Mark Naumovitz is a busy guy. Paramedic, realtor, and owner of ReelsAndTackle.com, an online tackle store. Not to mention that he writes for fishing magazines and has been a guest lecturer at many fishing events. And somehow he finds a little time to fish. His favorite fishing vessel is his kayak, and he has many kayak fishing tournaments under his belt. Mark spends most of his time fishing for inshore saltwater species in his home waters in Florida. He also ventures out on the ocean proper to catch some serious pelagics from his "plastic yacht". In this episode, Mark tells us about one such trip where the catch of the day was mahi mahi. We could have stopped the story there, but instead there is a REALLY big finish. You'll definitely want to check this one out, and queue the "Jaws" music ...

For more information and to see pictures, check out the show notes page at http://www.telltalefisherman.com/029-big-finish-mark-naumovitz/

Our special guest this week is Rachel Vickers. "Early onset, invasive, aggressive, metastatic, stage 3 breast cancer." Most of us could barely say that mouthful, much less comprehend the impact of that diagnosis. But Rachel got that diagnosis, and at the age of just 30. She went from just having obtained her degree in fisheries management with an exciting career in front of her, to the battle of her life that put life on hold. She was given a mere 25% chance of surviving more than 5 years, received the most aggressive chemo treatment available, and endured 25 surgeries. And she did all this as a single mom with a young child. In this powerful episode, Rachel shares her incredible story of struggle, hope, and survival. Plus, she tells us how her lifelong passion for angling was a lifeline through it all. Not to mention how it can be for other ladies (and our youth) as well. Oh yeah, she also throws down one EPIC day of fishing for lake trout on Lake Champlain that may never be paralleled ...

For more information and to see pictures, visit the show notes page at http://www.telltalefisherman.com/028-catching-hope-with-rachel-vickers/

Dan Butler is a Florida transplant that comes to the Sunshine State by way of Iowa and Texas. In Texas, Dan grew up fishing both fresh and salt water. In Iowa where Dan went to college, he took his love for fishing to a new level. He helped start the St. Ambrose University fishing team. Over the next couple of years they fished B.A.S.S. and FLW collegiate tournaments, even making it to a national final in their second year. Dan met his girlfriend at college. During a visit to see her parents, Dan decided to sneak off and do a little fishing in a new spot. Spoiler alert - Dan was late for dinner with the family that night. But the reason why made Dan a local celebrity, and was one heck of a great fishing day with a surprise twist.

For more information and to see pictures, check out the show notes page at http://www.telltalefisherman.com/027-one-last-cast-dan-butler/

Michel Cardoso is our first guest from Sweeden. He and his professional fishing team, the South End Anglers, have racked up some amazing catches. But Michel's rise to tournament angler was not a direct one, as he did not come from a family that fished. But after going with friends a time or two, he definitely got the fishing bug. Then once his brother invited him to fish a tournament, that's when the full blown fishing fever set in. In this episode, Michel shares the SEA's incredible day fishing in the Sportsmasters pike tournament. It ended in a crazy photo finish that's just too close to call ...

For more information and to see pictures, check out the show notes page at http://www.telltalefisherman.com/026-centimeter-michel-cardoso/

Pamela Wirth is our first female angler on the Tell Tale Fisherman Podcast. And we could not have picked a better one to start. Mother, mortgage banker, and now extreme kayak fisher. Pam took up kayak angling to help relieve stress from the daily grind. Now she is on the pro staff for several fishing equipment manufacturers, a regular speaker at fishing seminars, and tournament kayak angler. We're not talking about tournaments on a local pond here. Pam fishes extreme kayak tournaments on the BIG pond for really big critters. In addition to some great practical knowledge, in this episode Pam also shares an epic day fishing in the Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament. After an early setback, Pam persevered and came back with a vengeance to set a new tournament record. And not to mention showing all the guys a thing (i.e., a sailfish) or two ...

For more information and to see pictures, visit the show notes pages at http://www.telltalefisherman.com/025-extreme-stress-reduction-with-pamela-wirth

Captain Adam Lambert is a South Florida native who has taken up residence in Tampa, Florida. With all of the many saltwater species he caught growing up, it is the one he did not that eventually caught him - redfish. Now Captain Adam spends his days taking clients out in Tampa Bay to chase after his favorite fish. But he also loves when lots of different kinds of fish come over the rail in addition to redfish. In this episode, Captain Adam shares a trip where the redfish action was hot. What followed during the "extra inning" of fishing was even hotter, some black drum magic.

For more information and to see pictures, visit our show notes page at http://www.telltalefisherman.com/024-black-magic-captain-adam-lambert/

Colby Elsass is a Crystal River, Florida native. And a third generation native at that. The Elsass family is a staple of the Crystal River fishing community. His grandfather founded the landmark Knox Baithouse, and played fishing guide to legendary baseball player Babe Ruth. Now Colby runs the family electrical contractor business. But when he's not directing work crews, he is hanging with the fishing crew. He and his mates generally get out to enjoy the spectacular Crystal River fishery several times a week. This episode is about the annual CCBA Family Fishing Tournament, where Colby and crew make a strong showing every year. It involves a big tournament winning redfish, along with a big twist ...

For more info and to see pictures, check out the show notes page at http://www.telltalefisherman.com/023-winning-redfish-colby-elsass/

Zach Vann is living the dream. From the time he was a child, he just wanted to go offshore fishing. So much so that he begged his dad to take him down to the docks just so they could see the fish that were caught. When Zach graduated high school, he moved to one of the most epic offshore fishing grounds around, Hatteras Island, NC. And he went right back down to the docks. It wasn't long before his drive, passion, and love for fishing got him out on the water full time on a charter boat. Now, as first mate for Wasabi Sportfishing Charters, he gets to experience some of the most epic offshore fishing imaginable on a daily basis. But the story he shares with us on this episode is so epic it's beyond imaginable. Don't miss it? That's the understatement of the year ...

For more info and to see pictures, check out our show notes page at http://www.telltalefisherman.com/022-slick-blues-with-zach-vann/

Rico Cruz is a Michigan guy who now resides in Florida. From the first fish he caught at summer camp when he was 10 years old, Rico was hooked on bass fishing, and is now working his way through the professional ranks. A member of the Florida Bass Nation circuit, Rico has fished tournaments all over the Southeastern U.S., and has racked up several impressive finishes. This episode is all about one of those fantastic finishes, fishing in famed lakes in the Central Florida area. It's a day on the water that Rico will never forget, and one you won't want to miss.

http://www.telltalefisherman.com/021-double-kick-with-rico-cruz/

Greg Poland is a charter captain out of Islamorada in the Florida Keys. Many consider this to be the "fishing capital of the world." So, it goes without saying that Greg has logged some incredible days on the water. But of all his amazing adventures at sea, one stands alone. Greg once had an opportunity to meet legendary mariner Gregorio Fuentes. Gregorio was the boat captain to even more legendary writer Ernest Hemingway. Greg shares the story with us in this episode. Plus, one of Greg's favorite things to do is take father/son duos fishing. Greg also shares one of his epic charter trips that neither father, son, nor captain will soon forget.

For more info and to see pictures, check out the show notes page at http://www.telltalefisherman.com/020-ernest-adventure-captain-greg-poland/