Captain Scott Moore is a West Coast Florida legend — 50+ years on the water, a conservation bulldog, and the namesake of Manatee County’s finest public boat ramp. He’s guided through countless cycles of boom-and-bust fisheries, fought for preserves, and helped push pivotal policy from the snook/redfish era to today’s water-quality battles.

We talk hurricanes and recovery on Anna Maria Island, why mangroves are the best windbreak on earth, the real “groceries” fish need, and how law, science, and local knowledge collide on the water. We also get into gear evolution (from nylon cast nets to braid), guiding as the entertainment business, snook lights, canal aeration, aquaculture at Mote Marine, and why respectful advocacy beats shouting every time.

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

The community response after four feet of storm surge — and how a true island steps up.

Why trimmed mangroves often fare better in storms, and what black mangroves need to survive.

“It’s about the groceries”: managing forage and estuaries, not just gamefish.

Guiding wisdom: safety, teaching, hospitality — then fish.

The net-ban era, law enforcement realities, and what policy actually moves the needle.

Practical water quality fixes: septic conversions, canal aeration, turf buffers, and realistic tradeoffs.

Honoring legacy: why the county named a boat ramp after Scott — and what that really means.

Visit Captain Scott’s home waters — Anna Maria Island, FL

Connect with local conservation groups mentioned:

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Carey Chen is a world-traveled marine artist and lifelong fisherman who turned a passion for blue water into a career—painting billfish from memory and chasing giants with some of the best crews on earth. Born in Los Angeles to Jamaican parents, raised in Jamaica, and later based in Miami, Carey went from motorcycles and video stores to fishing tournaments across the Caribbean, licensing deals, and live painting at world-class events.

In this conversation, we get into how a first sailfish on a kite lit the fuse, why sonar is changing offshore fishing (and why he thinks it’ll soon be on every boat), what it’s like to fish with the Bad Company program, and how a lifetime of travel turned into 3,000+ paintings “stuck in his head.”

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

The first sailfish on a kite off Miami—and how one fish can change your life

From fisherman to painter: leaving retail, painting live, and getting “discovered” at boat shows

Fishing the world with Bad Company: Mag Bay marlin numbers that sound impossible until you see them

The sonar debate: why new tech doesn’t replace skill—but rewards crews who master it

Big-fish mindset: chasing granders, tagging programs, and letting the big breeders go

Seychelles, Cape Verde, Madeira: what “no-pressure” fisheries really feel like

Growing up around legends—boxing promoters, Bob Marley, and the value of giving back through art

Timestamps

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Shane Reynolds is an award-winning producer, explorer, and storyteller who’s worked on Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, and Travel Channel shows in more than 65 countries. You might know him as Color Earth on Instagram, where his camera drops reveal the hidden world under piers, bridges, and reefs.

In this conversation, we dive into:

How a simple 360 camera drop turned into viral content.

The wildest behind-the-scenes stories from Nat Geo and Discovery expeditions.

Sharks, aggregations, and what’s really happening under Florida’s waters.

Survival in the Guyana jungle while filming “Shane Untamed.”

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At 16, Jordan Thomas lost both legs in a Keys boating accident—and turned it into purpose. He launched the Jordan Thomas Foundation to help kids get the prosthetics and community they need through age 18, and he’s now a top adaptive golfer competing at the US Adaptive Open in Pinehurst.

We get into mindset and trauma, why running blades aren’t covered, real talk on water safety, community beats hardware, and pushing policy so access is affordable and durable. Big heart, big mission—tons of practical takeaways.

Connect with Jordan

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Conway Bowman is a legendary San Diego fly-fishing guide and pioneer of sight-fishing mako sharks from a 24’ bay boat.

He’s a former wetlands manager who grew up in San Diego, spent summers in Idaho, and built a career around putting anglers eye-to-eye with apex predators—and sending them home safely.

In this conversation, we talk about why makos have gotten so big, the exact conditions he looks for, and the discipline it takes to keep people safe when a 400- to 800-pound shark turns on the afterburners.

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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

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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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