Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 549 is my conversation with Capt. Paul Ross, a young Florida inshore fishing guide who grew up offshore with his father before falling for the challenge of flats fishing. Paul pulled off a solo SuperSlam, a remarkable feat, and he is doing it all while balancing a guiding career with college. We talk about that accomplishment, how he manages school and the water, and why the flats pulled him away from offshore.
Capt. Paul Ross is a young Florida inshore fishing guide who grew up offshore fishing with his father before discovering a passion for inshore flats fishing. He guides on the flats and is notable for achieving a solo SuperSlam while balancing his guiding career with college.
A SuperSlam refers to catching a demanding combination of premier flats species, and doing it solo means accomplishing it without a guide or extra help running the boat and fishing. Capt. Paul Ross achieved a solo SuperSlam, which requires skill across multiple species and the ability to manage everything alone.
Capt. Paul Ross runs his guiding career while also attending college, managing both his time on the water with clients and his academic schedule. In the episode he discusses how he juggles the demands of building a guiding business with being a student.
Paul grew up offshore fishing with his father, but he discovered a passion for the challenge of inshore flats fishing. He explains what drew him from the offshore world to the technical, sight-fishing-focused world of the flats.
Inshore flats fishing demands stealth, accurate casting, and the ability to spot and present to fish in shallow water. Paul describes why this technical, hunting-style fishing captured him and what it takes to succeed at it, including pulling off a solo SuperSlam.
Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 549 with Capt. Paul Ross is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. The video version is embedded at the top of this page.
I wanted Paul on because he reminds me of the hunger I had coming up. He is young, he is building a guiding career, and he is doing it while in school, which is no small thing. On top of that he pulled off a solo SuperSlam, which takes real skill across several species with nobody else in the boat. I love seeing the next generation push themselves, and I wanted listeners to hear how he is making it happen.
Press play in the player above to hear it.
A solo SuperSlam means catching a demanding mix of flats species with nobody else running the boat. Paul describes what that accomplishment required of him. Hear it in the episode.
Paul is juggling clients and college at the same time. He talks about managing the time, the energy, and the demands of both. Watch the YouTube player above.
Paul grew up offshore with his father but fell for inshore fishing. He explains what drew him to the technical challenge of the flats. Listen to that section.
Paul represents a younger wave of guides finding their way. He shares the mindset and motivation behind chasing this life early. Hear it in the full episode.
The day after talking with Paul, what stuck with me was his drive. Building a guiding career is hard enough, and he is doing it while finishing school and still finding time to chase a solo SuperSlam.
That kind of hunger is exactly what it takes to make it in this world. If you want to hear from a young guide who is doing it the right way, this conversation is a good one.
The Tom Rowland Podcast brings you long-form conversations with the most accomplished anglers, hunters, conservationists, and outdoor professionals in the game. Listen to every full-length Tom Rowland Podcast interview.
Capt. Paul Ross is a young Florida inshore fishing guide who grew up offshore fishing with his father before discovering his passion for inshore flats fishing. He achieved a solo SuperSlam, a demanding accomplishment requiring skill across multiple premier flats species without any help in the boat, and he has built his guiding career while attending college. His story reflects the drive and versatility of the next generation of flats guides.
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