Captain Jimmy Armel is an Army Ranger veteran, founder of Knot Lucky Veteran Fishing, and a man on a mission to heal others through the ocean. After 11 years in the military—including brutal combat deployments—Jimmy faced the battles of PTSD, brain injuries, and addiction. Through fishing, plant medicine, and service, he found a path back to purpose.

Captain Blair Wiggins — known to many as the Mogan Man from Addictive Fishing — has spent decades shaping saltwater fishing on Florida’s Space Coast. Today, he’s leading the charge on one of the most ambitious conservation projects in the state: planting over 96 million clams to restore the Indian River Lagoon.

In this conversation, Blair and I go deep on fishing history, the birth of Addictive Fishing, the boom and bust of the clam fishery, his new show Blair Wiggins Outdoors, and why restoring water quality is the fight of our generation.

Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were:

The wild story of how “Mogan” became his nickname and brand.

The rise of Addictive Fishing and what it was like to film all over the world.

His first trip to Alaska — and how it changed him.

The shocking scale of clam overharvesting and the black water years in the Indian River.

How the Clam Project is filtering Florida’s waters and changing the future for fish, anglers, and families.

00:00 Introduction

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Wesley Brough — better known as Cabo Surf Caster — has been fishing the beaches of Baja for over 25 years. From trophy roosterfish to monster Pacific cubera snapper and mahi right from the sand, Wesley has dialed in one of the most unique surf fisheries in the world.

In this conversation, we talk about Baja’s seasons, species behavior, lure tactics, guiding in Cabo, and what makes land-based fishing so addictive. Wesley also shares the behind-the-scenes strategy behind his epic social media clips that get millions of views.

Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were:

How Baja’s beaches have changed — and where the fish still thrive

The seasonal game plan from January to December for multiple species

The insane story of landing a 73-pound Pacific cubera snapper on a surface lure

Roosterfish “Godzilla mode” and how to time your cast perfectly

The thrill (and heartbreak) of hooking big mahi from shore

00:00 Introduction

🔗 Visit Wesley’s Website – https://cabosurfcaster.com

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#Roosterfish #SurfFishing #CaboMexico #FishingPodcast #SaltwaterLegends

Jameson Reeder Jr. is a shark attack survivor, amputee, surfer, and one of the most courageous young men I’ve ever spoken with. At just 10 years old, Jameson was attacked by a 9-foot bull shark while snorkeling in the Florida Keys. What followed was a miraculous chain of events involving strangers, a nurse who swam through shark-infested waters, a faster boat, and a powerful spiritual encounter that Jameson says saved his life. He and his father Jamon recount the entire journey in their new book, Rescue at the Reef.

Jonathan Gluck is an award-winning writer and editor who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age 38 and given just 18 months to live. Over 21 years later, he joins Tom to share how fishing helped him survive, how mindset plays into healing, and why he wrote An Exercise in Uncertainty.

This episode covers purpose, parenting, diagnosis, remission, resilience, and how to live when you don't know how much time you have left.

If you liked this episode, share it with a friend, rate the show, and stay tuned for more unfiltered conversations.

Tune in to hear this inspiring story and learn from John's experiences. You can also buy Jonathan’s book, “An Exercise in Uncertainty” wherever books are sold. 

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:18 Fishing in Idaho and Jackson

00:47 The Glory Days of Fishing

01:16 Challenges of the Salmon Fly Hatch

02:54 Introducing the Book: An Exercise in Uncertainty

03:17 John's Illness and Diagnosis

03:51 Fishing as a Lifeline

04:47 Writing and Fishing Adventures

08:17 Career and Writing Focus

10:23 The Diagnosis Journey

18:26 Coping with Uncertainty

26:02 Purpose and Priorities

29:10 Fishing Dreams and Realities

33:25 Reflections on Health and Life

35:42 Facing Mortality and Embracing Life

36:45 Dealing with Remission and Relapse

39:22 Finding Solace in Fishing

42:36 The Role of Diet and Exercise

44:56 Advice for Cancer Patients

48:08 Writing the Book: A Journey of Reflection

53:53 The Importance of Mindset

01:05:08 Publishing and Promoting the Book

01:13:12 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

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How Jake Hutchison Built a Career in Fishing and Social Media

Over the last year, we got a little carried away trying to organize the podcast into its own channels and destinations.

The idea was to make things easier, but I realize now—it just created more confusion.

That’s on us. And I really appreciate your patience.

So here’s what we’re doing to fix it:

✅ Every single episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast is now back where it belongs (Saltwater Experience YouTube Channel)

✅ We’ve built organized playlists so you can find exactly what you’re looking for — Full Lengths, How-To Tuesdays, Physical Fridays, Behind the Scenes, and more.

From Here Forward…this is home!

👉 Subscribe now to Saltwater Experience on YouTube to stay connected and never miss an episode.

Today we are bringing back Ryan Crouser— a 6’7, 335lb bowhunting, bass fishing, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist in the Shot Put!

Ryan discusses his athletic journey, his extensive training and nutrition regimen, and how fishing serves as his mental escape. Ryan also shares insights about his innovative shot put technique known as the ‘Crouser slide.' Additionally, they delve into Ryan's background in various sports, his impressive feats in weightlifting, and his aspirations in fishing, including his dream of catching a tarpon on a fly.

I have followed Mark Quartiano who is better known as Mark The Shark for a couple of years. To say that Mark is controversial is an understatement. Mark seems to relish the role as the bad boy of Sportfishing and referred to himself as the Darth Vader of Sportfishing.

This was interesting to me because he also seems to have a lot of kind of contrary opinions and actions to being the badboy. For example, Mark has no problem killing big sharks and posting the pictures on Instagram, however after talking to him for a while I also learned that he has tagged more sharks than anyone in the world.

He doesn't just kill sharks for no reason, they are sent to biologists or he takes them to the homeless shelter.

We discussed sharks, of course, tournaments, water quality and family as well as many other subjects. We may disagree on a few things but we also agree on probably way more than we disagree. In fact, at the end of the conversation I really liked Mark and respected his work ethic that has him working 450 trips a year…every year.

This week on the podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Andy Strelcheck, NOAA's Southeast Regional Fisheries Administrator. We talked about everything from fisheries regulations to data collection methods. 

Andy provided a ton of insight into how NOAA works with state agencies like the FWC, the challenges of managing both commercial and recreational fisheries, and even delved into the complexities of assessing the Southeast's favorite—red snapper. 

We also discussed innovations in data collection, the importance of using descending devices, and how to get involved in fisheries management councils and advisory panels. If you care about our ocean’s fish populations and sustainable fishing practices, this is a must-listen! 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:24 NOAA's Role and Public Perception

01:48 Goals and Collaboration with State Authorities

04:08 Data Collection Challenges

06:24 Commercial vs. Recreational Data Collection

07:24 Release Mortality and Observation Methods

10:33 Regulations on Descending Devices and Venting Tools

14:13 Understanding Fisheries Management Structure

22:34 Red Snapper Population and Management

29:43 Data Collection Methods in Fisheries

30:41 Challenges and Criticisms in Sampling

31:19 The Gold Standard: Fishery Independent Surveys

38:18 Technological Advances in Data Processing

41:02 Cooperative Research and Citizen Science

43:10 Grouper Regulations and Population Management

45:27 Shark Management and Population Trends

57:46 Recreational Anglers' Role in Fisheries Management

01:00:23 Conclusion and Contact Information

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In this episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, I sit down with Captain David Cohen to discuss the intricacies of tarpon fishing in Miami. 

David shares his experiences over seven years of full-time guiding, providing insights on how fishing has evolved and the techniques he's found most effective. From the importance of using the right hook and leader lengths to the invaluable role of a trolling motor, David offers a wealth of knowledge. 

We also delve into the challenges of maintaining physical fitness as a fishing guide, the competitiveness of the Miami fishing scene, and the nuances of using platforms like Fishing Booker for marketing. 

Tune in for an in-depth conversation filled with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and a deep passion for the sport.

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:27 Fishing in Miami: A Seven-Year Journey

01:18 Tarpon Fishing Techniques and Strategies

03:42 The Art of Hooking and Fighting Tarpon

06:41 Maximizing Success with Multiple Rods

10:48 Advanced Techniques and Client Management

24:42 The Importance of Leader Length and Knot Selection

32:08 The Evolution of Fishing Hooks

32:43 Choosing the Right Hook Size

34:37 Fishing Techniques and Strategies

39:26 Balancing Fitness and Fishing

49:48 The Business of Fishing in Miami

57:18 Navigating Miami's Fishing Scene

01:01:02 Conclusion and Contact Information

🚀 Special Thanks to Our Sponsor:

Star brite https://bit.ly/TomRowlandPodcast

👋 Stay Connected with Tom Rowland:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tomrowlandpodcast

Website & Show Notes https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0

Text: +1 (305) 930-7346

Email: [email protected]

🔗 Explore More:

All Socials and Links https://linktr.ee/TomRowlandPodcast

🎥 Discover More of Tom’s Shows:

Saltwater Experience https://bit.ly/4by096g

Into the Blue Fishing https://bit.ly/48VZYju

Life on the Water https://bit.ly/3Pp9rbs