Kevin Pavlidis is employed by the FWC to capture invasive snakes and is also an alligator wrestler at the Everglades Holiday Park with the Gator Boys. He recently caught an 18 foot 9 inch python with Ryan Ausburn to set the new Florida Record. We talk about his journey to this wild career, as well as many details surrounding both alligators and pythons. I learn more about the invasive species issues surrounding southern Florida, mostly the Burmese Python. Kevin has a tremendous amount of knowled...
Nov 25, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Season 3Ep. 47
This week for How 2 Tuesday, I had the chance to sit down with Chris Pascual and talk bridge fishing in the Florida Keys. Chris has a TON of experience bridge fishing and if you don’t believe me, go check out his instagram @pescadorcubano and see for yourself. In this episode, we talk bridge fishing techniques, tackle, accessories, and what you need to do to have the most success. We talk about what types of species you can target and the best places to do that. Bridges are a great way to get on...
Nov 24, 2020•19 min•Season 3Ep. 47
For Physical Friday this week, we take a look at where I do all of my workouts. Over the years (and with help from LOTS of people), I have built up what some people call “The Ultimate Home Gym” in my garage and yard. I have a solid group consisting of hundreds of people over the years that have donated and contributed to building this gym. We are all able to reap the benefits, and I am just lucky enough to have the space to keep it all. I would argue that this is a great alternative to a gym mem...
Nov 20, 2020•9 min•Season 3Ep. 46
This week I had a very special guest on the podcast. Adrian Smith is the guitarist of one of the most popular rock bands of all time, Iron Maiden. Many do not know that Adrian also has a passion for fishing, so much so that he just released a book on fishing, titled “Monsters of River and Rock”. I had the chance to read the book and loved it. In the podcast, we talk about stories from the book, I talk to Adrian about touring and using travel for the band as a way to fish new areas, and Adrian gi...
Nov 18, 2020•37 min•Season 3Ep. 46
Whether you live way up north, or down in the south, the change of the seasons usually means doing some sort of preparatory maintenance on your boat. Whether that be winterizing the motor, preparing the batteries, or covering it for the season, there are always good ways to ensure that your boat will stay in the best condition. Down in South Florida, we don’t have to worry about the cold as much, but we do have to make sure that it is well protected from the sun and the salt. In this episode we ...
Nov 17, 2020•25 min•Season 3Ep. 46
Climbing a rope is a great way to build strength in your grip, arms shoulders back and core. It is an old school tool used by wrestlers, gymnasts, the military and CrossFit to quickly develop strength needed for each activity. Besides building strength, knowing how to climb a rope can save your life in the outdoors. Many people only use their arms when climbing rope, but if you are going for speed, efficiency, or survival, using your legs can make a huge difference. In this episode, we go throug...
Nov 13, 2020•8 min•Season 3Ep. 45
On this Veterans Day we would like to honor and thank all veterans. Nick Lavery (@machine.nc) is a US Green Beret Warrant Officer who has earned three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and a Bronze Star with Valor, for heroism in combat. With an incredible story of perseverance after he suffered many injuries in battle, resulting in having his leg amputated above the knee, Nick overcame tremendous odds to be considered the first Green Beret to return to combat as an above the knee amp...
Nov 11, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 45
This week we take another question from Instagram, talking about tips and techniques to have success catching juvenile (baby) goliath grouper in the mangroves. This is a perfect time to talk about this, because we target these fish in the first episode of the 2021 Saltwater Experience season. All of the techniques and tackle are still fresh on my mind, and I broke down everything that you need to know to have success catching these fish. Be sure to check out the video podcast from this episode f...
Nov 10, 2020•19 min•Season 3Ep. 45
The exercise called the Burpee is the foundation of my fitness. The burpee is really a very simple exercise but it is a difficult exercise that many people do not like. You basically throw yourself on the ground on your chest and do a pushup and get back to your feet and jump off the ground. While it is a simple and effective exercise, not everyone is ready to just start doing full burpees. If you are not ready to throw yourself on the ground, don’t worry, there are ways that you can use progres...
Nov 06, 2020•6 min•Season 3Ep. 44
Joe Gugino lives in Massachusetts and has a ton of experience chasing striper. This is a species of fish that I have very little experience with, so it was very interesting to learn about the fishing, the culture, the issues that they are facing, and much more. One thing that really intrigued me from this conversation was the issues that arise with dealing with multiple states regulating a migratory fish. In this case, 13 different states. We talk about this, fishing tactics, and even some deep ...
Nov 04, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Season 3Ep. 44
This week I had the chance to sit down with Capt. Ryan Nitz. We had Ryan on the show a few weeks ago to talk about public land hunting, but what he is best known for is the massive snook that he targets. That is exactly what we are talking about today. I ask him many questions in this episode that will be helpful for the beginning angler to get on some snook, but will also be helpful for the more seasoned angler to find those bigger snook, and have success landing them. We go over tackle choice,...
Nov 03, 2020•15 min•Season 3Ep. 44
For the past three weeks we have talked about the different steps to your road to fitness. We started with CONSISTENCY, then discussed ACCURACY. Last week we talked about INTENSITY, and this week we are discussing the final step, RECOVERY. This step is crucial to your extended health and ends up leading right back into consistency. If you do not recover correctly and get injured, then you will not be able to be consistent with your workouts. Recovery can mean a number of things, and I suggest yo...
Oct 30, 2020•16 min•Season 3Ep. 43
This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Mike Kimmel, who is more commonly known as The Python Cowboy. Mike is contracted by the state of Florida to help remove many different invasive species including pythons, iguanas, hogs, and many other species. Earlier this year, Mike caught a new Florida record python, measuring over 17 feet in length. Mike was bitten by the python during the capture and filmed the whole experience. You can see that video here. During this podcast, we discussed ma...
Oct 28, 2020•1 hr 28 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Last week, we discussed how to choose the best landing net for your fishing situation. This week we are talking about the most effective way to use a landing net. A landing net is a great tool to have in your boat to decrease the stress on the fish and safely and efficiently catch and release a fish. If you do not use a net the proper way, it could result in you losing the fish. Too many times I have seen net being used improperly, and the line ends up getting wrapped around the net, resulting i...
Oct 27, 2020•13 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Last week we talked about ACCURACY, as step 2 of the 4 step process for anyone to get back in shape. So now, after listening to this series, you are: CONSISTENT with your exercise. We discussed how to develop a habit that is easier to do than not to do. We talked about making it fun and including accountability partners. IF YOU HAVE NOT LISTENED TO PART 1 AND 2, PLEASE STOP AND GO BACK With this CONSISTENCY, we added in ACCURACY. This is where you might get a coach or educate yourself on how to ...
Oct 23, 2020•6 min•Season 3Ep. 42
This week I had the chance to sit down with the Legendary George Poveromo. George has been on television for 20 years now, hosting “George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing” which now airs on The Discovery Channel.George and I have a lot in common from the Television world, and he has some crazy stories. He shared one which was nearly his last. While fishing with Capt Nick Stanzyk, he was pulled in by a swordfish and thought he was going to lose his life. We share some other great stories in...
Oct 21, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Season 3Ep. 42
“What is the best landing net for saltwater fishing?” And “DO I even need a landing net for saltwater fishing?” I got both of these questions recently so I thought I’d dedicate todays episode to giving my 2 cents. Today we start part 1 of a 2 part series on landing nets. First, I am going to go over the attributes of a landing net that are important to me and why those same attributes may be things you want to consider. With this in mind, I describe and even say by name the net I consider to be ...
Oct 20, 2020•14 min•Season 3Ep. 42
Last week we talked about how to develop CONSISTENCY as the first step in your road to fitness. In this episode, we talk about the second step in the process, ACCURACY. In order to make the most out of your workout, you want to make sure that you are doing all of the movements and exercises correctly. This may require getting a coach, or even something as simple as watching some YouTube videos. Doing 20 perfect pushups can be a lot better for you than doing 100 pushups with bad form. If you are ...
Oct 16, 2020•6 min•Season 3Ep. 41
This week is a very special week for the Tom Rowland Podcast. I had the opportunity for a 3 generation trip to Montana to fish and visit with my family. Tom Rowland, Sr joins Turner Rowland, Hayden Rowland and Me, Tom Rowland for a great discussion on family, fishing, wisdom, parenting and funny stories. I had never heard a few of the stories and the world is about to learn how I could grow up with a live grenade in my living room for 42 years. Recently my Dad found it as they were moving out of...
Oct 14, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Season 3Ep. 41
This week I had the chance to sit down with Ryan Nitz and talk to him about public land hunting in Florida. Ryan is an avid hunter and has spent a TON of time hunting on public land. He has a ton of good advice for anything from gear all the way down to specific techniques that will grant you the most success with hunting public land. We also talk about public land etiquette, rules and regulations, and things to avoid when you are out there. Be sure to follow Ryan on Instagram @ryannitz to see h...
Oct 13, 2020•35 min•Season 3Ep. 41
For Physical Friday this week, we start a 4 step process to beginning a road to fitness. I get emails all the time from people that want to get into fitness, but are not sure where to start. Over the next 4 weeks, I will go over in detail the 4 crucial steps involved in getting started. Week 1 is all about consistency. This is the first step in making fitness a part of your life. I go over some key things that you can do to help with consistency, and explain how I have applied these to my everyd...
Oct 09, 2020•14 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Meko Glinton has a deep family heritage of guiding in the Bahamas. He has established a reputation as one of the best fishing guides down there at this time. Through his career, he has become the bonefish guide to the stars. Lefty Kreh, Liam Neeson, Michael Keaton, Tom Brokaw, and many more of the worlds most famous people have been clients and soon become friends of Meko. In this episode, I talk to Meko about his style of fishing and what factors in to his success. Meko tells many stories inclu...
Oct 07, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Today, I answer a question from a listener. “How do I pick a bonefish fly?” I open my bonefish box and go through 8 flies that I would feel unprepared without. We go over the most important quality in selecting a fly; sink rate. I show the different flies and organize them based on sink rate from slowest to fastest. Is it more important to have a variety of different flies or a variety of sink rates? I go over the answer and how I have prepared for trips around the world. You can have a bonefish...
Oct 06, 2020•13 min•Season 3Ep. 39
I go over 8 exercises today that require nothing more than a pullup bar. Heck, it doesn’t even need to be a real pullup bar. A jungle gym, playground equipment or any bar you can hang from will work. Bar hang, Knees to Elbows, Toes To Bar, Dead Hang Pullup, Kipping Pullups, Clap Pullups, and the Muscle Up are all covered. There is a video that goes with this episode that may help you to understand exactly what I am talking about in this episode. Check out this link and subscribe to our Youtube c...
Oct 02, 2020•6 min•Season 3Ep. 38
This week I had the chance to sit down with with my old friend Bob Bagby and discuss the sponsorship side of the fishing industry. Bob spent his career working with some of the biggest names in the fishing industry. Bill Dance, Shaw Grigsby, Kevin Van Dam, and yes, even Tom Rowland and many more. Bob has a unique perspective on sponsorships because his job was finding the right people to partner with and then maintain that relationship for years. We talk about what brands are looking for, what h...
Sep 30, 2020•1 hr 30 min•Season 3Ep. 38
Last week we discussed the best all-around fly rod. Today, we discuss the best all-around spinning rod for inshore fishing. If I had to pick one, I would go with a 7 foot, 8-17 pound rod with a moderate tip flex. For me, the go-to is the St. Croix Mojo Inshore. I would pair this with a 4000 size spinning rod. This setup is perfect for all around inshore fishing. Obviously different rod lengths and actions can be better for specific situations, but if you only want to get one rod for fishing insh...
Sep 29, 2020•6 min•Season 3Ep. 38
Fishermen are notorious for having back problems. It is a very physical activity that often requires heavy lifting and carrying heavy things. This can cause issues, however the big issue that has caused back problems for me has been all the sitting. Long drives to fishing locations, long rides on the boat and often a week of sitting in the office waiting to go fishing on the weekend can be the cause of chronic low back pain. When we sit for long periods we get “short’ in the front of the hip whi...
Sep 25, 2020•5 min•Season 3Ep. 37
This week I had the chance to sit down with Captain Rick Moore of the Sailing Sophisticated Lady vessel. Rick lives full time on a sailboat and has turned it into a full time career for himself between running charters and filming YouTube videos. Rick now has over 130,000 subscribers and is still growing. Rick has made his vessel fully self sustainable, and even did this podcast from his boat off the coast of Colombia. Rick is originally from Canada, and grew up doing a number of different jobs ...
Sep 23, 2020•1 hr 35 min•Season 3Ep. 37
In this week’s How 2 Tuesday, we talk about a question that I get very often, how to pick your first fly rod. I would divide this into two categories based on if you are fishing in freshwater or saltwater. If it’s freshwater. I would say to go with a 5wt. If you fish more saltwater, I would suggest a 9 or 10wt. In this episode we go into the reasoning behind that, so be sure to check it out! As always email me at podcast@saltwaterexperience.com or tag me on Instagram @tom_rowland with any How 2 ...
Sep 22, 2020•12 min•Season 3Ep. 38
This week is all about the importance of grip strength in fishing. The farmer’s walk is an Old School exercise that has stood the test of time for a good reason…it works! It is just like it sounds, you basically take something that is heavy and walk around with it. Just like everything else I do, this one does not require anything expensive or only available in a gym. I fill up two 5 gallon buckets and take a few laps around my driveway. To make things harder, I also do this with heavy kettlebel...
Sep 18, 2020•4 min•Season 3Ep. 37
