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!

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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!
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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
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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

We break down our wild fishing trip to Kununurra in the east Kimberly with Birchy from Birchy's Fishing Tours and nothing is left out. The whole thing felt like a test of grit, patience and angling ability (or lack there of…)

Previous guest Goatman is joining us for a bit of company on this one!

This episode covers the full ride, start to finish.

• Brutal river crossings that pushed the limits.

• Snakes and baby crocs turning up where we did not want them

• Wood duck moments from the 2 biggest wood ducks in W.A (Lecca & Rothy)

• Lecca landing a 111 centimetre barra on a handline.

• Sprinting from a storm that came out of nowhere

• Rothy scraping in his first barra in the final minutes of the trip

This was the hardest fishing we have ever done. It was also the most rewarding.

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 our mate Sam (Birchy) Birch aka The Barra King who is the man behind Birchy’s Fishing Tours.

Birchy might be known for catching monster barra, but the story behind the man goes much deeper. Sam (Birchy) Birch is a Balanggarra, Kija & Jaru man born & bred in Wyndham.

In this episode Birchy opens about his upbringing, his culture and the challenges he faced as a young bloke. He shares how he turned a life shaped by violence, trauma and anger into one driven by purpose, vulnerability and faith. He talks about how fishing, country and culture became his escape and his identity. This one is powerful, honest and full of heart.

• Tagalong tours explained and what guests can expect on a day out with Birchy
• His journey from violence and anger to vulnerability, growth and purpose
• How he reads a river, the signs he looks for and how he hunts big barra
• Tides, bait selection, lure choice and when to change tactics
• Lure colours, retrieves and what actually works in dirty water
• The wild story of a croc launching up a bank during a night bait run
• A venomous snake incident involving his daughter and how he handled it
• Barra behaviour broken down including feeding patterns, ambush tactics and water temperature
• A preview of the Lecca & Rothy’s upcoming Kununurra trip
• Listener questions
• Plenty of stories, laughs and hard earned barra knowledge from someone who lives and breathes the country he fishes

If your looking to get out for a cultural experience & land the fish of a lifetime in WA's north, make sure you book a tour with Birchy below! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

WEBSITE: birchysfishingtours.com.au
INSTAGRAM: @birchys_fishing_tours
FACEBOOK: Birchy's Fishing Tours

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

This week we’re joined by Drew Clowes – Captain of Jazz Charters in Perth, WA.

In this Episode Lecca & Rothy talk to Drew about…

• Drew’s fishing origin story
• Working on commercial fishing boats
• Starting Jazz Charters
• Perth inshore snapper
• Slow trolling soft plastics for Southern Bluefin Tuna
• WA’s increasingly problematic Shark population
• Hooking a Black Marlin near Rottnest on a charter
• WORLD RECORD 78KG COBIA!!!!
• & much more!

Subscribe to Tall Tails Fishing Podcast & dont forget to leave a rating if you are enjoying these chats!

www.jazzcharters.com.au
Jazz Charters 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’re joined by WA land based fishing Stalwart, Chris Dixon

Chris is one of Western Australia’s highest profile anglers thanks to his insane rock fishing missions that he shares on his YouTube channel – Dixon’s Fishing.

In this Episode Lecca & Rothy dig deep into Dixon’s fishing knowledge and he doesn’t hold back!

In this episode the boys talk about…

• Chris’s most recent metro session
• Chris’s fishing upbringing targeting King George Whiting & Squid in Albany
• Catching dhufish out of Two Rocks and seeing a decrease in fish size & numbers.
• Fishing the south coast Rocks for trophy fish and some near-death experiences.
• Getting started on Youtube with help from fellow Youtuber, Briggsy.
• The approach to finding good spots vs great spots.
• Crazy treks into untouched zones & finding people at the spot
• TOPWATER SNAPPER?!
• Broken bones and wood duck moments!
• Fishing with Aussie fishing personality, Paul Worsteling from IFISH
• Rothy buying Chris’s second hand rods that have insane fish slaying Juju!

& heaps more!

Follow Chris at the links below…
YOUTUBE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK

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