Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 857 is a solo episode where I share three stories that have shaped how I think about the water. I tell you about meeting world-class spearfishing champion Ritchie Zacker and what real mastery looks like, walk through the shallow water blackout that nearly killed a friend during a freedive, and lay out why ethical angling and conservation matter more to me than any single fish I will ever catch.
Listen now: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · YouTube · Stream the full episode in the player above.
Ritchie Zacker is a world-class spearfishing champion known for his disciplined approach to hunting in the ocean. In this episode I describe meeting him and watching his technique, which goes well beyond raw skill to include preparation, patience, and a deep respect for the ocean. What set him apart for me was not just his diving ability but the methodical, controlled way he approached everything.
Shallow water blackout is a loss of consciousness that can happen to a freediver near the surface, often on the way up, when oxygen levels drop too low without warning. It is one of the most dangerous situations a freediver can face because it gives almost no advance signal. In the episode I tell the story of how it nearly claimed a friend's life and what saved him.
Ethical angling starts with proper fish handling: minimizing the time a fish is out of the water, keeping it wet, supporting its body, and reviving it before release. I talk through why being honest about whether you are fishing for yourself, for a photo, or for the resource changes every decision you make on the water, and why conservation has to come first if we want these fisheries to last.
A great waterman combines technical skill with discipline, preparation, respect for the ocean, and an honest understanding of personal limits. In my view it is not about catching the most fish or pushing the deepest dive. It is about understanding your place in the ecosystem and acting accordingly, which is exactly what I saw in Ritchie Zacker.
Conservation matters because the resource is finite and the way we handle fish today determines what is left for the next generation of anglers. Throughout this episode I make the case that the best anglers are the ones who act as stewards, not just harvesters, and that proper technique and restraint are part of the skill, not separate from it.
Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 857 is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and iHeartRadio. You can stream the full solo episode in the player at the top of this page.
This one is a solo episode, just me, and I went solo on purpose because these three stories belong together. They are all about the same thing: what it really means to be capable and responsible in the water, and how thin the margin can be between a great day and a tragedy.
I wanted to put the Ritchie Zacker story, the shallow water blackout story, and my thinking on ethical angling in the same conversation because they have shaped how I show up every time I get on the water. Stream the full episode in the player above to hear all three.
Ritchie Zacker's reputation preceded him, and meeting a world-class spearfishing champion in person was not what I expected. It was not a display of raw athleticism. It was discipline, patience, and a level of preparation that made everything look quiet and controlled. Watching how he approached the water changed how I think about mastery in any pursuit where you test yourself against nature. I get into exactly what set him apart early in the episode. Stream that section in the player above.
Freediving rewards calm and punishes complacency, and shallow water blackout is the part that scares me most because it gives no warning. In this episode I walk through what happened to a friend during a dive, how fast it went wrong, and what ultimately saved his life. It is a hard story to tell, but it is the clearest argument I know for never diving alone and never pushing past your training. Listen to how that one unfolded.
This is the question I keep coming back to, and I think every angler should ask it honestly. The answer changes how long you keep a fish out of the water, whether you take the extra photo, and how much you are willing to leave on the table for the fishery. I talk through where I have landed on it and why I think it is the dividing line between someone who catches fish and someone who deserves to keep doing it. Stream that part of the episode.
Most fish that die after release die from poor handling, not from the hook. I go through the basics that matter most: keeping the fish wet, supporting it properly, minimizing air time, and taking the time to revive it before it swims off. None of it is complicated, but all of it requires you to slow down at the exact moment you are most excited. Listen to the handling section in the player above.
On the surface these are three different stories, but to me they are one idea: respect. Respect for the ocean's power, respect for your own limits, and respect for the resource that gives us all of this. The waterman mindset is the thread that runs through Ritchie's discipline, my friend's near-miss, and every catch-and-release decision I make. I tie it all together near the end of the episode.
Listen to the full conversation: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · or stream it in the player at the top of this page.
Recording this one solo felt different than sitting across from a guest, because there was nowhere to hide behind someone else's expertise. These are my stories and my conclusions, and I think they are some of the most important things I have learned out there.
Meeting Ritchie Zacker reminded me what mastery actually looks like, and it is not loud. The blackout story reminded me how fast it can all go wrong. The conservation thread is the part I hope sticks with you longest.
If you spend any time in or on the water, I think this episode is worth your time. Listen to the whole thing.
Press play in the player above, or grab Episode 857 on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Ritchie Zacker (world-class spearfishing champion) · Tom Rowland
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.
Tom Rowland is a professional fishing guide, two-time IGFA world record holder, television host, and the host of the Tom Rowland Podcast. He spent decades guiding the flats of the Florida Keys and has built a career around fishing, spearfishing, conservation, and the broader waterman lifestyle. Through the podcast he shares both long-form conversations with accomplished outdoor professionals and solo episodes drawn from his own experience on the water, with a consistent focus on skill, safety, and stewardship of the resource.
Subscribe to get the latest episodes, show notes, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.