Fat Dad Fishing Show

Fat Dad Fishing Show
  • 5.0 (40)
  • WILDERNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join the Fat Dad Fishing Show on our quest to help the average saltwater angler to catch more fish and have a better on-the-water experience. Each week we will be covering topics to help anglers get the most out of their time targeting multiple species spanning the entire east coast of the USA. We will cover fishing for flounder ( fluke ), striped bass, weakfish, sheepshead, bluefish, tuna, and many more. On some episodes we talk in detail about how to catch flounder, while on others we will take a deep dive into saltwater fishing gear. While our home area ranges from DE to NY, we will speak with guests throughout the east coast. If you find value in the podcast, or are entertained please consider following the podcast, sharing with friends, and leaving a great review. All of these help us to reach more anglers and draw more guests! Tight lines!

  1. 21H AGO

    EP 64: Audience Choice of Topics

    Send a text Cold water doesn’t mean quiet water. We open the lines for a live, no-frills breakdown of early-season tactics that actually catch in back bays and coastal inlets, from snap-jigging for March stripers to building fluke bucktails that look right where it counts—viewed from below. I share the exact lure sizes, colors, and retrieves that keep bites coming when temps are stubborn, plus how to rig a simple teaser system to target weakfish and fluke on the same drift without retying. If you’ve been wondering how small to go, how fast to move, and how high to fish in the column, this is the practical guide you’ve been asking for. We also talk shop beyond lures. Natural hair versus silicone isn’t a fashion debate; it’s about breath, profile, and how well scent sticks. I explain why brown paired with white can close more fish in clear and dirty water alike, how to choose bucktail weight without pounding bottom, and why scents should be used as much to mask gasoline and smoke as to attract predators. You’ll hear the old-school WD-40 stories, then get modern, dependable scent habits that work in current and hold up over a full drift. Community sits at the heart of our time together. I share why we’re stepping back from a Discord rollout over new verification demands and exploring safer options that respect your privacy. We address the Potomac River sewage disaster and its downstream punch to the Chesapeake’s ecosystem and fishing economy. And for Jersey anglers, we clear the air on a rumor about Surf City Bait & Tackle—new owner, same bait shop, keep supporting local. Looking ahead, we’re planning more Fat Dad Fishing party boat trips, and I want your picks for species, ports, and captains. If this helped tune up your spring game, follow the show, share it with a fishing buddy who loves details, and leave a quick review so more anglers can find us. Have a guest or topic you want to hear? Reach out—let’s build the season together. Great Bay Outfitters - Gear Up!Your go-to shop for top fishing gear, apparel, and kayak essentials in South Jersey.Quad State Tune For Your Toyota Truck Custom engine tuning for peak performance for Toyota trucks. Improve power and performance today.Richard Natoli Real Estate Helping PA homeowners buy & sell with confidence. 267-270-1145 or NatoliRealEstate@Gmail.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Fat Dad YouTube Channel: (569) Fat Dad Fishing - YouTube Fat Dad Instagram: @fat.dad.fishing Fat Dad Facebook: (7) Fat Dad Fishing | Facebook Email: rich@fatdadfishing.com

    59 min

  2. 6D AGO

    EP 63: Bucket List Fishing Trip To The Amazon with Erik Cohen

    Send a text Most anglers wait for the “right time” to chase a dream trip—and then life moves the goalposts. We decided to flip that script, tracing a real path from a cold New Jersey winter to a seaplane touching down on a tea-colored Amazon tributary where peacock bass punch topwater baits like sledgehammers. This is a step-by-step, no-mystique breakdown of how to plan, book, and fish a bucket list adventure without getting burned. We dig into the decisions that matter: why a mobile, floating-cabin operation can beat a fixed lodge when water levels swing overnight; how a “river train” leapfrogs camp five to seven miles while you fish so every evening ends at a new beach; and what droughts, floods, and pressure mean for your odds. On the water, we get granular: the walk-the-dog topwaters that consistently produce, when to swap to subsurface divers, and how the infamous wood chopper turns calm coves into chaos. We talk baitcaster vs spinning in tight timber, packing travel rods and fly gear that actually earn their space, and the surprising safety wins—like carrying a Garmin inReach when an engine dies in the middle of nowhere. The fish? Big, mean, and unforgettable. Three-bar peacock bass that get nastier near the net, butterflies that keep your rod bent, and piranhas that chew through a rainstorm just when you least expect it. We cover guide savvy you can’t Google—lure rescues from branches, reading bank wood, and exactly how local access agreements open water most anglers never see. We also compare Florida peacocks to Brazil’s giants, then look ahead to a fly-only, clear-water, rapid-run fishery co-managed with indigenous communities for a multi-species twist. If you’ve been telling yourself “next year,” consider this your sign. Grab the intel, pick dates that match the river, and go make memories instead of excuses. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review with your top bucket list target—we might build a future guide around it. Great Bay Outfitters - Gear Up!Your go-to shop for top fishing gear, apparel, and kayak essentials in South Jersey.Quad State Tune For Your Toyota Truck Custom engine tuning for peak performance for Toyota trucks. Improve power and performance today.Richard Natoli Real Estate Helping PA homeowners buy & sell with confidence. 267-270-1145 or NatoliRealEstate@Gmail.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Fat Dad YouTube Channel: (569) Fat Dad Fishing - YouTube Fat Dad Instagram: @fat.dad.fishing Fat Dad Facebook: (7) Fat Dad Fishing | Facebook Email: rich@fatdadfishing.com

    53 min

  3. FEB 3

    EP 62: We Can’t Fish, So We Talk About It with Captains Josh and Ben

    Send us a text Winter slammed the Mid-Atlantic, but we’re not wasting it. We trade the skunk for strategy with a practical guide to thriving off the water: how to rebuild reels the right way, why baitfeeder spinning reels shine for tog and sheepshead drops, and how to use YouTube without drowning in highlight reels. We chase the channels that actually teach, share a few lesser-known creators worth your time, and talk through the quiet habits that pay off big when the thaw hits. If you fish from a kayak, this is your tune-up. We break down pedal drive grease points, hidden line traps that drain batteries and burn bearings, and the right way to set rudder cable tension when temps are bouncing. We also get real about electronics: you don’t need the newest sonar to find structure, bunker, or piling shadows. Shop the model changeover window, support your local shop, and prioritize reliability over buzzwords. We swap stories about species diversity—thirty-plus over a season on a good year—and why keeping a sharp log matters. Last spring ran cold, and runoff held stripers back; the signs point that way again. We share a smarter timeline for the early run, perch plans if you find open water, and the simple tackle choices that make circle hooks and light leaders work. Along the way, Captain Josh and Benji deliver the kind of dock talk you want: small tips with outsized impact, laughs about octopus cameos and rogue squid, and a straight take on safety. Cold water demands partners, PFDs, and dry suits. No fish is worth a bad headline. Ready to turn a frozen week into a better season? Hit play, grab a notebook, and set up your reels, kayak, and finder now so spring feels easy. Subscribe, share this with a fishing buddy who needs a winter plan, and leave a review with your best off-season tip—we’ll feature our favorites on a future show. Great Bay Outfitters - Gear Up!Your go-to shop for top fishing gear, apparel, and kayak essentials in South Jersey.Quad State Tune For Your Toyota Truck Custom engine tuning for peak performance for Toyota trucks. Improve power and performance today.Richard Natoli Real Estate Helping PA homeowners buy & sell with confidence. 267-270-1145 or NatoliRealEstate@Gmail.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Fat Dad YouTube Channel: (569) Fat Dad Fishing - YouTube Fat Dad Instagram: @fat.dad.fishing Fat Dad Facebook: (7) Fat Dad Fishing | Facebook Email: rich@fatdadfishing.com

    1h 6m
  4. EP 61: Fishing for Anything, Everywhere with Justin Lerner

    JAN 27

    EP 61: Fishing for Anything, Everywhere with Justin Lerner

    Send us a text Winter shut down the ramps, so we opened the map. We brought on traveling angler and musician Justin Lerner to chart a course from Florida inlets to Northeast canyons, with a hard left into South America where Golden Dorado blow up topwater like it owes them money. Justin grew up in New Jersey, lives on Florida’s east coast, and treats tactics like a universal language: fish the environment first, species second. That lens reframes snook as trout with palm trees, explains why reds and specks share the same points, and shows how a three-inch paddle tail can be a passport. We go deep on bucket-list planning without the fluff—what windows to pick for summer beach snook from Jupiter to Sebastian, where to find trout in grass-rich stretches of the Indian and Banana Rivers, and when to aim for giant redfish schools in the Chesapeake and outer banks. Offshore, the talk turns to yellowfin and bigeye, translating trolling and jigging to poppers and spinning gear when conditions allow. Then we fast-forward to true giants: Columbia River white sturgeon on whole shad in 70 to 200 feet, seven- to ten-foot “dinosaurs” that jump slow enough to film. Justin also shares quick hits on Australia’s GTs and southern bluefin, plus a sleeper pick for trophy pike in New Jersey’s Passaic. It’s not all grip-and-grin. We pull apart the water quality mess behind Lake Okeechobee releases, red tides, and failing sewage systems, and compare Florida’s proactive FWC management with the Northeast’s council tangle. The bottom line: closures and net bans can rebuild stocks, but habitat and runoff still decide the ceiling. If you’re plotting a dream trip, this conversation gives you a clear, seasonal roadmap, gear guidance that travels, and a mindset to read current, edges, and forage anywhere. If you enjoyed this one, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a winter escape, and drop a review to help more anglers find us. What fish are you chasing next? Great Bay Outfitters - Gear Up!Your go-to shop for top fishing gear, apparel, and kayak essentials in South Jersey.Quad State Tune For Your Toyota Truck Custom engine tuning for peak performance for Toyota trucks. Improve power and performance today.Richard Natoli Real Estate Helping PA homeowners buy & sell with confidence. 267-270-1145 or NatoliRealEstate@Gmail.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Fat Dad YouTube Channel: (569) Fat Dad Fishing - YouTube Fat Dad Instagram: @fat.dad.fishing Fat Dad Facebook: (7) Fat Dad Fishing | Facebook Email: rich@fatdadfishing.com

    1h 17m

  5. JAN 20

    EP 60: Bucktails That Consistently Catch Fish

    Send us a text A bucktail can be the most forgiving lure in your box—or the most finely tuned instrument—depending on how you build and fish it. We sat down with Ed of Captain Hank’s Tackle to break Bucktails 101 into practical choices that catch more fish: the right head for your water, the right hook for your bite, and the right hair for your target. We start with head shapes and what they actually do underwater. Ball heads ride clean and keep the point up for back bay fluke. Minnow heads shift weight forward for a nose-down stance offshore. Skimmer heads shine on shallow flats, and smiling bills rule the surf for stripers with that subtle V-cut swim. From there we get into hook geometry: eye angle, shank length, and forged strength. Longer shanks and quality black nickel hooks convert more short-striking fluke, while stout wire prevents heartbreak when a striper, tog, or even an unexpected shark shows up. Hair volume and profile decide whether you’re teasing or feeding. Sparse top-and-bottom ties streamline the silhouette for fluke and put steel in the mouth faster. Bulked-out striper ties leverage hollow hair to flare and control sink rate. We talk trailers and action—why grubs and paddles outfish static plastics—and how season and clarity change the playbook: light heads and four-inch baits in spring backwaters, heavier jigs and larger profiles as fish slide deeper. We compare real bucktail to silicone skirts for durability around blues and offshore work, and we touch on glow paints, strategic flash, and color-matching jig heads to Gulp favorites like new penny and nuclear chicken. If you’ve ever wondered why one “identical” bucktail outperforms another, this conversation gives you the blueprint: pick the head for your hydrodynamics, the hook for your hookup, and the hair for your fish and water. Plus, we swap stories on tog jigs—including the surprisingly deadly “dirty diaper”—and share when to go plain jig head to save gear on wrecks. Subscribe for more practical tackle breakdowns, share this with a bucktail-obsessed friend, and drop a comment with your confidence color and head style so we can test it next time. Great Bay Outfitters - Gear Up!Your go-to shop for top fishing gear, apparel, and kayak essentials in South Jersey.Quad State Tune For Your Toyota Truck Custom engine tuning for peak performance for Toyota trucks. Improve power and performance today.Richard Natoli Real Estate Helping PA homeowners buy & sell with confidence. 267-270-1145 or NatoliRealEstate@Gmail.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Fat Dad YouTube Channel: (569) Fat Dad Fishing - YouTube Fat Dad Instagram: @fat.dad.fishing Fat Dad Facebook: (7) Fat Dad Fishing | Facebook Email: rich@fatdadfishing.com

    1h 7m
  6. EP 59: Recapping 2025 and Chasing 2026

    JAN 13

    EP 59: Recapping 2025 and Chasing 2026

    Send us a text The mics may be scratchy and the coughs unavoidable, but the mission couldn’t be clearer: turn a growing fishing show into a real-world family. We kick off 2026 with an honest 2025 recap, a salute to the Osprey party boat trip that brought chat names to life, and a peek at the download surge that pushed the pod into the top 25% across 64 countries. Numbers aside, the heartbeat is community—connecting anglers, lifting small businesses, and making space for the kind of days you remember years later. We lay out a season shaped by intention. Scotty opens up about guiding at full tilt and the toll it took, then sets his north star: more days fishing with his dad, more room to explore new water, and a stronger Sevens Fishing brand that stretches beyond the wheelhouse. We talk sheep’s head roots and the double-digit fish his dad stuck first, then pivot to the bite that surprised us: brackish back-bay stripers loaded with sea lice miles from the inlet. From there, we map real meetups—Fat Dad Fridays before striper opener, late-spring fluke on a party boat, and casual dinners where stories and plans take shape. Ambition shows up offshore. We outline a mothership mission that ferries kayaks to mahi pots and football tuna, with safety-first captains, clear skill checks, and spots for boat-only anglers who want in on the action. Add a renewed push into freshwater—trout, muskie, even a noodling idea from the chat—and you get a season that blends salt and stream without losing focus. We also spotlight small-business heroes: Great Bay Outfitters’ serious kayak rigs, smart jig boxes that fix the rig mess, and regional makers worth your dollars before you click any big-box link. If you’ve been waiting to jump from comments to real rail space, this is your year. Tap the polls for meetup dates, bring a friend to the fluke trip, and send us the names of local captains and shops we should feature. Subscribe, share this with a fishing buddy, and leave a review to help the Fat Dad family grow. And tell us: what’s your boldest fishing goal for 2026? Great Bay Outfitters - Gear Up!Your go-to shop for top fishing gear, apparel, and kayak essentials in South Jersey.Quad State Tune For Your Toyota Truck Custom engine tuning for peak performance for Toyota trucks. Improve power and performance today.Richard Natoli Real Estate Helping PA homeowners buy & sell with confidence. 267-270-1145 or NatoliRealEstate@Gmail.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Fat Dad YouTube Channel: (569) Fat Dad Fishing - YouTube Fat Dad Instagram: @fat.dad.fishing Fat Dad Facebook: (7) Fat Dad Fishing | Facebook Email: rich@fatdadfishing.com

    1 hr
  7. EP 58: Mastering Trout in Cold Weather with Chris Matuson

    12/23/2025

    EP 58: Mastering Trout in Cold Weather with Chris Matuson

    Send us a text Cold winds, canceled boats, and cabin fever don’t have to end your season. We head upstream to chase winter trout in clear, moving water and break down a simple, reliable playbook: ultralight gear, two confidence lures, and the patience to fish slow and low. With Chris Matusin joining Rich, we dig into what holdover trout actually do when temperatures drop and why the best water isn’t the obvious stock truck pull-off, but the bends, seams, and plunge pools where oxygen and food collide. We get specific about setups that matter in cold conditions: 4.5- to 5.5-foot ultralight rods, 2- to 4-pound mono, and compact jerkbaits that suspend naturally. Chris explains why a slim 2.5-inch minnow-pattern jerkbait is his first tie-on, how a size 4 Panther Martin with a smooth silver blade digs deeper without tail hair, and when to pivot to a subtle drift with trout magnets or natural-tone PowerBait on size 12–14 hooks. You’ll hear how to place split shot for different flows, watch the line for whisper-light takes, and use casting angles to pass through both primary current and the recirculating eddy where fish wait. We also cover cold-weather strategy beyond the tackle: dressing to stay out longer, taking warm-up breaks, and timing trips for mid-morning sun when a tiny temperature bump can flip the switch. Expect a practical map for finding productive stretches—fast water pouring into deeper runs, eddies that feed back upstream, and long glides that stay open while others skim with ice. Whether you’re pivoting from saltwater or returning to roots on PA creeks, you’ll leave with a winter pattern you can trust and a short list of spots to build into your annual milk run. Enjoyed this one? Follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a winter plan, and drop your best cold-water trout photo or tip in the comments. Your reviews help more anglers find the podcast—leave one and tell us your go-to winter lure. Great Bay Outfitters - Gear Up!Your go-to shop for top fishing gear, apparel, and kayak essentials in South Jersey.Quad State Tune For Your Toyota Truck Custom engine tuning for peak performance for Toyota trucks. Improve power and performance today.Richard Natoli Real Estate Helping PA homeowners buy & sell with confidence. 267-270-1145 or NatoliRealEstate@Gmail.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Fat Dad YouTube Channel: (569) Fat Dad Fishing - YouTube Fat Dad Instagram: @fat.dad.fishing Fat Dad Facebook: (7) Fat Dad Fishing | Facebook Email: rich@fatdadfishing.com

    1h 4m
  8. EP 57: Night Bites, Secret Squirrels, & Tackle Truths with Stefanos (Sport Fishing Outlet)

    12/16/2025

    EP 57: Night Bites, Secret Squirrels, & Tackle Truths with Stefanos (Sport Fishing Outlet)

    Send us a text The best fishing conversations start with a simple truth: the right presentation beats the biggest hype. We sit down with Stefanos, the mind behind Sport Fishing Outlet, to unpack what actually works—from cold-river walleye to night-striper missions and land-based fluke that rival boat limits. If you’ve ever wondered why your wrist is moving but your lure isn’t, or how a tiny weight dot can turn a floater into a suspender that hangs in the strike zone, you’re in the right place. We start with why night fishing wins more than just solitude. Stripers, fluke, and bass eat differently after dark, and the tactics change with them: listen for topwater slurps, lean into slower swings, and trust subtle taps on the drop. Then we map winter walleye in real detail—identifying river “winter holes” below riffles and dam systems, reading current seams, and watching line in the cold. Stefanos explains how to tune jerkbaits to truly suspend, when to swap to paddletails or flukes, and why the lightest jig you can control often outfishes a brick every time. Gear myths get a friendly shake. Rod action matters more than logo: fast tips to snap jigs, moderate bends for cranks and bait. Kayak anglers learn why 7’3” to 7’6” rods save battles at the bow. We cover versatile inshore setups that handle stripers, tog, fluke, and river crossovers without a dozen combos. And yes, color counts—sometimes—but action and profile usually win. The lesson repeats across stories: plan with maps and tides, log your results, and fish lighter and slower than you think. We wrap with the heartbeat of a great local shop: conversations that turn curiosity into confidence. SFO’s shelves reflect what anglers actually catch on, not what ads suggest. You’ll hear about their new site, a listener discount, and how to connect at the Philadelphia Fishing Show. If you’re ready to fish smarter this season—night or day, river or surf—press play, take notes, and share the tactic you’re trying first. Enjoyed this one? Follow the show, share it with a fishing buddy, and leave a review so more anglers can find us. Then tell us: what’s your confidence lure after dark? Richard Natoli Real Estate Helping PA homeowners buy & sell with confidence. 267-270-1145 or NatoliRealEstate@Gmail.comGreat Bay Outfitters - Gear Up!Your go-to shop for top fishing gear, apparel, and kayak essentials in South Jersey.Quad State Tune For Your Toyota Truck Custom engine tuning for peak performance for Toyota trucks. Improve power and performance today.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Fat Dad YouTube Channel: (569) Fat Dad Fishing - YouTube Fat Dad Instagram: @fat.dad.fishing Fat Dad Facebook: (7) Fat Dad Fishing | Facebook Email: rich@fatdadfishing.com

    1h 27m
See All (64)

5
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

Join the Fat Dad Fishing Show on our quest to help the average saltwater angler to catch more fish and have a better on-the-water experience. Each week we will be covering topics to help anglers get the most out of their time targeting multiple species spanning the entire east coast of the USA. We will cover fishing for flounder ( fluke ), striped bass, weakfish, sheepshead, bluefish, tuna, and many more. On some episodes we talk in detail about how to catch flounder, while on others we will take a deep dive into saltwater fishing gear. While our home area ranges from DE to NY, we will speak with guests throughout the east coast. If you find value in the podcast, or are entertained please consider following the podcast, sharing with friends, and leaving a great review. All of these help us to reach more anglers and draw more guests! Tight lines!

Information

  • Creator
    Fat Dad Fishing Show
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fat Dad Fishing Show
  • Show Website
    Fat Dad Fishing Show

You Might Also Like