Reel Tails with Sweens

This episode I sit down with Tom Martin from Shard Studios.As you will hear during this podcast Tom is a very well balanced and self aware individual. Especially considering he is only 23 years of age. We cover a range of topics such as how his frustration in a rugby changing room pregame led to his world’s first multi tool for rugby and football players.We also discuss the mental health challenges of back to back ACL injuries, how he fuels his creative side and how passionate he is to be successful in both rugby and his engineering career.

This episode I sit down with Bonze and we discuss the evolution of my boat Mini Chiefie.We share in detail the changes we have made and the learnings we have taken along the way.The podcast has been a great platform for us to share information to help keen fishos build their confidence when targeting marlin. As you will hear the journey has been extremely enjoyable for us both and we hope that you can take some learnings that we have had and apply them to your fishing.

This episode I catch up with Joe and Kate founders and directors of Ironclad. Ironclad as a company was founded in 2019 and have been producing cast iron cookware with a three generation guarantee.During this podcast you will hear a great Tail of passion, perseverance and loyalty. We cover some great topics such as starting a company during a global pandemic to losing it all over night and having to rebuild.We also get to know Joe and Kate, what drives them to deliver such an awesome product and so much more.

This episode I catch up with Joe Edlington or as many of you will know him J.E. Wilds.Joe is one of New Zealands leading content creators. He does this by documenting his Hunting and Fishing adventers through his YouTube channels JE Wilds Hunting and JE Wilds Fishing.Alot has changed for Joe since he was last a guest on the podcast and through this epidsode he shares the next chapter of his 'Tail'.Catching big Kingfish off the rocks, becoming a father, Hunting the red stag of a lifetime in the remote west coast bush, this episode has it all.

This episode I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Amanda, Geoff and Jeremy Wells. Two of the three generations that have owned and operated Kilwell Sports.Kilwell Sports that started out as Rotorua Sports 90 years ago by Jeremy’s late father John has grown into one of New Zealand’s most iconic distributors of Fishing, Hunting and Outdoors goods. As you will hear in this podcast it’s not only the sporting goods where the Kilwell brand has become recognisable both here in New Zealand and round the world.As you can imagine with 90 years of business there are many Tails to share, From Jeremy moving to USA in the late 1960’s living off $19 a day and learning to produce fishing rod blanks, to Geoff becoming a New Zealand trap shooting champion and being fortunate enough to learn off the best to ever do it. We also discuss Amanda never really having a passion for the outdoors but is now one of the key figures in one of New Zealand’s biggest outdoors distributors, the lasting impact the business has had on the Rotorua community and families, developing components for some of the worlds most successful businesses and so much more.

This episode I catch up with my instagram pen pal turned great mate Aaron Styles. As many of you will know Azza is the founder of the clothing brand Just Another Fisherman.During this podcast we discuss the journey both he and the brand have been on. As you will hear they are both in a great space.We discuss a broad range of topics from personal routines, family, friendships, mental health, fishing, celebrating success, the importance of spending time with ya mates, Anglers Escape and so much more.

This episode I’m back with Bonze to share some insight into Teaser systems for lure fishing when targeting marlin. We follow along the same lines as we did with the ‘Boat Set Up’ episode with the aim to share some of Bonze’s knowledge on a very useful tool when targeting marlin, in particular striped marlin here in New Zealand. We both share our observations from our experiences of fishing with a well set up teaser system. We breakdown the different types of teasers from surface chain teasers to dredges and the part they play to help increase your chances. We also discuss how you can set up your system and the different levels of investment to do so, as well as an epic Blue marlin Tail.

This episode I had the pleasure of joining Hamish Beattie in his workshop to discuss all things NaCl Lures, but as you will learn there is more to Hamish than just being a great lure maker.We cover a broad range of topics, from spending his childhood on the rivers of Hawkes Bay fly fishing with his family, his first humbling experience of fishing East Cape with his Dad and being extremly under gunned.We also discuss what it was like to work for the United Nations helping develop communities in Kenya, how he credits his early days of tying flies to the development of his business NaCl Lures, his passion for fishing with sustainable practices, what success is for his business NaCl Lures, the development of his custom boat and so much more…

This episode I sit down with Alex Waller or as many of you may know him, the creator of New Zealand’s leading fly fishing YouTube channel Trippin on Trout.During this podcast we discuss a broad range of topics such as, fishing stocked lakes as a kid and having to purchase capture tickets from a vending machine lakeside, the special bond he had with his grandad over their shared love of fly fishing and coming to New Zealand to be a skydive instructor.We also discuss our addictive personalities and how we use fishing to channel this, the grounding influence fishing has been for him through life, how important it is for mental health, using his YouTube channel to share knowledge and awareness, dry fly fishing the backcountry and so much more..

This episode I sit down with the founding fathers of Fish City Ross, Jono and Kev. All three share the highs, lows and their learnings of 30 years in business together.We discuss a range of topics such as, how the business came to be, Jono becoming New Zealand’s first ever Marine Technician apprentice, the focus they have on creating a strong team culture and the joy it brings them to see their team develop.We also discuss how much the business has had to move with the times, the strangest requests from customers, displaying their personal fishing gear to make it look like they had more stock and so much more.

This episode I was lucky enough to sit down with four very talented individuals from the sport of fly fishing, Jeff Pierce, Alex Waller, Dion James and Ben Henton.All four share with us what it was that drew them to the sport of fly fishing and what it is about the sport that keeps them coming back.We discuss a range of topics such as, how to get started, where to best allocate your funds when choosing your first initial set up and what is their main area of expertise.We also discuss their favourite piece of kit and why, most memorable fish, fishing the beautiful New Zealand back country and so much more.

This episode I sit down with three fellow Hamilton Boys’ High Old Boys’ foundation, Andrew Miller, Seamus Marten & Ali Lennan. With the goal of highlighting the importance of such foundations and how they strengthen communities.We cover a range of topics including, why the foundation was formed, what support the foundation provides and share some Tails of our personal connections to each other and the school.We also discuss the events run and how they have become a marquee event on many social calendars, how to support, some of the amazing achievements and accolades of former students and so much more.

This episode I catch up with Scott Malcon.Scott has been a big part of the resurgence of the fishing brand Daiwa here in New Zealand.During this podcast we get some great insight to the brand that is Daiwa New Zealand and how strong Scotty’s passion for fishing truly is.We cover a range of topics from starting out working for Fish City, the develop of products and how the team at Daiwa go about producing gear to suit our fishery here in New Zealand. We also discuss missions to Great Barrier Island and being caught out in bad weather, his earliest memories of fishing with Rick Pollock aboard Pursuit, the cultural shift the have made at Daiwa and so much more.

This episode I catch up with Mike Knight.Mike is the man behind the brand that is OTL or otherwise known as On Top Lures. OTL is run out of his garage in Waipu, New Zealand by both he and his wife Rita. What originally started off as a hobby has quickly become a way of life.During this podcast we cover a range of topics and get great insight to the man behind the brand, from the birth of the business to where it is now and everything in between.Including a 20lb snapper on a stickbait, the uniqueness of a hand made product and how you never know which lure might just be “The One”.Also encounters with yellowfin tuna land based in New Zealand, selling lures into Norway and Saudi Arabia, being invited to compete in an International top water tournament in Dubai, his use of recycled timber and so much more.

This episode I sit down over a coffee with David Galbraith. DG is well known for his work as a mental skills coach, having worked with the Chiefs, New Zealand Sevens and Japan rugby. His skills are also utilised by high performance sport New Zealand where he works with a number of Olympic athletes including New Zealand’s most successful Olympian of all time Lisa Carrington.During this podcast we get some great insight into dealing with elite athletes at the top of their game. DG shares some background into his journey to becoming one of New Zealand’s most renowned mental skills coaches. Including how his rural upbringing shaped his character, dealing with serious offenders in life or death situations and how speaking to a club rugby team on a cold winter’s night changed his life forever. We also discuss the impact he had on my professional rugby career and so much more.

This episode I sit down with Rick Pollock. Rick was a professional charter skipper here in New Zealand for over 40 years.His trips were iconic. Anglers travelled from all corners of the globe to fish our infamous New Zealand waters, aboard his vessel “Pursuit”. He provided anglers from here and abroad the opportunity to fish in places most only dream of, with the chance of catching the fish of a lifetime. In places such as White Island, Ranfurly Banks, The Three Kings and everywhere in between.During this podcast we get some great insight into the life of a skipper that consistently spent over 250 days a year at sea for over 40 years. Including topics such as, a 32 hour Blue Marlin battle, world record kingfish, his first experience fishing White Island and catching kingfish with dog chain.We also discuss how catching sharks off the Motu river turned into one of the most memorable Black Marlin captures of all time, the true character of people when faced with horrendous weather at sea, the high caliber of deckhands he had, being the first skipper to fish the Ranfurly Banks and so much more…

This episode I sit down and chat with Andre Alipate. Andre is well known for being one of the hosts and the voice of The Hunters Club, a television show based here in New Zealand. It’s not just on our screens where Andre’s credentials end either as he has represented Tonga at the World Crossfit Games in 2019, played rugby with and against some of the true greats of the game and been on some trips and adventures that outdoorsman only dream of.During this podcast we get a “Reel” look at what makes Dre tick and why he is so successful at anything he challenges himself with.We discuss topics such as, The vision of The Hunters Club, his most epic hunts, the birth of South Sea Spearo, his love of fishing, balancing being a father and his outdoor lifestyle, 60 crossfit workouts in two days, running 100km off road and so much more..

This episode I sit down and chat with Matt Wallbank. Matt is taking on the monumental task of running 654 km during the month of October 2021. This is 1km for every suicide in New Zealand last year. A number that is far to high. His motivation for doing so is to help raise funds and awareness for I am Hope. I am Hope connect the youth of New Zealand with mental health counsellors and practitioners, so they can get timely support, without the added stress of how to pay the bill. During this podcast we discuss a range of topics and get to know Matt himself and his motivating factors to take on such a challenge. We also discuss some of his personal struggles, the support network he has, the importance of gratitude, the gift of giving and so much more.

This episode I catch up with 2 x world billfish champion Bonze. Bonze has been on the podcast before but this time we are going to drive deeper into a particular area of game fishing, the boat set up. Those of you who listened to previous episode with Bonze will know that we were setting up my boat Mini Chiefie in preparation for last season and with the changes made I had my best season yet. This is an area that Bonze is very passionate about and also credits a lot of his personal success to, trust me I now know why. During this podcast we talk in depth and great detail of the changes made, with the hope that the information shared helps all you keen fisho’s become more successful. We cover areas such as rod holder placement, outrigger set up, dredge and teaser systems, lures and so much more.

This episode I catch up with an old High School friend who just so happens to be New Zealand cricket’s best ever wicket-keeper batsman, BJ Watling.BJ has recently retired from a 13 year career at the top playing a total of 75 tests and goes out a World Test champion.Through this podcast we get a “Reel” look into the career of one of New Zealand’s most respected players. We discuss how his time at Hamilton Boys’ High shaped him, our memories of playing 1st XI together, his introduction to the Black Caps and being sledged by Ricky Ponting.We also discuss what it was like at the non striker’s end during Brendon McCullum’s famous Test 300, the different leadership styles of Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson, being a world champion and so much more.