuna #topwater #spingear #Haiti #fishing #OBX #bigfish #rawsaltwaterstories #podcast #fishingpodcast #aussie

He started out catching marlin on a hand line in Haiti with the bare minimum. These days he chases giant bluefin on spin gear off the US east coast.

We're back with a big one, and it went deep enough that we split it in two. Today Alex Simon joins us from Maryland, a Shimano Pro Staffer who's spent years chasing topwater bluefin on spin gear. I also pulled in my mate Sammy from Tassie, who's chasing the same thing down south, so he could ask the questions I'd never think of.

Part 1 is Alex's story from the ground up. Born and raised in Haiti, catching marlin on hand lines, his granddad running the biggest seafood co-op on the island. Moving to the States at 13, three high schools in four years, then a maths degree and eighteen years as an engineer for the US Army. And somewhere in there the fishing turned into a proper obsession.

He tells us about the fish that broke him. October 2021, a big eye tuna in the 200 pound class hooked on light gear, two and a half hours of standoff, and a loss that had him lying on his back crying for ten minutes. That night he bought his first 20K Stella and decided he'd never lose one like that again. That's the fish that started all of it.

From there we get into the detail. The gear that actually lands 300 kilo fish, why he reckons the Japanese are light years ahead on tackle, the 90 degree rod method that takes the pressure off your back so you can hold a big fish without your body giving out, and why you can't get in tuna shape at a gym, you only get there by fighting big fish until everything hurts. Alex also gives his unfiltered take on Haiti right now, straight from someone who grew up there.

No clickbait, no bullshit. Just the real story.

Part 2 is where the wild ones come out, so keep an eye out for that.

📍 Alex Simon: https://www.instagram.com/salt_silverbak/
📍 Sammy Tilliard: https://www.instagram.com/thereelblackbeard/
📍 Aclassic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/
📍 Host: Dan Muntz: https://www.instagram.com/danmuntz/

Want to join our next episode? Jump into our broadcast channel on Instagram to get new guest announcements and send in your questions!
Have an epic ocean story or know someone who does? Hit us up via DM or our Instagram broadcast channel.
💬 Drop a review and subscribe for more epic stories!
Cheers!

🎙 Guest: Alex Simon & Sammy Tilliard 🎙 Host: Dan Muntz

#bluefin #tuna #topwater #spingear #Haiti #fishing #OBX #bigfish #rawsaltwaterstories #podcast #fishingpodcast #aussie

The story of how me and Bryn became mates on the most insane charter of our lives! Thats how this one starts.

Bryn Hastie joins us to relive a charter we did together where the kingfish would not stop, over 20 of them, all quality fish, one of those days you don't forget.

From there Bryn walks us through his own fishing back home in New Zealand. Hunting down new spots, chasing big kingfish and snapper, and a couple of stories that go a fair bit deeper, including a swordfish and a bluefin session that are worth the listen on their own.

We also get into our upcoming trip to the NZ Lure Masters comp in October, where the two of us are teaming up to take it on.

Good fish, good stories, and one of the best around to tell them.

Full Youtube clip of our NZ mission! - https://youtu.be/VUahYcRumBw?si=9dO985LFHoFWSlcq

📍 Bryn Hastie: https://www.instagram.com/bryn.hastie/

📍 Joint Ventures: https://www.instagram.com/joint_ventures_nz/⁠

📍 Aclassic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/
📍 Host: Dan Muntz: https://www.instagram.com/danmuntz/

📍 Churchy's charter: https://www.instagram.com/churchyschartersnz/

📍 Watch more saltwater action on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrDL_Xfduc90Ud8DelDqNrfEZqRpuSt0A

Want to join our next episode? Jump into our broadcast channel on Instagram to get new guest announcements and send in your questions!

Have an epic ocean story or know someone who does? Hit us up via DM or our Instagram broadcast channel on Instagram.

💬 Drop a review and subscribe for more epic stories!

Cheers!

🎙 Guest: Bryn Hastie
🎙 Host: Dan Muntz

#kingfish #snapper #NewZealand #fishing #saltwater #swordfish #bluefin #rawsaltwaterstories #podcast #fishingpodcast #NZfishing #luremasters

They headed out for a normal day chasing Queenies. His 8 year old son ended up hooking a fish that broke the internet.Full clip on instagram!

We're back at it with a ripper. Today Scott Gorman and the story behind one of the wildest clips going around, the one that has climbed past 24 million views and counting. His young bloke Fyn, jigging up big Queenies south of Weipa, hooking into a solid Spanish mackerel around 15 to 18 kilo, and a bull shark climbing all over it right at the boat.

The kid does not flinch. Not once. Scott just lets him have his fish, and that is why half the internet called it a father of the year moment. Fyn is 8 years old, has been in the boat since he was three, and has already won the Weipa Fishing Classic barra comp with a metre plus barra. An absolute machine in the making.

Scott lives up in Weipa on the west coast of Cape York, a place he calls a small Darwin where everything is trying to get you. We get into the bull shark situation up there that has completely exploded, the brand new Minn Kota that copped teeth marks the same day, and what it actually takes to raise a kid who lives and breathes this stuff.

Then right at the end Scott drops a croc story that put the fear right into me. Chasing pigs across a swamp, poking a stick to check the depth, with a three metre salty sitting a metre and a half from his hand the whole time. Pure luck he is still here to tell it.

This is everyday life up the top end for Scott. For the rest of us it is madness. The real version, straight from the bloke who lived it.

📍 Fyn Gorman: https://www.instagram.com/fyn_gorman/📍 Scott Gorman: https://www.instagram.com/sgormz/📍 Aclassic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/📍 Host: Dan Muntz: https://www.instagram.com/danmuntz/

Want to join our next episode? Jump into our broadcast channel on Instagram to get new guest announcements and send in your questions!Have an epic ocean story or know someone who does? Hit us up via DM or our Instagram broadcast channel.💬 Drop a review and subscribe for more epic stories!Cheers!

🎙 Guest: Scott Gorman 🎙 Host: Dan Muntz

#croc #bullshark #fishing #Weipa #CapeYork #Spanishmackerel #barra #viral #rawsaltwaterstories #podcast #fishingpodcast #aussie

They went out chasing snapper. They ended up with the footage of a lifetime and a triple hook-up on a whale.

Full clip on instagram!

We're back, and we've kicked it off with a good one. Today Adam and his 14-year-old son Max join us to share the story behind one of the wildest fishing clips going around. The day a humpback whale breached right next to their boat off the Gold Coast, then dived under them and hooked up to all three of their lines.

They headed out before daybreak chasing snapper. What they got was a whale the size of a house coming out of the water metres from their boat, a triple hook-up no one could believe, and a GoPro shoved in a rod holder that somehow caught the whole thing.

Better yet, by that same night it was the exclusive lead on National Nine News, and over a million views in two days.

This is a Raw Saltwater Stories exclusive. Adam tells it firsthand, no news editing, no beeps. You'll also get to know young Max, a gun little fisho building his own brand, Flatline Fishing.

The real version, straight from the blokes who lived it.

📍 Max Lansdowne: https://www.instagram.com/max_lansdown/
📍 Scott Lansdowne: https://www.instagram.com/ozzyadds/📍 Aclassic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/📍 Host: Dan Muntz: https://www.instagram.com/danmuntz/

https://www.flatlinefishing.com

Want to join our next episode? Jump into our broadcast channel on Instagram to get new guest announcements and send in your questions!

Have an epic ocean story or know someone who does? Hit us up via DM or our Instagram broadcast channel.

💬 Drop a review and subscribe for more epic stories!

Cheers!

🎙 Guest: Adam & Max Lansdowne
🎙 Host: Dan Muntz

#whale #humpback #fishing #GoldCoast #snapper #viral #oceanencounter #rawsaltwaterstories #podcast #fishingpodcast #aussie

On this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Lance Clinton—a kayak fishing machine based in Costa Rica. Lance shares how he turned his life around, found purpose in fishing, and became one of the top offshore kayak anglers in the game. We dive into his journey from Louisiana to Costa Rica, the unique inshore and offshore fisheries he calls home, and what it’s like competing on an international stage like the Pan American Championships. Lance also opens up about big fish encounters, kayak safety myths, gear tips, and even the design of innovative jigs and knives. If you’re into fishing, adventure, or stories of turning life around, you’ll want to hear this one.

Apologies on a few sound issues with this one! The mic died just as we began. New one on the way!

Want to be part of the next episode? Jump in our broadcast channel on Instagram ( ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/ ⁠⁠). That’s where we drop new guest announcements, and you can send in your questions.

📍 Check Lance out here: https://www.instagram.com/thefishrustler/

📍 For wild saltwater action and today’s chat, hit our YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@_aclassic_⁠⁠

📍 Aclassic's Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/⁠⁠

📍 Dan’s on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/danmuntz/

Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next wild story. If you know someone who’s done something epic on, under, or around the water, tell us in the comments or DM, and we’ll see if we can get them on.

💬 Leave a review, and check us out: ⁠⁠⁠Aclassic.co⁠⁠

Cheers!

🎙 Guest: Lance Clinton

🎙 Host: Dan Muntz

Welcome to the very first pre-trip episode of Aclassic Strike Missions — a raw, unfiltered series where we chase the fish of a lifetime and show you what really goes down.

For this mission, we’re heading across the ditch to New Zealand to fish with Churchy from Churchy’s Charters, one of the most dialled-in kingfish operators on the planet. It's a 72-hour whirlwind — fly in, travel across the country, fish hard for one day, then get back home — all for one shot at a dream kingie.

This episode sets the stage: who Churchy is, what makes his fishery special, how the trip will run, what could go right (or wrong), and what gear we’re taking to make it count.

This series is all about repping the everyday fisho — I’m not a pro, just a bloke who's obsessed with fishing and finally pulling the trigger to see what’s possible. No filters, no egos — just the full experience, the real effort, and the legends who live this life daily.

So if you’ve ever thought about booking the ticket… this is your sign.

Let’s go.

Check out Churchys charters here: https://churchyscharters.co.nz/charters/

Churchys Insta: https://www.instagram.com/churchyschartersnz/

Aclassic Insta: https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/

Dan's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/danmuntz/

Want to be part of the next episode? Jump in our broadcast channel on Instagram (link in bio). That’s where we drop guest announcements and take your questions.

💬 Leave a review, hit follow, ENJOY!

South Coast madman Shane Ackerman joins us to talk about his life chasing some of the heaviest waves on earth. From a brutal wipeout at The Right that nearly ended it all, to scoring at Skeleton Bay, Shane opens up on what it takes to surf slabs at the edge of possibility.

We dive into his upbringing on the South Coast of NSW, how the local scene shaped him, and what drives him to keep pushing limits in waves most people wouldn’t paddle out in. Heavy stories, raw insight, and full respect to one of Australia’s underground hellmen.

The insane footage at The Right was filmed by Tim Bonython!

Make sure you check out this epic film Yeti put together on Shane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=d_itcu6XqA8&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafLPYOUHmZiawNb8nRdTyMumIytWjt3AhZgAdNAuV-7c1Ca_jZY2FO1wAF8fg_aem_lf5kDOgj_ixfXp8S4fHdXQ

📍 Shanes IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/shaneackerman/

📍 Tim Bonython IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/tim_bonython_swellchasers/

📍 Aclassic IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/⁠

📍 Host: Dan Muntz – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/danmuntz/

Want to be part of the next episode? Jump in our broadcast channel on Instagram (link in bio). That’s where we drop guest announcements and take your questions.

💬 Leave a review, hit follow and enjoy!

Theophile Gonet jumps on the podcast to talk about his obsession with chasing giant fish across the globe. From bluefin tuna on spin gear in the Canary Islands to solo sturgeon missions in icy Canadian rivers, Theo breaks down the moments, gear, and grind behind it all.

He talks about growing up fishing with his dad in France, the tight regulations around bluefin there, and how he’s built a life around chasing different species around the world. We dive into what makes the Canary Islands one of the hardest places to land a tuna, why people still don’t believe it can be done on spin, and the brutal moment he lost the fish he trained months for.

From tuna heartbreak to sturgeon in the snow—this one’s honest, raw, and straight from a bloke who’s all in.

📍 Theo’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/thefrenchfisherman_/
📍 Aclassic IG: https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/
📍 Host: Dan Muntz – https://www.instagram.com/danmuntz/

Want to be part of the next episode? Jump in our broadcast channel on Instagram (link in bio). That’s where we drop guest announcements and take your questions.

https://www.youtube.com/@_aclassic_
#aclassic #fishingpodcast #bluefin #gianttuna #spingear #theophilegonet #saltwaterstories #aclassicpodcast

In this episode, we catch up with Tasmanian surfer Harry Hollmer-Cross as he shares his intense experience at Shipstern's Bluff. At just 18 years old, Harry endured a severe wipeout resulting in a serious brain injury, which kept him out of the water for two years.

Harry openly discusses the details of his accident, the tough road of recovery, and the support from his family and the local surfing community. He also explains how his experience led to the Shippy Safety Initiative, enhancing safety measures at Shipstern's.

The episode also highlights Harry’s return to Shipstern's Bluff, facing the wave that nearly ended his surfing career. Join us for an honest conversation about overcoming fear, resilience, and a deep passion for surfing one of the world’s most challenging waves.

Don't forget to check out the Shippies Safety initiative and donate what you can so the boys can continue to keep everyone safe! Find them here:

https://www.instagram.com/shippys_safety_wipeouts/

📍 Harry's IG: https://www.instagram.com/harryhcross/

📍 Aclassic IG: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_aclassic_/⁠

📍 Host: Dan Muntz: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/danmuntz/⁠

📍Nick Green IG: https://www.instagram.com/nickgreenphoto

📍Tim Bonython IG:https://www.instagram.com/tim_bonython_swellchasers/

Want to be part of the next episode? Jump in our broadcast channel on Instagram (link in bio). That’s where we drop guest announcements and take your questions.

💬 Leave a review, hit follow!

🎙 Guests: Harry Hollmer Cross

🎙 Host: Dan Muntz

#surf #surfstory #surfing #comeback #wild