Tom Rowland Podcast

Dan Dillon is the founder behind Aquaphobix, a heat-applied, non-ablative marine coating that started in swimming pools and is now being tested on fiberglass boats. In this conversation, we dig into the torch-on application, why copper-based bottom paint is still everywhere, and how certifications like Marine Life Safe and Drinking Water Safe translate from pools to marinas and beyond. Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: How a pool coating ended up on boats — and why the blowtorch is part of the magic The honest breakdown of copper paints, “ablative” flakes, and microplastics in our water and fish Certifications that actually matter (not greenwashing): marine life and drinking-water safe Real-world cases: SeaWorld exhibits, a 102-year-old public pool, and what marinas care about (hint: sanding revenue) The ROI angle for anglers: fewer haul-outs, better performance, less mess — and where this could go (buoys to cruise ships) Timestamps 00:00

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.

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

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.”

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 Instagram — @jordanthomasfoundation Website — https://www.jordanthomasfoundation.org Free Resources Saltwater Knot Guide — https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP Tom Rowland Podcast — https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversationshttps://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 Follow the Show Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/tvswe

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.

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. In this conversation, we go deep on combat, trauma, forgiveness, psychedelic therapy, shark tagging, and how fishing changes lives. Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: How fishing gave Jimmy purpose when everything else was falling apart. The raw truth about combat, concussions, and what veterans really experience. Jimmy’s near-death experience — and how it changed his outlook forever. The power of psychedelic therapy (Ibogaine & Ayahuasca) in healing trauma. Why helping veterans isn’t about pity — it’s about purpose, community, and action.

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, a

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 01:10 Growing Up in Cabo 06:45

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. In this conversation, we talk about trauma, faith, family, facing your fears, and how this young man chose purpose over fear—and joy over bitterness. Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: The unbelievable moment Jameson said, “Jesus is going to save me,” moments after losing his leg Jamon’s impossible decision to hand off his son to a stranger on a faster boat Jameson’s vision of Jesus and the peace that carried him through the ride back The family’s return t

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 C

How Jake Hutchison Built a Career in Fishing and Social Media In this episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, I sit down with social media expert and fishing enthusiast Jake Hutcheson. Jake shares his unique journey from fishing in bass tournaments as a middle schooler to building custom rods and managing social media for Mudhole, a fishing rod company. Discover how growing out his hair became the best decision Jake made for his business development and hear his insights on using social media to drive sales and build a brand in the fishing industry. All of my other socials can be found here : https://linktr.ee/TomRowlandPodcast The Tom Rowland Podcast is presented by Star brite! Star brite is clean and protect with Star brite, a leading manufacturer of appearance, maintenance, and performance chemicals and accessories, serving the marine, RV, automotive, powersports, hardware, and home care industries for over 50 years. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and with its manufacturing plant in Montgomery, AL,

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!

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. I wanted to learn more about what made him tick so I took a chance and sent him a message. To my surprise, he responded right away and we set up the podcast even though he didn't know what a podcast was. When I met him at his iconic office in Miami it was literally jammed with shark jaws, pictures st

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 Regul

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 Clien

In this episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, I sit down with Harley Van Henning, better known as Gnarley Harley, to delve into his unique journey into the world of fish printing.  Harley shares how his mother's formal art training influenced his creative path and how his love for the ocean and surfing shaped his artistic focus.  We discuss the intricate process of fish printing, the challenges of working with different species, and the importance of staying true to one's artistic vision.  Harley also offers advice for aspiring artists and reflects on his experiences traveling and painting fish around the world. Join us for a fascinating conversation about the intersection of art, nature, and passion. 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:28 Harley's Artistic Journey 01:33 The Influence of Harley's Mother 02:17 The Personal Nature of Art 07:52 Balancing Art and Marketing 13:56 Growing Up in Destin 16:01 Harley's Early Career and Podcasting 23:35 Discovering Gyotaku Art 37:29 The Impact of Fish Printin

In this episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, I sit down with international angler Leanne Powell, who recently set a world record for bass fishing. Leanne shares her intriguing journey into fishing, which began at a young age and became a serious pursuit after significant personal losses in 2015.  We discuss her life between the U.S. and the Middle East, her experiences with tournament fishing, and the unique challenges and triumphs of being a woman in male-dominated sports like fishing and car racing. Leanne also highlights her aspirations for future tournaments, the importance of perseverance, and her goal to inspire others through her passion for fishing.  Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, ambition, and the love for angling. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:28 Leanne's Early Fishing Journey 01:21 Fishing Adventures in the Middle East 05:57 Transition to Tournament Fishing 08:42 Racing and Mechanic Work 15:45 Life in Texas and Fishing Tournaments 25:36 World Record

In this episode, I sit down with Captain Tony Young from Forever Young Charter Company, who recently completed the grueling Keys 100 race. We dive into Tony's inspiration to run a 100-mile race, his training regimen, and how he balances his demanding life as one of the top charter captains in the Florida Keys.  Tony shares the profound experiences and challenges he faced during the race and how ultrarunning has impacted his approach to his business and life.  We also get insights into the operations of Forever Young Charters, its rapid growth, and the specialized fishing and diving trips they offer. Don't miss this engaging conversation filled with motivation, dedication, and a peek into the extraordinary life of Captain Tony Young. 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:19 Tony's First 100-Mile Race Experience 00:58 The Journey to Ultra Running 02:09 Forever Young Charters: A Growing Business 03:50 Balancing Work and Training 08:48 Training and Nutrition for Ultra Marathons 17:47 The Mental and P

In this episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, I sit down with Enrique Zapata, a record-holder for multiple pull-up endurance challenges. Enrique opens up about his journey from battling serious health issues, including obesity, hypertension, and panic attacks, to transforming his life by breaking pull-up records.  He shares the physical and mental struggles he faced along the way, the inspiration he drew from David Goggins, and the scientific approach he takes to optimize his performance.  We also delve into Enrique's training regimen, the sacrifices he's had to make, and his future goals to inspire others. Tune in to hear Enrique's incredible story of resilience and determination. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:38 Enrique's Pull-Up Records and Motivation 01:32 Personal Transformation Journey 03:53 Mindset and Overcoming Doubts 06:38 Training and Techniques 11:29 Challenges and Sacrifices 14:00 Scientific Approach to Training 21:29 Preparing for the Record Attempt 34:25 Dealing with Pa