Captain Brandon Simmons | How To Use Sand Balls To Improve Your Offshore Fishing | Ep. 389
Captain Brandon Simmons is a fishing guide based at Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys, specializing in reef fishing techniques including mutton snapper fishing using sand ball chumming methods. In this How 2 Tuesday episode, Brandon reveals why most reef fishermen are only chumming the top three or four feet of the water column—and missing the trophy fish waiting on the bottom. He walks through his exact sandball mixing technique, explains the critical consistency that makes it work, and shares why a simple gaff is better than any fancy mixing tool. If you've been putting out a chum bag and wondering why you're only catching yellows, this conversation will change your offshore game.
Tom Rowland | Improving Your Leg Strength For More Endurance On The Water | TRP Ep. 388
Tom Rowland, host of Saltwater Experience and the Tom Rowland Podcast, shares practical leg strength exercises that anglers can do at home to build endurance for long days on the water. In this solo episode, Tom demonstrates two simple but highly effective movements—the air squat and the weighted step-up—that require nothing more than your body weight and everyday items like a cooler or tackle box. Whether you're battling waves in the Florida Keys or maintaining balance on an offshore platform, these exercises address the exact muscle groups fishermen need most. Tom explains why so many anglers struggle with fatigue during extended trips and reveals how strengthening your legs can transform your fishing performance without expensive gym equipment or complicated routines.
Alexa Score | Professional Wakeboarder to Cancer Survivor to TV Host | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 387
Alexa Score is a professional wakeboarder from Minnesota who became a cancer survivor after being diagnosed during her athletic career, using her platform and resilience to transition into television broadcasting. In this conversation, she reveals the unexpected moment when a routine check led to a life-changing diagnosis, how she navigated the mental and physical challenges of treatment while maintaining her competitive edge, and the specific mindset shifts that helped her turn adversity into opportunity. If you've ever wondered how elite athletes handle the unthinkable—or what it takes to rebuild your identity when your career path gets derailed—this episode offers raw insights you won't find anywhere else.
Kevin Pavlidis | How To Avoid Dangerous Snakes In The Wild | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 386
Kevin Pavlidis, known as the Snakeaholic, is a reptile expert and wildlife educator based in South Florida who wrestles alligators and performs educational shows at Everglades Holiday Park in Western Fort Lauderdale. In this episode, Kevin reveals why that rattlesnake shaking its tail isn't being aggressive—it's actually terrified. He explains the simple woodsmanship techniques turkey hunters and deer hunters need to avoid dangerous encounters, what to do when you walk into a hunting blind at 4:00 in the morning and discover you're not alone, and why the most dangerous thing you can do with a snake is try to handle it when you don't know what species you're dealing with. If you spend time outdoors in snake country, this conversation could keep you safe.
Tom Rowland | Stretching Using a Single Band - Physical Friday | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 385
Tom Rowland, host of Saltwater Experience and the Tom Rowland Podcast, demonstrates a quick and effective stretching routine using a single resistance band in this Physical Friday episode. Whether you're a runner dealing with tight hamstrings or someone who spends hours sitting at a desk, this simple routine targets your hips, hamstrings, heel cords, and quads—all while lying on your back. Tom walks through five specific positions using nothing but a band wrapped around your foot, creating a portable stretching system you can take anywhere. The routine is designed to combat the tightness that builds up from running and prolonged sitting, two activities that wreak havoc on lower body flexibility.
Kevin Pavlidis | 18-Foot Record Python & The Real Everglades Population | Tom Rowland Podcast 384
Kevin Pavlidis, known as Snakeaholic on social media, is a reptile handler and python hunter based in South Florida who recently caught the Florida state record Burmese python measuring over 18 feet 9 inches. He's been handling snakes since age seven, works with the Gator Boys at Everglades Holiday Park performing alligator shows, and is contracted by the state to remove invasive pythons from the Everglades. But the path from a finance degree at a Northeastern university to wrestling alligators three days a week wasn't a straight line. In this conversation, Kevin reveals how he calculated the real python population in the Everglades using detection rate science—and the number is staggering. He explains why cottonmouths don't actually chase people, what happened when he left his college dorm room with everything on the line, and the one close call rule that keeps him alive when handling animals that can kill him.
Chris Pascual | Bridge Fishing 101 in the Florida Keys | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 383
Chris Pascual is an experienced bridge fisherman from South Florida who specializes in fishing the Florida Keys bridges, where he regularly targets snapper, grouper, and other species from iconic locations like Channel 2, Channel 5, and Long Key. In this episode, Chris reveals the exact setup that allows him to consistently land 25-inch mangrove snappers and massive cubera snappers from bridges where most anglers struggle to get bites. He breaks down his strategy for fishing overnight sessions on three-mile-long bridges, explains why he carries eight to ten dozen live shrimp on every trip, and shares the story of a 12-pound mutton snapper that met a heartbreaking end. Whether you're new to bridge fishing or looking to level up your game, Chris delivers specific, actionable intelligence that you can use on your next Keys trip.
Tom Rowland | The Ultimate Community-Funded Home Gym Tour | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 382
Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast and avid fitness enthusiast, built what many call the ultimate home gym—a community-funded garage facility assembled over fifteen years with contributions from hundreds of people. In this gym tour episode, Tom walks through his two-car garage turned CrossFit-style training center, revealing an outdoor rig with twenty pull-up stations, nine glued ham developer machines that he custom designed to live outside, six air bikes, thirteen rowing machines, a 700-pound tire, and a custom sauna complete with an 800-pound ice machine for contrast therapy. He explains exactly how he acquired each piece, from dump-scored tires to Rogue Infinity rigs, and breaks down the community funding model that made it possible without breaking the bank. If you've ever wondered how to build a legitimate training facility in your backyard—or thought it was impossible—this episode will change your mind.
Adrian Smith | Iron Maiden's Guitarist on Fishing as Meditation & Life on Tour | Ep. 381
Adrian Smith is the legendary guitarist of Iron Maiden, one of the biggest heavy metal bands in history, and the author of Monsters of River and Rock: My Life as Iron Maiden's Compulsive Angler. Smith has fished all over the world — from bonefishing in The Bahamas to pike fishing in cold English lakes to casting in The Thames and even fishing by himself near a bridge in Miami. What makes his story remarkable isn't just that he's a world-class musician who happens to fish — it's that fishing became his lifeline during the insane pressure of touring stadiums in the eighties. In this conversation, Adrian reveals how he went from fishing with his dad as a kid to quitting completely when he got into music, then rediscovering it as Iron Maiden exploded into one of the biggest touring acts on the planet.
Scott Shemtoff | How To Prepare Your Boat For The Winter | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 380
Scott Shemtoff, a representative of Empire Covers who attended the University of Miami, joins the Tom Rowland Podcast to break down the critical steps for winterizing and protecting your boat from UV damage, salt air, and environmental debris. Whether you're in the Florida Keys facing year-round sun exposure or preparing for a cold-weather shutdown in northern climates, Scott reveals why battery maintenance can actually kill your batteries if done wrong, how the wrong boat cover fabric can cost you thousands in upholstery damage, and the surprising new mooring cover system that lets you secure your boat while it's still in the water. This episode answers the most common winterization questions from the TRP audience with actionable advice you can use this season.
Tom Rowland | How To Climb A Rope With MAXIMUM Efficiency For Fitness Or Survival | Ep. 379
Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast and functional fitness enthusiast, breaks down the rope climbing technique with maximum efficiency for both competitive fitness and survival scenarios in this solo training episode. In this instructional breakdown, Tom reveals the critical leg lock method that allows climbers to use leg strength instead of relying solely on arm power, explains why starting your practice sitting on a bench is the key to mastering the foot position, and demonstrates how throwing your feet higher can get you to the top of a rope in a single stand. Whether you're training for competition or need this skill for a real survival situation, this episode delivers the exact step-by-step system you need.
Nick Lavery | Green Beret on Why Motivation Is Overrated | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 378
Nick Lavery is a U.S. Army Green Beret Warrant Officer who lost his leg above the knee in combat in Afghanistan in September 2013 and became the first above-the-knee amputee to return to Special Forces. In this powerful conversation, Nick reveals why motivation is overrated, how discipline becomes identity, and what really happens during those dark moments when progress feels impossible. He shares the exact mindset that got him through 18 months of brutal recovery, the moment his commander thought he was crazy, and the single most important question he asked himself every morning. If you've ever struggled with consistency or wondered what separates people who achieve impossible goals from those who don't, this conversation will change how you think about showing up.
Tom Rowland | How To Catch Juvenile Goliath Grouper In The Mangroves | Ep. 377
Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast and Saltwater Experience TV show, shares his expert techniques for targeting juvenile goliath groupers in mangrove shorelines in this solo How 2 Tuesday episode. Drawing from years of inshore fishing experience in the Florida Keys, Tom reveals why most anglers never catch these fish even when they're standing right on top of them, the precise casting techniques that make the difference between zero fish and double-digit days, and why your bass fishing tackle might actually be better than your tarpon rod for this fishery. If you've ever wondered how to consistently find and catch 20-40 pound goliath groupers in shallow water, this episode breaks down the exact spots, baits, and presentation methods that turn occasional encounters into productive sessions.
Tom Rowland | Burpee Progressions - From Zero to Full Burpees | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 376
In this Physical Friday episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, host Tom Rowland breaks down burpee progressions for listeners who want to work their way up to doing full burpees from scratch. Whether you completed his 100-day burpee challenge or you're starting from zero, this episode reveals the exact progression system that takes you from a folding chair to full burpees with proper form. Tom demonstrates each step using nothing more than a standard folding chair, showing how anyone—regardless of current fitness level—can build toward this foundational exercise. The progression includes specific hand placement techniques, foot movement patterns, and timing adjustments that make the difference between struggling and succeeding. If you've ever felt intimidated by burpees or wondered how to build up to them safely, this episode gives you the complete roadmap.
Captain Ryan Nitz | How To Catch GIANT Snook in Jupiter, Florida | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 374
Captain Ryan Nitz is a fulltime fishing guide based in Jupiter, Florida, with 15 years of experience specializing in trophy snook fishing. In this episode, Ryan reveals his proven techniques for consistently targeting snook in the 30-40 inch range and landing giants up to 52 inches — including why live mullet outperforms everything else for big fish, the exact backcountry mangrove setups that produce monster snook in winter, and the tidal timing secrets that separate great days from slow ones. If you've ever wondered how some guides consistently boat snook over 40 inches while others struggle to find fish, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the methods, locations, and timing that make all the difference.
Mike Kimmel | Python Cowboy Hunting Invasive Species in the Everglades | Tom Rowland Podcast 372
Mike Kimmel, known as 'Trapper Mike' and 'The Python Cowboy,' is a state-contracted invasive species hunter working in Florida's Everglades to track and remove Burmese pythons and other invasive reptiles threatening native wildlife. In this conversation with Tom Rowland, Mike reveals what it's really like hunting pythons in the dark, the surprising connection between invasive species and abandoned pets, and why the problem is far more complex than most people realize. You'll hear about close calls with aggressive snakes, the economics of python hunting, and what happens when conservation meets real-world wildlife management. If you've ever wondered what it takes to hunt one of the most invasive predators in North America, this episode pulls back the curtain.
Tom Rowland | How To Properly Use A Landing Net For Saltwater Fishing | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 371
Tom Rowland is a seasoned saltwater fishing guide with decades of experience targeting species like bonefish, permit, tarpon, redfish, and snook who reveals a crucial technique that most recreational anglers get completely wrong when it comes to landing fish with a net. In this How 2 Tuesday episode, Tom breaks down the exact hand positioning, body mechanics, and timing strategies that professional guides use to net fish quickly and effectively—cutting fight times by up to twenty minutes and dramatically improving fish survival rates. He explains why being fully extended with a landing net is the single biggest mistake anglers make, demonstrates the coiled position technique borrowed from nature, and shares specific insights on head-first netting approaches that work for everything from freshwater trout to saltwater permit.
George Poveromo | 20 Years of TV, National Seminars & The Swordfish That Pulled Him Overboard
George Poveromo is the host of "George Poveromo's World of Saltwater Fishing," a television show that has aired on ESPN, NBC Sports, and the Discovery Channel for over 20 years. He has conducted national fishing seminars for decades alongside Mark Sosin and later on his own, educating millions of anglers across the country. In this conversation, George reveals the harrowing moment a swordfish pulled him overboard in the dark, the unexpected way he landed his television career, and the subtle boat positioning technique that has helped thousands of anglers catch more fish. If you've ever wondered what it takes to sustain a fishing career for decades or how the legends of saltwater fishing built their empires, this episode delivers answers you won't find anywhere else.
Tom Rowland | How To Choose A Landing Net For Saltwater Fishing | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 368
Tom Rowland is a professional fishing guide, tournament angler, and host of the Tom Rowland Podcast who specializes in saltwater fishing techniques for permit, bonefish, redfish, snook, and cobia. In this How To Tuesday episode, Tom breaks down exactly how to choose the right landing net for saltwater fishing, covering net size, folding mechanisms, handle length, and netting material selection. He reveals why certain nets can shorten a permit fight by fifteen minutes, which fish you should never put in a net, and the one net design that allows you to land 100-pound fish from a small skiff without bending the handle.
Ryan Nitz | How to Start Public Land Hunting in Florida | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 365
Ryan Nitz is a Florida outdoorsman and avid public land hunter who has been hunting Florida's wildlife management areas since he was 18 years old. He's also an accomplished snook fisherman who appeared on Saltwater Experience with Tom Rowland. In this episode, Ryan breaks down exactly how to get started with public land hunting in Florida—from getting your license and finding WMAs to scouting, wind direction, and safety. He reveals why opening day is something beginners should avoid, how patience separates successful public land hunters from unsuccessful ones, and why Florida's 6 million acres of public hunting land remain one of the state's best-kept secrets. If you've ever wondered how to start hunting or thought Florida was just for fishing, this conversation will change your perspective.
Meko Glinton | Guiding Lefty Kreh & Surviving Hurricane Dorian | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 363
Meko Glinton is a legendary Bahamian bonefish guide from the Pinder-Glinton family, one of the pioneering families of bonefishing in The Bahamas. Starting at age 12 on a poling platform and officially guiding by 17, Meko has spent decades on the flats of Grand Bahama, guiding fishing legends like Lefty Kreh and celebrities including Liam Neeson and Michael Keaton. In this conversation, Meko reveals what it takes to think like a fish, how hurricane Dorian changed everything about Grand Bahama bonefishing, and why his wife believes he has an almost supernatural connection to bonefish behavior. He shares stories about guiding some of the most famous anglers in the world, what he learned from watching Lefty Kreh cast, and how the flats have become his church. This is a rare window into the mind of a true Bahamian bonefishing superstar.
Tom Rowland | Why Sink Rate Matters More Than Fly Pattern for Bonefish | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 362
Tom Rowland, professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys and host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, breaks down the essential considerations for selecting bonefish flies in this How 2 Tuesday episode. Drawing from decades of experience fly fishing for bonefish from the Florida Keys to Christmas Island and the Seychelles, Tom reveals why most anglers focus on the wrong factors when choosing flies, the critical variable that determines success or failure on every cast, and the specific sink rates you need in your box to handle every fishing situation you'll encounter on the flats.
Tom Rowland | 8 Pull-Up Bar Exercises - No Gym Required | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 361
In this Physical Friday episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, host Tom Rowland demonstrates eight effective pull-up bar exercises that require nothing more than a simple pull-up bar. As a professional fishing guide and fitness enthusiast, Tom breaks down movements ranging from basic bar hangs to advanced bar muscle-ups, proving that building incredible strength doesn't require expensive gym memberships or fancy equipment. Tom reveals how one simple bar hang exercise can actually win you money at carnivals and music festivals, explains why many people misunderstand the controversial kipping pull-up, and demonstrates the exact technique for stringing together butterfly kips at speed. If you think effective fitness training requires complicated equipment, this episode will change your mind completely.
Bob Bagby | How Sponsorships Are Changing in the Fishing Industry | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 360
Bob Bagby is an industry veteran with over thirty years of experience managing sponsorship relationships in the outdoor and fishing industry, having worked with some of the biggest names in the business including Bill Dance, Kevin Van Damme, Gerald Swindle, and Shaw Grigsby. In this episode, Bob reveals how he accidentally fell into the sponsorship world at age 19 when Bill Dance asked him to join his team, and how that chance encounter shaped three decades of connecting brands with athletes and content creators. He breaks down the seismic shift social media has created in the sponsorship landscape, explains why a thousand engaged followers can be worth more than a hundred thousand fake ones, and shares the exact mistakes creators make that cost them money and opportunity. If you've ever wondered how sponsorships actually work or how they're changing in real-time, this conversation pulls back the curtain.
Tom Rowland | How To Choose The Best Spinning Rod For Inshore Fishing | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 359
In Episode 359 of the Tom Rowland Podcast, Tom Rowland, a Florida Keys fishing guide, breaks down exactly how to choose the best spinning rod for inshore saltwater fishing. If you're fishing the Florida Keys for redfish, snook, baby tarpon, bonefish, and permit, there's one specific rod setup that will cover nearly every situation you'll encounter. Tom reveals his exact length, line designation, and tip flex recommendations that have proven themselves across thousands of days on the water. He also explains why certain specialty rods exist and when you actually need them versus when you can stick with one battle-tested setup.
Tom Rowland | 3 Stretches To Avoid Low Back Pain On The Boat | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 358
Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast and star of Saltwater Experience on NBC Sports, is no stranger to back pain. As a professional fisherman and CrossFit athlete, he knows the toll that hours on the boat and behind the wheel can take on the lower back. In this Physical Friday episode, Tom reveals three specific stretches that have helped him avoid and eliminate low back pain: the helm stretch, the couch stretch, and a lying hamstring stretch using a band. These aren't complicated movements requiring fancy equipment—they're practical stretches you can do on the boat, at home, or anywhere you're dealing with tightness from sitting. Tom breaks down exactly how long to hold each position, what you should feel, and why these particular stretches target the root cause of most fishermen's back pain.
Capt. Rick Moore | Building a 130K Sailing YouTube Channel | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 357
Captain Rick Moore is a sailing YouTuber with over 130,000 subscribers who documents his adventures aboard his vessel Sophisticated Lady, traveling the Caribbean and beyond while making a living through content creation, chartering, and other maritime ventures. In this episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, Rick reveals how he transitioned from corporate America to full-time liveaboard cruising, the business model behind his YouTube success, and the realities of living and working on a sailboat in foreign waters. He discusses specific challenges of creating content while maintaining a boat, the equipment failures that test every sailor, and the unexpected ways he generates income beyond ad revenue. This conversation goes deep into the mindset required to leave comfort behind and build a life on the water.
Tom Rowland | Picking The Right Fly Rod - How 2 Tuesday | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 356
When you're ready to start fly fishing, the overwhelming array of rod lengths, line weights, and action speeds can stop you before you even begin. Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast and experienced fishing guide, cuts through the confusion with straightforward recommendations for both freshwater and saltwater environments. In this How 2 Tuesday episode, Tom reveals the exact rod specifications that will serve you for years, why a five weight is the battle axe of freshwater fly fishing, and the critical difference between what worked in saltwater reels a decade ago versus what's available today. If you've been waiting for a simple answer to "what fly rod should I buy," this is the episode that will get you on the water.
Tom Rowland | Farmer's Walk for Grip & Forearm Strength | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 355
In this Physical Friday episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, professional fishing guide and CrossFit enthusiast Tom Rowland demonstrates the farmer's walk, a fundamental strength-building exercise that targets grip, forearms, shoulders, and traps—all critical for fishermen and outdoorsmen. Using everything from buckets of water to 70-pound kettlebells, Tom reveals why this old-school movement has worked for decades and how you can implement it without fancy equipment. Whether you're holding a cast net waiting for bait to show up or carrying heavy gear down the dock, this episode breaks down a simple but brutally effective training method that translates directly to real-world fishing performance.
Ben Friedman | How He Launched Barstool Outdoors | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 354
Ben Friedman, known as YoungPageviews, is the creator and host of Barstool Outdoors at Barstool Sports. A lifelong fishing enthusiast who grew up in St. Louis watching Saltwater Experience, Ben turned his passion into a career by pitching and launching Barstool's outdoor content vertical. In this conversation, he reveals how he went from floating around at different jobs in New York to building a team of 20 creators distributed across the country, why he focuses on saltwater fly fishing as his main passion, and the specific moment that validated everything he was building. If you've ever wondered how to turn an idea into a media vertical at a major company, this episode breaks down the actual pitch, the grind, and what's next.
Tom Rowland | How to Skip a Lure Under Bushes and Docks | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 353
Tom Rowland, professional fishing guide and host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, breaks down the specific gear, technique, and practice methods for skipping lures under mangroves and docks to target snook and other inshore species in this How 2 Tuesday episode. From choosing the right seven-foot rod to understanding why 14-15 inches of fluorocarbon leader matters, Tom reveals the precise setup that transforms this challenging technique into a fish-catching machine. He explains how line speed determines success, why braid makes all the difference, and the practice routine that will have you threading lures into impossible spots where big snook hide.
Tom Rowland | Descending/Ascending Rep Scheme Workouts | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 352
In this Physical Friday episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, Tom Rowland shares a creative workout strategy using descending and ascending rep schemes to keep training sessions challenging and mentally engaging. Tom, a professional fishing guide and fitness enthusiast who shares workout strategies in his regular Physical Friday segments, breaks down how pairing exercises with opposing rep patterns creates a unique mental and physical challenge. Instead of completing 150 reps of each exercise in a standard format, Tom reveals how alternating descending and ascending patterns transforms the workout experience. He shares specific examples using ski machines, sit-ups, rowing, and pull-ups, explaining why this approach keeps workouts fresh while maintaining intensity throughout.
Monte Burke | Lords of the Fly: The Tarpon Obsession | Ep. 351
Episode 351 of the Tom Rowland Podcast
Tom Rowland | How to Spool a Daiwa Certate 4000 Spinning Reel | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 350
Tom Rowland, professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys and host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, unboxes and spools the Daiwa Certate 4000 spinning reel in this How 2 Tuesday episode. This high-end reel is his choice for permit fishing, and Tom walks through every step from opening the case to putting 175 yards of 20 pound braided line on the spool. You'll learn why he starts with monofilament backing instead of tying directly to the spool, how to tie a proper double uni knot connection, and what makes a line winder worth using even when you could spool it yourself for free. If you've ever wondered whether the tackle shop's $5 spooling fee is worth it, or if you're planning to spool your own high-end reels at home, this episode shows you exactly what to do.
Tom Rowland | Weighted Vest Workouts Transform Bodyweight Training | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 349
Tom Rowland is the host of the Tom Rowland Podcast and in this Physical Friday episode, he shares how a weighted vest can transform any bodyweight workout. Recording on his birthday while using the vest himself at his gym, Tom explains how this simple piece of equipment can add significant difficulty to running, pull-ups, push-ups, burpees, and virtually any movement pattern. If you're tired of standard bodyweight workouts or can't access a gym, this episode reveals a strategy that increases intensity without requiring traditional weights—especially valuable when equipment like dumbbells is sold out but weighted vests remain available.
Emily & Amanda Gale | D1 Pole Vaulters to Florida Keys Charter Captains | Tom Rowland Podcast 348
Emily and Amanda Gale are identical twin sisters known as the Gale Force Twins who transitioned from competitive gymnastics and Division 1 pole vaulting at the University of Miami into full-time charter fishing captains in the Florida Keys. In this episode, they reveal how they went from indoor sports to running their own fishing charter operation, what it's really like being female charter captains in a male-dominated industry, and the surprising connection between pole vaulting and fishing. You'll hear about the moment they realized they could turn fishing into a career, the challenges they faced getting their first captain's licenses, and why they're on a mission to inspire others to pursue outdoor careers.
Tom Rowland | Safety Gear Every Guide Should Carry | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 347
Tom Rowland, a professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys and host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, breaks down the essential safety gear every guide should carry on their boat in this How 2 Tuesday episode. Drawing from years of guiding clients on the water, Tom reveals the most common equipment failures that strand boaters—and the simple, inexpensive solutions that can save your day or even your life. From dead batteries to lost communication, he shares the specific backup systems and tools that separate prepared captains from those who get stuck calling for expensive tows. This isn't theoretical gear-list padding—it's what actually goes wrong out there and what you need to have ready.
Tom Rowland | Electrolyte Replenishment for Fishing and Training | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 346
Tom Rowland discusses electrolyte replenishment strategies for anglers and athletes who train and fish in extreme heat conditions. In this Physical Friday segment, Tom breaks down his supplement approach and reveals why he ditched sugary sports drinks in favor of plain water paired with electrolyte capsules. He shares his specific protocol for managing excessive sweating when pairing long fishing days with workout sessions and sauna use, and explains the exact products he uses to maintain electrolyte balance without the sugar crash.
Jennifer Rehage & Carissa Gervasi | FIU Fisheries, Pharmaceuticals in Fish & Biscayne Bay | Ep. 345
Dr. Jennifer Rehage is a fisheries scientist at Florida International University (FIU) who runs a fisheries lab studying the health of South Florida waterways including Biscayne Bay and the Everglades. Carissa Gervasi is a PhD student working with Dr. Rehage, conducting research on fish species including jack crevalle, bonefish, permit, and tarpon, as well as studying the effects of pharmaceuticals on aquatic life. In this episode, they reveal how medications from your medicine cabinet are changing fish behavior in South Florida, why bonefish are incredibly picky about where they hang out, and what seven years of research has uncovered about the resilience and sensitivity of fish in degraded ecosystems. If you fish Biscayne Bay or the Everglades, this conversation will change how you think about the water you're standing in.
Tom Rowland | Sledgehammer Workout with Just a Tire | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 343
Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast and passionate advocate for accessible fitness, demonstrates how to build an effective full-body workout using just a sledgehammer and a tire in this Physical Friday episode. During the coronavirus lockdown, fitness manufacturers completely sold out of equipment, but Tom reveals how you don't need expensive gear from Rogue Fitness to get an incredible workout. He shares a specific workout protocol combining 25 sledge swings with 25 burpees repeated four times for a total of 100 swings and 100 burpees, plus advanced variations for jumping through the tire. This episode proves fitness doesn't need to be expensive or exclusive to anybody.
Jako Lucas | GTs, Jack Crevalle & World-Class Guiding | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 342
What happens when a South African fly fishing guide logs 300+ days per year across the planet's most remote flats—from the Seychelles to Siberia to the Texas coast? You get Jako Lucas, the filmmaker and Capt. Jack Productions founder who's turned his obsession with tailing fish and telling stories into something truly rare. In this episode, Jako breaks down how he went from meeting guide Keith Rosinis on a beach to directing films for The Drake, why he'll never call himself an expert at anything, and what he learned after landing 373 GTs in his first week in the Seychelles. He's also refreshingly honest about the environmental damage the fly fishing industry doesn't talk about enough. Whether you're curious about permit vs. tarpon, the Alflexo fly revolution, or what really happens when you film a taimen in Siberia with a drone, this conversation delivers the kind of unfiltered truth you don't hear everywhere.
Tom Rowland | Permit Fishing With Live Crab - Circle Hooks & Hook Placement | Ep. 341
Tom Rowland, professional fishing guide and host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, demonstrates permit fishing techniques with live crab alongside Captain Scott Brown in the Florida Keys. In this How 2 Tuesday episode, Tom reveals the circle hook technique that increased his permit hookup rate from 50% to 95%, the exact method for hooking a crab to keep it alive longer, and the specific gear setup he relies on for targeting one of saltwater's most challenging species. Whether you're fishing the Keys or anywhere permit are found, this breakdown of rigging, hook placement, and tackle selection will change how you approach these fish with live bait.
Isometric Partner Workouts | Physical Friday | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 340
Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast and fitness enthusiast who regularly shares workout tips and physical training routines designed for outdoor athletes and fishing professionals, introduces a powerful new team training format in this Physical Friday episode. He reveals how isometric partner workouts can build camaraderie while ramping up intensity, using techniques like sandbag overhead holds paired with push-up challenges and deadlift holds combined with sit-ups. The unique format forces partners to push through discomfort while keeping each other accountable. Tom breaks down exactly how to structure these workouts, what rep ranges work best, and why the isometric-versus-rep format creates such an effective training stimulus.
Shyanne Orvis | From Foster Homes to Fly Fishing Guide | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 339
Shyanne Orvis is a professional fly fishing guide based in Carbondale, Colorado, near Aspen, where she guides primarily on the Roaring Fork River, Frying Pan River, and Colorado River. What most people don't know is that Shyanne grew up in foster care in North Carolina, moving through five different foster homes from age four until she aged out at eighteen. In this episode, she reveals how she went from that instability to living in the mountains of Colorado as a fishing guide—including the boarding school opportunity that changed everything, the nonprofit that introduced her to fly fishing, and the survivor's mentality that kept her pushing forward when most would have given up. This is a story about manifesting an unlikely life through intentional thoughts, hard work, and refusing to let circumstances define your future.
Captain Brandon Simmons | Deep Drop Fishing Like a Pro | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 338
Captain Brandon Simmons is a charter fishing captain based at Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys, where he runs the boat Into The Blue and specializes in deep drop fishing for prized species like snowy grouper, tilefish, queen snapper, and barrelfish. In this How 2 Tuesday episode, Brandon reveals the exact rig setup he uses for multi-species deep dropping, explains how to read bottom composition through your rod tip instead of your electronics, and shares why scrolling back through your sounder's history could unlock spots you've been running over for years. He also breaks down the bizarre defense mechanism of barrel fish and why these slimy creatures might be the best eating fish in the ocean.
Tom Rowland | The Deck of Cards Travel Workout | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 337
Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, professional fishing guide, and fitness enthusiast based in the Florida Keys, reveals his ultimate travel workout system that fits in your pocket. Whether you're navigating airports, staying in hotels, or guiding clients in remote locations, Tom's deck of cards method delivers a complete workout in just twenty minutes—no gym required. In this Physical Friday episode, he breaks down exactly how to assign exercises to each suit, scale the difficulty up or down, and eliminate the morning uncertainty that kills most workout routines. The secret isn't the cards themselves—it's the mental game Tom plays the night before.
Capt. Justin Napior | Guiding the 10,000 Islands | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 336
Captain Justin Napior is a fishing guide based in the Naples, Marco Island, and 10,000 Islands area of Southwest Florida, specializing in targeting snook and tarpon with artificial lures. After moving from North Carolina's Outer Banks at age 19, Justin spent a decade mastering the backcountry fishery under the mentorship of legendary guide Charlie Chestnut. In this episode, Justin reveals how he transitioned from recreational angler to full-time guide, why artificial lures offer critical advantages over live bait for conservation, and the surprising changes he's witnessed in the 10,000 Islands over the past decade—including the impact of increased fishing pressure and climate change on migration patterns.
Capt. Brandon Simmons | 76 Sailfish in One Day - Keys Record Breakdown | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 335
Captain Brandon Simmons runs the Into The Blue boat at Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys and recently set the unofficial Keys record for most sailfish caught in a single day with 76 releases during an incredible February migration. On this How 2 Tuesday episode, Brandon joins Tom to break down exactly what happened that day — but more importantly, he reveals the specific techniques, rigging strategies, and preparation tactics that any angler can use to maximize their opportunities when sailfish conditions align. From belly-hooking pilchards to the exact leader setup that helped them land fish after fish, Brandon shares the details that separate a good sailfish day from a record-breaking one. If you've ever wanted to dial in your sailfish game or understand what it takes to capitalize on peak conditions, this conversation delivers.
Tom Rowland | Pull-Up Strength Could Save Your Life On The Water | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 334
In this Physical Friday episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, host Tom Rowland breaks down why pull-up strength is the most critical physical ability for outdoorsmen, particularly in life-threatening situations like falling overboard. Tom reveals a sobering reality: many people discover they can't pull themselves back into a boat only when it's too late. He shares his complete pull-up progression system using resistance bands, body rows, and graduated difficulty levels that can take someone from zero pull-ups to full competency. If you've ever wondered whether you could save your own life in the water, this episode will make you want to test yourself immediately.