In this episode of the Saltwater Edge Podcast, we welcome Dr. Ben Meadows—fisheries economist, conservationist, and passionate redfish angler—for a fascinating dive into the real value of recreational fishing. From the dockside price of a fillet to the unspoken joy of watching fish swirl in the surf, Dr. Meadows breaks down how economic tools can (and can’t) capture what fishing means to us. We explore how traditional models fall short in valuing catch-and-release, why property rights matter in ...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 7 min
In this episode, Pete Utschig returns to the Saltwater Edge Podcast to talk surfcasting strategy, big fish mindset, and the lifelong pursuit of “alpha” predators. From his days in the firehouse to chasing tarpon in Florida and roosterfish in Baja, Pete shares what it takes to consistently find success from the surf. We cover the power of preparation, why confidence trumps plug color, and how moon tides, weather patterns, and current windows dictate your shot at a true trophy. If you’re serious a...
Jun 02, 2025•54 min
In this episode of the Saltwater Edge Podcast , host Peter Jenkins sits down with Captain Brian Kelly, a New England light tackle and fly fishing guide with deep knowledge of Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bay. Brian shares his journey from Montana guide school to full-time guiding on his Parker 18', and gives a tactical breakdown of fishing around bunker schools—from identifying bait behavior to deploying the right gear. We talk seasonal shifts , bait dynamics , and how to approach stripers, albies...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Tammy King: Surfcasting, Island Life, and Building a Fishing Community | Saltwater Edge Podcast In this episode of the Saltwater Edge Podcast, we’re joined by Tammy King — a Nantucket native, surfcasting expert, and founder of Fish Girl Guides. Raised in a charter captain family, Tammy shares how her early beach days turned into a lifetime passion for fishing, teaching, and community building. We explore growing up on Nantucket, surfcasting sandy beaches, empowering women in fishing, and Tammy’s...
Apr 30, 2025•50 min
In this podcast episode, Peter Jenkins, owner of the Saltwater Edge, hosts Ralph Craft from Crafty One Customs. Ralph shares his journey into fishing and rod building, the challenges and intricacies of creating custom fishing rods, and the importance of conservation and sustainable fishing practices. The discussion extends to community involvement, including efforts to support pediatric cancer patients and other charitable activities. The episode also delves into the controversial topic of offsh...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Bonefishing is one of the most thrilling saltwater experiences an angler can have, and planning a DIY trip adds an extra layer of challenge and reward. Whether you're heading to the Bahamas, Belize, or Mexico, a self-guided flats fishing adventure requires careful planning and a strategic approach. In this guide, based on insights from seasoned DIY angler Ross Kessler, we’ll cover everything you need to know to execute a successful DIY bonefish trip—from planning and tides to gear and tactics. F...
Mar 17, 2025•52 min
For over a decade, 24/7 Lures has been a staple in the world of custom wooden fishing lures, crafting high-quality, small-batch plugs designed for serious surf casters. In a recent episode of the Saltwater Edge Podcast , we sat down with Elliot Thomas, owner of 24/7 Lures, to discuss the evolution of wooden lure design, fishing tactics, and the impact of conservation-minded rigging. The History and Evolution of 24/7 Lures Elliot Thomas took over 24/7 Lures in 2017 after acquiring the brand from ...
Mar 03, 2025•57 min
The Saltwater Edge Podcast recently welcomed a special guest, Dr. Aaron Adams—an esteemed marine scientist, author, and avid angler with over 35 years of experience in fish ecology and conservation. As the Director of Science and Conservation at Bonefish Tarpon Trust, Dr. Adams bridges the gap between complex scientific research and practical fishing advice, making him the perfect voice for anglers eager to deepen their understanding of saltwater habitats. Insights From Dr. Adams Growing up near...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 8 min
As the frost of winter lingers, the team at The Saltwater Edge has been keeping busy, preparing for the warmer days ahead. In our latest group podcast, Coby, John, Cyril, Tyler, and Eric gathered to chat about their recent winter adventures, fishing highlights, and the excitement of spring fishing on the horizon. Winter Adventures While the icy winds kept many indoors, the crew embraced the season in their own ways. Tyler and Coby took to the Deerfield River for a memorable trout fishing trip, c...
Jan 22, 2025•23 min
Today’s guest on the Saltwater Edge Podcast is a passionate, lifelong fisherman and a tough salty bastard, but those are table stakes for being an effective fisheries advocate. Stir in a deep respect for the past and an unwavering ability to focus on “fish first” as your North Star, and you get the best in the game. The American Saltwater Guides Association is a young organization founded in 2018 that has grown rapidly due to its core values of science, education, and advocacy. Today’s guest con...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 5 min
In this episode of the Saltwater Edge podcast, host Peter Jenkins welcomes Captain Craig Cantelmo from Van Staal Fishing Products. The discussion dives into the history and evolution of Van Staal's iconic fishing reels, from their inception to the modern VS and VR series. They discuss engineering innovations, material choices, and the impact of braided lines on reel design. The conversation also covers Van Staal's distinctive fishing pliers and fly reels, highlighting their design features and d...
Dec 23, 2024•42 min
John Skinner is a renowned author and videographer with over 50 years of saltwater fishing experience. He is particularly well-known for his expertise in surfcasting for striped bass, albies, and fluke. His "real job" as a computer scientist at the prestigious Brookhaven Nnational Labratory means he always asks why? This curiosity has served the surfcasting community very well. Over the years, he has contributed to various publications, including On the Water, The Surfcaster's Journal, and Shall...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 10 min
Saltwater Edge Podcast: 2024 Gear Highlights, Tips & Stories Join the Saltwater Edge team for an engaging roundtable discussion as they reflect on the 2024 saltwater fishing season. Packed with expert insights, gear recommendations, and fishing stories, this episode is perfect for anglers looking to up their game. Episode Breakdown 00:00:05 – 00:00:48 Welcome to the Saltwater Edge team takeover! Meet the crew as they kick off a season recap, sharing their experiences with this year’s inconsi...
Nov 24, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Scott Bennett is the Program Director for the Marine Biologic Lab’s Striped Bass Magic research program and the MBL’s Marine Resources Department manager. He grew up in Chicago fishing in freshwater lakes. As a teenager, he started coming to Cape Cod during the summers, where he developed a love for saltwater fishing. He earned a BA in Marine Biology from Roger Williams University in 2005 and a Master's Degree in Comparative Physiology focusing on cranial endothermy in tunas from Cal State Fulle...
Sep 06, 2024•59 min
John Field spent extensive time exploring the waters of the Northwest Territories in Canada, the Amazon, and elsewhere while working for Larry Dahlberg Productions. He filmed and co-produced Hunt for Big Fish with Dahlberg. He has decades of experience flats fishing the Florida Keys and striped bass fishing in the Northeast. He is an FFI (Fly Fishers International) Certified Master Casting Instructor He has two fly casting books to his credit and released his latest book, Fly Fishing for Trophy ...
Jul 10, 2024•1 hr
This episode features Peter Jenkins, owner of the Saltwater Edge, in conversation with renowned fish artist Nick Mayer. They discuss Nick's journey from a young nature enthusiast to becoming one of the world's top fish portrait artists, his academic background in marine biology, and his various experiences and jobs in fisheries research around the globe. Nick shares insights into his art process, the importance of detail and observation, and his transition from traditional gallery sales to e-com...
Apr 24, 2024•51 min
Today’s guest grew up fishing the small mountain streams near his Blue Ridge, Virginia home. As a youngster, he started a guiding service and, in the late 90s, opened Blue Ridge Fly Fishers in Roanoke, Virginia. He has worked for years to create patterns that solve angling problems. More than once, he has created “a platform” a design innovation so effective that dozens of “patterns” can then be created. Some of these can go head to head with the strike-generating action of conventional lures. A...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 35 min
Chris Aubut grew up in the very fishy Westport, MA. He spent most of his youth developing his boating and saltwater fishing skills with guidance from his father. Throughout his life, surfing in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island consumed most of his time away from light tackle and saltwater fly fishing. After he graduated from the Chapman School of Seamanship, he pursued a life on the water. Over the past 13 years, Chris has guided hundreds of clients on successful fishing charters in W...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Bill Wetzel has guided the Montauk surf for over 25 years. He is one of the most requested anglers that you, the Saltwater Edge Podcast listeners, have ever asked for. Not surprisingly, his live social posts that he records driving home after a night of surfcasting in the Montauk surf are a masterclass in the thought process of what makes great anglers great—traits like focus, observation, and a deep understanding of seasonal bait migrations and more. Bill has hosted the Surf Rats Ball Surf Fish...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 10 min
Frank Goncalves has been immersed in saltwater fishing since childhood, growing up in the East Coast's largest fishing port of New Bedford, Massachusetts. This proximity to the salt, a lot of commitment, and his abundant creativity have produced a very talented surfcaster. Sure, there is "putting in the work," his effort is legendary, but many of us can stand on a rock. Frank Goncalves separates from the pack with his attention to detail and a creative mind that powers his day job as a graphic d...
Feb 20, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Most of Ben Whalley’s very non-traditional youth was spent in Brazil. When he wasn’t breaking horses or working on the ranch, he was exploring the wilderness and waterways, searching for natural materials he could spin up to imitate local berries to catch Pacou. About 20 years ago, he moved to Maine, where his obsession with wild salmonids and chasing stripers on the beautiful, expansive flats in the Gulf of Maine. His saltwater flies are known for being functional and realistic, heavily influen...
Dec 26, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Capt. Kyle is a fly fishing guide, lodge owner, writer, conservationist, and entrepreneur. Kyle’s passion for fly fishing runs deep, but his true passion is helping people and fighting to protect wild fish and wild places. He guides for stripers on the flats in Maine and chases bonefish, permit and whatever else is on the flats in the Berry Islands, Bahamas. Like most of us Kyle is happy when there is a bend in the rod; but he gets truely excited by the anticipation of seeing a fish and making t...
Nov 30, 2023•50 min
Captain Connor MacLeod is one of the most in demand charter boat captains I know. From the on the water experience he creates that earns stellar reviews, to his monthly Fishing Forecast in On The Water magazine, to his highly effective line of tog jigs. Every thing is top notch. And to top it off, the RI State Record blackfish of 21.57 lbs caught on his boat in 2021! He also understands that while operating safely is a charter captain's primary job he recogmizes that creating memories keeps peop...
Nov 09, 2023•59 min
Today's guest is a passionate man. Whether it's paintball, capturing cool video, or surfcasting for his beloved striped bass. He is all in. Today's guest has been a steady supporter of catch and release recognizing some time ago that we need to release the breeders to have a sustainable fishery and the opportunity to share our joy with future generations. He has also followed his passion into product development and looking for better solutions for surfcasters. Check out Phase Gear Please welcom...
Sep 23, 2023•1 hr 11 min
As an educator and an entrepreneur, Luyen Chou has done some remarkable things in his career , and since his teenage years he has always been been drawn to saltwater fishing. When the opportunity presented itself to apply his unique skills to make a difference in his passion, he stepped up with his time and talent. Striped bass, false albacore, redfish, and the people who chase them are just starting to realize the benefits Luyen and his app GotOne can have on our fisheries. The app will serve t...
Sep 14, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Captain Max Dispoto has already spent what might be a lifetime for most other anglers fishing the tuna grounds of Southern New England. He has a passion for the canyons as well as the "Midshore" fishery that has exploded this year due to the abundance of sand eels. Max is a member of the Shimano Saltwater Sportfishing Pro Staff. That's quite a recognition that he earned because he shares the same relentless drive and guy instincts that the very best Cpatains seem to share.
Aug 22, 2023•56 min
Even as a fairly late bloomer to the sport, Dustin Stevens undying desire to learn all things fishing has led him to become a multi-species and multi-technique angler. This curiosity has created an avid inshore fisherman with a passion for stripers, albies, tog, and sea bass Dustin also has a unique business model here in the northeast in that he guides kayak fishermen. His focus is on both light tackle and bottom fishing so anglers often fish both styles on one charter. I'd be remiss if I didn'...
Jul 26, 2023•48 min
Captain Diogo Godoi of Gorilla Tactics Sportfishing owns one of Cape Cod’s premier inshore light tackle charter operations; he specializes in bluefin tuna, striped bass, and false albacore, as well as a variety of other species. When you fish with Captain Diogo, you realize he is experienced in a variety of light tackle fishing techniques and will stick with them until you are tight. The SWE crew has gone offshore fishing with Diogo a number of times for jig and pop bluefin. Every time has been ...
Jun 12, 2023•50 min
As Editor of On The Water Jimmy has to fish a lot and fortunately for On The Water Magazine Jimmy is up to the challenge. All joking aside it's no small task to have the versatility and the expertise to teach others a stunning array of fishing techniques from center pinning for steelhead to deep-dropping swordfish. Fact is Jimmy Fee is a talented and curious angler who might be the best guy for the job he has. Case in point a few years ago I heard of a whisper of a local squeteague bite and I wa...
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Captain Coral Rose Aiello has been saltwater fishing with her father, Joe since she was a child and became first mate on his charter boat the Coral Rose at 14. In the decade+ since then, she has come into her own as a fisherman, and she and Joe have developed a very unique working relationship as a father-daughter team. Coral, aka “Professional Hooker” can be found and followed on Instagram @Professional.Hooker . Check out her YouTube channel where she often posts fishing videos. She holds her U...
Mar 14, 2023•49 min
