Scott Jessamine, better known as Saltfix on YouTube, joins Rothy & Lecca for a chat about all things fishing inshore and more...

In this episode:

• Scott's Early days of Fishing in Perth
• How tackle shops lost their soul over the decades
• Reading unfamiliar water and putting in the work
• Why Scott prefers inshore over offshore fishing
• Cracking Pink Snapper in the shallows and Kingfish on 3 Mile Reef
• Barra at Lake Kununurra
• A Great White encounter at Little Island with Matt Gates
• Blowfish as bait?!

Plus — win a Daiwa Saltiga Jig pack. Drop your best listener question on Instagram @TallTailsPodcast. Thanks to Daiwa Australia.

Follow Scotty on Instagram: @saltfix
Follow Scotty on YoutTube

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

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🎣 Lecca's Instagram

INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com

In this episode we're joined by Ben Patrick — owner of Halco Tackle.

Halco is the most iconic fishing lure brand to ever come out of Western Australia. If you've ever tied on a Laser Pro, a Twisty, or a Rooster Popper, you've got Ben, his family & Hal cooper to thank for it.

Ben is the second generation owner of Halco Tackle, a brand founded in 1950 by Hal Cooper in his garage in Mosman Park. Today, Halco sells to over 80 countries, designs everything in-house out of their Fremantl HQ and manufactures out of their own factory in Batam, Indonesia. Halco lures are distrubted & fished hard all over the world.

In this episode with Ben Patrick we discuss…

• The origin story of Halco — from Hal Cooper's garage in Mosman Park to a globally recognised lure brand
• How Ben's dad Neil purchased the company in 1980 and the lures that defined that era
• Ben buying the business with his family in 2002 and taking it global
• The challenges of cracking the US market and what makes American anglers different
• Ben's earliest fishing memories — the Abrolhos Islands, 30lb mackerel in Grade 5, and a 48-year-old boat called Safari Two
• The real story behind the Rooster Popper — how it came to be, why it took a year to get right, and why it's now the best-selling mass-produced popper in the world
• Lure design philosophy — what most anglers misunderstand about buoyancy, weight, and balance
• Why clean water is the single most important factor for chasing metro Spanish mackerel on lures
• Ben's Spanish mackerel trolling spread and the stick bait tip Craig White swears by
• The Abrolhos Islands — how the fishery has changed, why the baldies are better than ever, and the Batavia shipwreck story
• The Iconic Twisty — how it's still made the same way Hal Cooper invented it in 1950, and why Ben nearly dropped it from the range
• Live scoping and how sounder technology is changing lure design
• Noodling for catfish in Texas
• Ben's most memorable fish — a 180lb tarpon in Panama on a Laser Pro 160
• Why the red and white Laser Pro catches more fish
• A limited edition Halco Twisty idea that the boys pitched to ben on air
• Ben's wood duck moment — sniping a drone on national television with a Rooster Popper

Plus we give away an epic Daiwa Saltiga Topwater lure pack for the best listener question submitted through our Instagram @TallTailsPodcast thanks to Daiwa Australia

halcotackle.com

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

FOLLOW THE RODCAST ON SOCIALS!
🎣 Youtube
🎣 Instagram
🎣 TikTok
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🎣 Rothy's Instagram
🎣 Lecca's Instagram

INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com

Whitey is back!

In this episode, we’re joined by the legends from Evolution Charters in Exmouth, Craig & Jack White, fresh off the Fremantle Sailing Club’s Premier Marlin Fishing Competition, The 2026 Sovereign Blue Marlin Classic

In this episode we recap the an epic weeknd over at Rottnest Island off Perth and break down the good times and the mayhem that occurred in between

We also throw a bunch of listener questions to Whitey thanks to the legends at Daiwa Australia.

Enjoy!

Follow Evolution Charter on Facebook & Instagram!

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

FOLLOW THE RODCAST ON SOCIALS!
🎣 Youtube
🎣 Instagram
🎣 TikTok
🎣 Facebook
🎣 Rothy's Instagram
🎣 Lecca's Instagram

INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com

You asked for a Spearo. We delivered.

This week we sit down with Perth spearfishing weapon and Australian Underwater Federation record keeper, Vin Rushworth.

Vin is a marine biologist by trade who has tagged Great White Sharks in Western Australia and whales in Antarctica. That mindset shows in the way he hunts.

Originally from Brisbane, Vin cut his teeth on the east coast before moving west 15 years ago. Since then he has speared up and down the WA coastline and built a serious list of stories with some legends of the sport.

In this episode we cover...

• Growing up in Brisbane and getting into spearfishing

• East coast vs West coast spearing

• Working in fisheries research

• Tagging Great Whites and whales

• Shark encounters while diving

• Crossing paths with an Australian Navy submarine while chasing marlin off Perth

• Yellowfin tuna & wahoo missions

• His role as record keeper for the Australian Underwater Federation

• The upcoming InterPacific Spearfishing Championships in Busselton

• Chasing Northern Pearl Perch in WA

• Spearing marlin off the teaser out wide

• A gnarly near drowning diving for crays

• Future goals in the spearfishing world

Plus we fire through a stack of listener questions & give away a Squid Jig pack thanks to Daiwa Australia.

If you have been asking for more spearfishing content, this one is for you.

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

FOLLOW THE RODCAST ON SOCIALS!
🎣 Youtube
🎣 Instagram
🎣 TikTok
🎣 Facebook
🎣 Rothy's Instagram
🎣 Lecca's Instagram

INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com

In this episode we’re joined by one of the best Barramundi fisho’s that you’ve probably never heard of - Jono Ellis.

Jono is an absolute sniper when I comes to catching BIG Barra using live-scope and has pulled some massive Barramundi upwards of 120cm from his home waters around Derby & Broome in WA’s North.

Regular listeners of the Rodcast will know that Lecca loves his Barra so he didn’t hold back on questions for Jono…

In this episode with Jono Ellis we discuss…

• Jono's fishing upbring living in Derby, WA
• Progressing from bait to lures and eventually introducing Live scope
• Shark & Crocodile encounters in the Kimberly river systems
• Tips for avoiding croc attacks and some close calls
• Jono's boat setup
• Tips for setting up livescope for your best chance at scoping a Barramundi
• Jono's preffered Barramundi lures
• Wood duck moments
• Throwing rocks at lazy fish to tempt them into biting a lure
• Lecca's recent Mully session on the Swan River with Tim Farnell

Plus we give away an epic line & leader pack from Daiwa for the best listener question submitted through our Instagram @TallTailsPodcast

Follow Jono on Instagram...

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

FOLLOW THE RODCAST ON SOCIALS!
🎣 Youtube
🎣 Instagram
🎣 TikTok
🎣 Facebook
🎣 Rothy's Instagram
🎣 Lecca's Instagram

INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com

In this episode we are joined by the man behind Tackle World Exmouth, Matt Gates, along with his two sons, Kalvin and Dean.

When we asked past guests who we had to get on the show, one name kept coming up. Gatesy.

If a species can be targeted in the Exmouth region, he has spent time figuring it out.

Matt moved from Perth to Exmouth to run the store under mentor Hal Harvey before eventually buying the business and carrying it forward.

We sit down with Matt and the boys to talk about:

• Long weekend missions driving Perth to Exmouth in the early days

• Cutting his teeth at Bluewater Tackle World

• Learning the ropes under Hal Harvey’s mentorship

• Opening Tackle World Exmouth and eventually buying the store

• A lifelong passion for barramundi fishing

• Favourite barra locations and proven techniques

• Being early to adopt circle hooks in WA game fishing

• The growing reality of shark depredation and near misses

• Life spearfishing the Exmouth coast

• Fishing as a way to connect generations

• Close encounters with Irukandji and box jellyfish

• Rescuing Ross Chapman after a solo marlin release went wrong

• Proper wood duck moments

• Swordfish and deep water talk

This one is equal parts fishing knowledge, life lessons, and Exmouth history.

https://www.instagram.com/tackleworldexmouth/

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

FOLLOW THE RODCAST ON SOCIALS!
🎣 Youtube
🎣 Instagram
🎣 TikTok
🎣 Facebook
🎣 Rothy's Instagram
🎣 Lecca's Instagram

INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com

In this episode we’re joined by Karratha local, Ryan Turner, or RT.

Ryan has a massively diverse fishing skillset and is one of the most technically skilled anglers we’ve had on the Rodcast so far.

Growing up in Dampier, Ryan has spent his whole life targeting trophy fish in his backyard that most fisherman can only dream of.

In this episode, we cover a huge array of topics, focusing heavily on Ryans home turf in the Pilbara Region,

We talk about...

• Growing up fishing in Dampier
• Stealing his dads Landcruiser & boat to go fishing instead of going to school
• Working out how to fish the Dampier Archipelago & its incredible species diversity
• The Pilbara being a hot spot for some of Australia's most skilled fisherman
• The early days of Giant Trevally fishing in Exmouth & Ryan's obsession for GT's in the Pilbara Region
• Tips for catching Pilbara GT's
• Light Tackle Game Fishing & IGFA line class records
• Winning Gamex
• Crazy Shark Fishing stories
• Ryans Custom 7.5m Svensson NQ Fisher boat
• Pilbara Dogtooth Tuna
• A gnarly Wood-Duck story
• Some EPIC listener questions
  
  

Crack a tin & grab a notepad because there is some serious knowdlege being shared in this one!

Click here to follow Ryan Turner on Instagram - @RyanTurnerProTeam

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

FOLLOW THE RODCAST ON SOCIALS!
🎣 Youtube
🎣 Instagram
🎣 TikTok
🎣 Facebook
🎣 Rothy's Instagram
🎣 Lecca's Instagram

INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com

In this episode we’re joined by Bunbury local Tommy Miller.

Tommy has built a serious reputation in the WA fishing scene as a versatile angler, comfortable everywhere from jigging deep to chasing pelagics offshore.

Fresh off winning the 2025 Sovereign Blue Marlin Classic with his dad Dusty and mate Sam Colvin, we break down how they did it and what anglers should be thinking about heading into the 2026 comp.

We cover the wins, the lessons, and the bigger conversations shaping fishing in WA right now.

You’ll hear about

• Tommy’s fishing upbringing and influences
• His 28ft Contender centre console setup
• Winning the Sovereign Blue Marlin Classic
• Why Tommy and Sam rate it as the best value game fishing comp in the country
• Targeting new species and expanding your fishing playbook
• Discovering an unreal south west kingfish fishery
• First thoughts on WA’s new demersal closure rules
• The growing divide between recreational and commercial fishing
• Fishing Useless loop in Shark Bay
• & much more!

Plenty of insight. Plenty of opinion. Plenty of laughs!

Sovereign Blue Marlin Classic 2026

If you've ever wanted to have a crack at Game Fishing in WA, the 2026 Sovereign Blue Marlin Classic is one to be involved in!

Running from 28 February - 2 March 2026

Click here to learn more

The iconic Sovereign Blue Marlin Classic is back for its 47th year and it’s shaping up to be a cracker.

Why this comp is a no brainer

• Massive $120,000 prize pool

• Daily marlin cash prizes to keep things spicy all weekend

• Outstanding value for both first time game fishers and seasoned crews

• Early bird entries open until the end of January

• Expecting up to 60 boats and around 240 anglers in 2026

If you’ve ever thought about stepping into game fishing, or you’re already hooked, this is a comp that delivers bang for buck and serious bragging rights!

Key dates

• 28 February – 2 March 2026

• Fremantle, Perth Western Australia

• The 47th running of the Sovereign Blue Marlin Classic

Game Fishing Info Night

Want to sharpen your skills before the big weekend?

• Thursday 29 January @ Fremantle Sailing Club

• Game fishing presentations

• Bluewater fishing masterclass

• Perfect for newcomers and experienced anglers getting dialled for the Classic

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

FOLLOW THE RODCAST ON SOCIALS!
🎣 Youtube
🎣 Instagram
🎣 TikTok
🎣 Facebook
🎣 Rothy's Instagram
🎣 Lecca's Instagram

INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com