SpearFactor Spearfishing Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Ian Higgins, captain of the Vision dive boat from Vision Expeditions, to talk about what it takes to dive and operate a charter boat along the Southern California coast.

We dive into everything from spearfishing and diving the Channel Islands to the realities of running a professional dive charter in California. Ian shares his experience on the water, what makes the Channel Islands such a unique diving destination, and the challenges and rewards that come with putting divers on the right piece of ocean.

We also talk about the conditions, logistics, boat operations, memorable dives, and what it really takes to make a successful day on the water in Southern California.

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In this episode of the Spearfactor Podcast, I sit down with Max Mossler, a freediver, spearfisher, and scientist whose work bridges marine research and real-world experience in the water. We dive into the science behind fisheries, discuss the challenges of sustainable fish populations, and explore how research influences conservation and spearfishing.

Max also shares what it’s like living and training in Mexico, how freediving has shaped his life, and the lessons he’s learned from spending countless hours underwater. From training techniques and ocean exploration to fisheries science and the future of our oceans, this conversation is packed with insights for freedivers, spearfishers, and anyone passionate about the marine world.

Topics include:

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Episode Title: Matt Bond (All Waters) — The MPA Process: Past, Present, and What Comes Next

In Episode 82 of the SpearFactor Podcast, I sit back down with Matt Bond, this time speaking on behalf of All Waters in his new role with the organization. Matt has been on the show before, and a lot has changed since the last conversation — both for him and for the fight over how Marine Protected Areas are shaped, reviewed, and enforced.

We go deep into the MPA process itself: how we got here, what the original network was built on, where the science and the politics drifted apart, and what the current review and rule-making cycle actually looks like from the inside. Matt walks me through the moving pieces — the agencies, the timelines, the public comment windows, and the points in the process where divers, anglers, and ocean users still have real leverage.

We also talk about what the future holds. What's on the table for the next round of decisions, what All Waters is pushing for, where the opportunities are, and where the risks are if the user community stays quiet.

If you dive, fish, or care about access to the ocean, this is the conversation to catch up on before the next round of MPA decisions lands.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

100% Online Spearfishing Course

www.spearfactor.com

Or at 

www.spearfishingmentor.com

This podcast is a part of the Waypoint TV Podcast Network. Waypoint is the ultimate outdoor network featuring streaming of full-length fishing and hunting television shows, short films and instructional content, a social media network, Podcast Network. Waypoint is available on Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, IoS devices, Android Devices and at www.waypointtv.com all for FREE! Join the Waypoint Army by following them on Instagram at the following accounts @waypointtv @waypointfish @waypointhunt @waypointpodcasts

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In this episode of the SpearFactor Podcast, I talk with Dr. Ray Hilborn, a fisheries scientist at the University of Washington, about the state of fisheries worldwide and the real-world data behind marine conservation.

Ray has spent decades studying fish populations, fishing fleets, and management systems across the globe. He walks me through what his research shows about which fisheries are healthy, which are in trouble, and what separates the two. Many of the assumptions people hold about overfishing don't match the data, and Ray explains where the gap comes from.

We also get into marine protected areas. MPAs are often presented as the default tool for ocean conservation, but Ray argues the picture is more complicated. We talk about where MPAs help, where they fall short, what they cost in terms of food production and displaced fishing effort, and why catch limits, gear rules, and stock assessments often do more for fish populations than closing off areas of the ocean.

Ray explains that the best way to manage fisheries is not through MPAs, but through active fisheries management and enforcement — science-based catch limits, gear restrictions, stock assessments, and monitoring. He points to his own research showing that where fisheries are managed and enforced, stocks are at target levels or rebuilding, and where management is weak, stocks decline.

Papers referenced in the episode:

Topics covered:

Sources:

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Episode 80: Aleksander Nordahl — Freediving, Storytelling, and Ice Diving

Description:

In this episode of the SpearFactor Podcast, Bret sits down with Aleksander Nordahl — Norwegian photojournalist, freediver, and lifelong storyteller — for a conversation about what happens when a career behind the lens collides with the silence of the underwater world.

Aleksander shares how decades of journalism shaped the way he sees the ocean, the stories that pulled him beneath the surface, and how freediving became more than a discipline — it became a way of paying attention. We talk about the cold, dark waters of Norway, the mental craft of the breath-hold, the ethics of documenting wild places, and what divers can learn from journalists about patience, observation, and respect for the subject.

Whether you're a spearo, a freediver, a photographer, or just someone drawn to the quiet places, Aleksander's perspective will leave you thinking differently about your next dive.

Topics covered:

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In this episode, I speak with G.R. Tara from Ride Tide Spearfishing. G.R. started diving in 1965 and has traveled the world diving. He has a wealth of knowledge and his company Red Tide Spearfishing focusing on perfecting and simplifying equipment. @redtidespearfishing

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Announcements

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

100% Online Spearfishing Course

www.spearfactor.com

Or at 

www.spearfishingmentor.com

This podcast is a part of the Waypoint TV Podcast Network. Waypoint is the ultimate outdoor network featuring streaming of full-length fishing and hunting television shows, short films and instructional content, a social media network, Podcast Network. Waypoint is available on Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, IoS devices, Android Devices and at www.waypointtv.com all for FREE! Join the Waypoint Army by following them on Instagram at the following accounts @waypointtv @waypointfish @waypointhunt @waypointpodcasts

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In this episode, I speak with Kellen Parrish of Ocean Cowboy Outfitters. Kellen and I discuss his time spent in the Peace Corps and his experiences diving up in the cold dark waters of the Northern Pacific where hiking to your spot is a way of life. This led him to develop a spearfishing specific backpack for long hikes into dive spots . Check out more from Kellen @kellenlp and his spearfishing backpack at @oceancowboyoutfitters .

.

Announcements

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

100% Online Spearfishing Course

www.spearfactor.com

Or at 

www.spearfishingmentor.com

This podcast is a part of the Waypoint TV Podcast Network. Waypoint is the ultimate outdoor network featuring streaming of full-length fishing and hunting television shows, short films and instructional content, a social media network, Podcast Network. Waypoint is available on Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, IoS devices, Android Devices and at www.waypointtv.com all for FREE! Join the Waypoint Army by following them on Instagram at the following accounts @waypointtv @waypointfish @waypointhunt @waypointpodcasts

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In this episode, I speak with Josh Humbert. Josh is truly a fascinating person. He is a photographer, a pearl farmer who owns Kamoka Tahitian Pearls, and also a recent shark attack survivor. Josh lives on the Ahe atoll in French Polynesia where he primarily focuses on his family and their business. On the Ahe atoll, resources are limited so a majority of the time is spent diving and fishing for food. During one of these times, Josh was bit on the leg by a reef shark. Josh shares all the details of the shark attack, and the lessons learned from it with us. Check out more from Josh @joshhumbert and his Tahitian Pearls @kamokapearl 

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Announcements

FREEDIVER IS NEW TODAY ON DIGITAL: In this heart-pounding new documentary, world champion freediver Alexey Molchanov embarks on a daring quest to break five world records in a single year. On a single breath, he dives into the ocean's crushing depths, where the smallest mistake could mean death. Witness the ultimate battle of endurance in one of the world's most dangerous sports. BUY OR RENT FREEDIVER NOW! Rated PG. From Paramount Pictures.

www.paramountmovies.com

The TEETH podcast is the only podcast where you will hear wild animal attack stories directly from the survivors.  It’s hosted by a wilderness guide and survivor of a few attacks himself - Jeremy Carberry. 

http://theteethpod.com/

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

100% Online Spearfishing Course

www.spearfactor.com

Or at 

www.spearfishingmentor.com

This podcast is a part of the Waypoint TV Podcast Network. Waypoint is the ultimate outdoor network featuring streaming of full-length fishing and hunting television shows, short films and instructional content, a social media network, Podcast Network. Waypoint is available on Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, IoS devices, Android Devices and at www.waypointtv.com all for FREE! Join the Waypoint Army by following them on Instagram at the following accounts @waypointtv @waypointfish @waypointhunt @waypointpodcasts

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In this episode, I speak with Manuel Maendel from the HEART Search and Recovery nonprofit organization. Manny shares with us both his personal story and the story of HEART. This episode differs from other Spearfactor episodes because it is less focused on spearfishing and more focused on finding lost items and people underwater. We discuss the equipment that he uses from divers to robots, and the techniques to search in the most difficult underwater environments. The reason why I decided to share this episode was because I thought that the knowledge shared about sonar and other equipment could potentially help others in the future if they ever found themselves looking for a piece of equipment or even a dive buddy. Tip: Always get the best last know position you can get so there is a good starting point. Let me know if you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more content like this by messaging me on social media. Check out more from HEART at

https://www.hearteam.ca.

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Announcements

FREEDIVER IS NEW TODAY ON DIGITAL: In this heart-pounding new documentary, world champion freediver Alexey Molchanov embarks on a daring quest to break five world records in a single year. On a single breath, he dives into the ocean's crushing depths, where the smallest mistake could mean death. Witness the ultimate battle of endurance in one of the world's most dangerous sports. BUY OR RENT FREEDIVER NOW! Rated PG. From Paramount Pictures.

www.paramountmovies.com

The TEETH podcast is the only podcast where you will hear wild animal attack stories directly from the survivors. It’s hosted by a wilderness guide and survivor of a few attacks himself - Jeremy Carberry. 

http://theteethpod.com/

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

100% Online Spearfishing Course

www.spearfactor.com

Or at 

www.spearfishingmentor.com

This podcast is a part of the Waypoint TV Podcast Network. Waypoint is the ultimate outdoor network featuring streaming of full-length fishing and hunting television shows, short films and instructional content, a social media network, Podcast Network. Waypoint is available on Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, IoS devices, Android Devices and at www.waypointtv.com all for FREE! Join the Waypoint Army by following them on Instagram at the following accounts @waypointtv @waypointfish @waypointhunt @waypointpodcasts

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In this episode, Ollie Craig from Primal Pursuit is back with us. Since the last time I had Ollie on the show, his brand has continued to grow as well as his adventures. The thing I like most about his YouTube content is that he glorifies the environment and the fish he hunts, not himself. He has continued to grow his following and locations where he’s hunting to include remote areas of Fiji and the Solomon Islands. You can find Ollie on IG at @ollie_craig and his brand @primal_pursuit_nz www.primalpursuit.co.nz/.

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100% Online Spearfishing Course

https://waypointtv.com/watch/spear-factor-spearfishing-101-course

Or at 

www.spearfishingmentor.com

This podcast is a part of the Waypoint TV Podcast Network. Waypoint is the ultimate outdoor network featuring streaming of full-length fishing and hunting television shows, short films and instructional content, a social media network, Podcast Network. Waypoint is available on Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, IoS devices, Android Devices and at www.waypointtv.com all for FREE! Join the Waypoint Army by following them on Instagram at the following accounts @waypointtv @waypointfish @waypointhunt @waypointpodcasts

Need Gear?

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If you are interest in more information about spearfishing or want to take a spearfishing course, visit:

Online Spearfishing Courses

www.Spearfishingmentor.com

SpearFactor Spearfishing Podcast

www.spearfactor.com        

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