On this episode, Bill interviews Captain Bobby Abruscato. Capt. Bobby is a legendary fisherman and rod builder from the northern Gulf Coast region. Bobby shares his approach to building rods for different fishing applications, such as popping corks, top water fishing, and jigging. He highlights the importance of using high-quality materials and customizing rods to meet the specific needs of his charter clients and his own tournament fishing. Bobby also discusses the benefits of custom-built rods, including the ability to tailor the rod's action and length to specific fishing techniques. He shares his background, including growing up on Dauphin Island and transitioning from college to becoming a full-time fishing guide. Bobby is an accomplished tournament angler, with 19 pro redfish tournament wins and four Alabama inshore trail championships. He discusses his long-term involvement in rod building and his mentorship by the late Jim Ising. Bobby recounts how he developed his passion for fishing as a child and how he eventually became a professional guide, much to his father's initial disapproval. He explains how he met Jim Ising, who became a close friend and mentor, and how this relationship led to Bobby's interest in rod building. Bobby emphasizes his focus on building rods for function rather than form, ensuring they are effective fishing tools. Throughout the conversation, Bobby shares memorable fishing experiences, including a trip with Jim Ising where they caught a 26-pound blackfish, and a charter trip where a client, Butch Theory, outfished the experienced anglers. Bobby emphasizes the value of learning from every fishing experience and the importance of custom-built rods in enhancing fishing performance and overall enjoyment of the sport.