Fat Dad Fishing Show
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!
Episodes
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,...
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 suspe...
A sold-out party boat, a weird current, and a deck full of strangers who felt like old friends—this Osprey trip had a little bit of everything. We kick off with a starfish cameo and an early keeper that set the tone, then watch the day shift into a thoughtful grind as wind and swing made structure feel like a moving target. Between moves, we trade stories, compare notes, and soak in why the Osprey crew is so respected...
Cold water shrinks the feeding window, but it doesn’t close the door. We break down how to keep catching when the temps drop—reading birds and bait from the sand, shifting targets when the tog bite dies, and picking kayak hulls that actually match your water and body. George shares a cautionary tale about leaving a premium surf setup on the beach and the routine that got it back, then walks us through a pragmatic surf...
Boats piled on a blitz, motors roaring, and someone floors it straight through the bunker. We’ve all watched the bite die in seconds. This week, we break down the most common saltwater mistakes and share the simple, high-impact fixes that turn chaos into confident results. Rich is joined by Scotty Sevins to dig into smart stealth around bait, how to plan by tide and wind, and why “following the fleet” is a shortcut to...
Cold water finally clicked the “on” switch, and we leaned all the way into it: a full tautog system that works from New Jersey reefs to Rhode Island boulder fields. We brought Frank Mahalik on to open the tackle bag and the playbook—how to lock your drag without popping fish, why a mono top shot turns a broomstick into a shock absorber, and the exact V-rig that puts a whole white crab in the strike zone without helico...
Schools of bunker once blacked out our bays; now many anglers chase scattered pods and skinny bass while ospreys circle empty water. We sat down with Captain Paul Eidman of Menhaden Defenders to unpack what changed, why the new ecosystem science calls for much tighter quotas, and how a single industrial fleet can reshape an entire food web. This is a straight look at menhaden—the forage that fuels stripers, birds, wha...
Cold air, numb hands, and a white crab that changed everything. That’s the scene Chell Baybay paints as she walks us through the drop, the thump, and the surge that sealed her first double-digit tautog—a moment that turned a late-start angler into a fixture on New Jersey head boats.
We dig into why tog fishing hooks so deep: the fight starts at the bite, and winning is all timing, patience, and feel. Shell br...
Miss the shoulder-to-shoulder blitzes where bass erupted at your feet? We dig into how to make moments like that repeatable by reading the beach, timing the wind, and picking simple surf lures that just work. With surf-casting standout George Bucci, we go past reports and chase what truly moves fish in the fall: weather windows, bait behavior, and structure.
We start with the forecast because it decides your ...
The surf is alive, the foam lines are loud, and the biggest stripers of the season are sliding into casting range. We invited Bayside Dave to dig into a land-based masterclass: how to read Long Beach Island’s sandbars, troughs, and rip seams, and how to choose baits and lures that turn those spots into steady hookups. Whether you fish beaches, jetties, inlet edges, or bayside docks, this guide puts you exactly where t...
We step through the storm gate into fall fishing, trading summer sheepshead grind for backwater striped bass, smarter leader choices, and tactics that work when oxygen rises and bait stacks. Gear gets practical, lures get both bigger and smaller, and we keep the focus on memory, community, and respecting spots.
• nor’easter as the real seasonal trigger and oxygen reset
• back bay bass patterns as temps dr...
We unpack the proposed 12% striped bass mortality cut, why “closure” likely means a short seasonal window, and how flawed MRIP effort estimates are steering the debate. We compare regional impacts by month, weigh status quo against quick fixes, and argue for better data, smarter timing, and real habitat work.
• What a seasonal closure actually means and when it would land
• Why MRIP effort overestimates c...
We confront the push for “no targeting” on striped bass, challenge shaky mortality data, and argue for smart, consistent rules that protect spawning fish without killing access. Then we spotlight the Barrier Island Beach Brawl—part surf tournament, part charity engine—that brings anglers together and feeds local families.
• status of striped bass regs and the risk of no-targeting
• why bad data and unclea...
Rich and Jay explore the differences and surprising similarities between freshwater and saltwater fishing, proving that techniques from one world can successfully translate to the other.
• Jay discusses his journey from casual angler to creator of the 45,000-member Kayak Fishing Dads Facebook group
• Detailed breakdown of transitional bass fishing tactics as summer gives way to fall
• Why suspending j...
Captain Kayla Hale shares multi-species fishing strategies for the northern Chesapeake, from striped bass tactics to smallmouth techniques. She reveals exciting news about her custom Rockproof jet boat being built for her guide service.
• Fish below surface commotion for bigger striped bass
• Minnow plugs and glide baits produce quality stripers in the fall
• Striped bass migration patterns change fro...
We dive deep into the art and science of fishing rod selection with returning guest John Creeley, former co-host and current rod builder for Advanced Fishing USA. This episode unpacks everything from rod action to material composition to help you make better equipment choices for your target species.
• Every rod has a specific purpose - no single rod is perfect for all applications
• Rod actions (extra-fa...
Benji Crabbing and Fishing joins us to share his journey from passionate angler to charter captain, offering a wealth of knowledge about backwater fishing opportunities in coastal New Jersey waters.
• Benji recently became a licensed charter captain after years of preparation and learning from fellow anglers
• Late summer flounder fishing has tapered off earlier than expected this year
• Blackfish (ta...
Captain Joey Leggio shares his expertise on targeting Cobia off the coast of New York, revealing how this once-rare trophy fish has become a viable target species. We explore effective techniques for finding and catching these powerful gamefish, along with the shifting fisheries that have brought them north.
• When sharks appear (especially blacktips and spinners), Cobia are likely following close behind
...
False albacore season is approaching fast, and we're diving into everything you need to know about targeting these explosive gamefish. Rob Crossley shares his expertise on gearing up and tactics for the brief but thrilling albie run that hits Northeast waters in late summer.
• Using fast-action 7'3" rods with more glass for the right balance of accuracy and strength
• Selecting 20-pound bra...
Late summer fluke fishing offers unique challenges and opportunities as water temperatures rise and fish begin transitioning from bays to inlets. With the right approach, anglers can still enjoy productive fishing despite changing conditions.
• Understanding beach structure is critical - focus on troughs between beach and sandbars rather than deep holes
• Lighter tackle outperforms heavy gear in the surf ...
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