Reel Tails with Sweens

This episode I catch up with Luke Davis to discuss all things Marlin fishing. We get a ‘Reel’ insight into Luke’s journey from taking four years to catch his first marlin, to now being one of New Zealand’s most consistent Marlin fisherman. We cover a range of topics from his introduction to using light gauge hooks, to then being a big part of the development of the hook so many of us use today. We...

This episode I catch up with Bonze to discuss all things Blue Marlin. During this podcast you are going to get some awesome information on how to find, hook and land Blue Marlin, from someone that has been on the journey from beginner to 2x World Billfish champion skipper for the most tagged and most captured Blue Marlin in the Atlantic Ocean. Throughout his journey he has also been lucky enough t...

This episode I catch up with Aaron Cruden, Cruds is a professional rugby player and his career has had some amazing experiences. From starting out in the mighty Manawatu to play for teams in New Zealand such as, the Hurricanes, Chiefs and the All Blacks. Then abroad to play for Montpellier in France and Suntory in Japan then full circle to return to New Zealand and play here in the Waikato for the...

This episode I catch up with Jimmy Brown. Jimmy is a professional skipper and has had some experiences that most can only dream of. His journey from a 12ft tinnie to skippering Jaruco a 90ft Jarrett Bay with a build cot of $24,000,000 USD has been amazing. Some of the tails he shares will blow your mind. Such as setting the world record of over 900 Blue marlin in a single year and at times travell...

This episode I catch up with Mark Collins. Mark is a deckhand, skipper, boat builder and an extremely well rounded fisherman. As you will hear through this podcast Mark has gained a very high skill set over time when it come to all things fishing. We cover a range of topics from our first time meeting at a boat ramp to catching a marlin on our very first day fishing together. We also discuss targe...

This episode I sit down with Tom Martin from Shard Studios. As you will hear during this podcast Tom is a very well balanced and self aware individual. Especially considering he is only 23 years of age. We cover a range of topics such as how his frustration in a rugby changing room pregame led to his world’s first multi tool for rugby and football players. We also discuss the mental health challen...

This episode I sit down with Bonze and we discuss the evolution of my boat Mini Chiefie. We share in detail the changes we have made and the learnings we have taken along the way. The podcast has been a great platform for us to share information to help keen fishos build their confidence when targeting marlin. As you will hear the journey has been extremely enjoyable for us both and we hope that y...

This episode I catch up with Joe and Kate founders and directors of Ironclad. Ironclad as a company was founded in 2019 and have been producing cast iron cookware with a three generation guarantee. During this podcast you will hear a great Tail of passion, perseverance and loyalty. We cover some great topics such as starting a company during a global pandemic to losing it all over night and having...

This episode I catch up with Joe Edlington or as many of you will know him J.E. Wilds. Joe is one of New Zealands leading content creators. He does this by documenting his Hunting and Fishing adventers through his YouTube channels JE Wilds Hunting and JE Wilds Fishing. Alot has changed for Joe since he was last a guest on the podcast and through this epidsode he shares the next chapter of his 'Tai...

This episode I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Amanda, Geoff and Jeremy Wells. Two of the three generations that have owned and operated Kilwell Sports. Kilwell Sports that started out as Rotorua Sports 90 years ago by Jeremy’s late father John has grown into one of New Zealand’s most iconic distributors of Fishing, Hunting and Outdoors goods. As you will hear in this podcast it...

This episode I catch up with my instagram pen pal turned great mate Aaron Styles. As many of you will know Azza is the founder of the clothing brand Just Another Fisherman. During this podcast we discuss the journey both he and the brand have been on. As you will hear they are both in a great space. We discuss a broad range of topics from personal routines, family, friendships, mental health, fish...

This episode I’m back with Bonze to share some insight into Teaser systems for lure fishing when targeting marlin. We follow along the same lines as we did with the ‘Boat Set Up’ episode with the aim to share some of Bonze’s knowledge on a very useful tool when targeting marlin, in particular striped marlin here in New Zealand. We both share our observations from our experiences of fishing with a...

This episode I had the pleasure of joining Hamish Beattie in his workshop to discuss all things NaCl Lures, but as you will learn there is more to Hamish than just being a great lure maker. We cover a broad range of topics, from spending his childhood on the rivers of Hawkes Bay fly fishing with his family, his first humbling experience of fishing East Cape with his Dad and being extremly under gu...

This episode I sit down with Alex Waller or as many of you may know him, the creator of New Zealand’s leading fly fishing YouTube channel Trippin on Trout. During this podcast we discuss a broad range of topics such as, fishing stocked lakes as a kid and having to purchase capture tickets from a vending machine lakeside, the special bond he had with his grandad over their shared love of fly fishin...

This episode I sit down with the founding fathers of Fish City Ross, Jono and Kev. All three share the highs, lows and their learnings of 30 years in business together. We discuss a range of topics such as, how the business came to be, Jono becoming New Zealand’s first ever Marine Technician apprentice, the focus they have on creating a strong team culture and the joy it brings them to see their t...

This episode I was lucky enough to sit down with four very talented individuals from the sport of fly fishing, Jeff Pierce, Alex Waller, Dion James and Ben Henton. All four share with us what it was that drew them to the sport of fly fishing and what it is about the sport that keeps them coming back. We discuss a range of topics such as, how to get started, where to best allocate your funds when c...

This episode I sit down with three fellow Hamilton Boys’ High Old Boys’ foundation, Andrew Miller, Seamus Marten & Ali Lennan. With the goal of highlighting the importance of such foundations and how they strengthen communities. We cover a range of topics including, why the foundation was formed, what support the foundation provides and share some Tails of our personal connections to each other an...

This episode I catch up with Scott Malcon. Scott has been a big part of the resurgence of the fishing brand Daiwa here in New Zealand. During this podcast we get some great insight to the brand that is Daiwa New Zealand and how strong Scotty’s passion for fishing truly is. We cover a range of topics from starting out working for Fish City, the develop of products and how the team at Daiwa go about...

This episode I catch up with Mike Knight. Mike is the man behind the brand that is OTL or otherwise known as On Top Lures. OTL is run out of his garage in Waipu, New Zealand by both he and his wife Rita. What originally started off as a hobby has quickly become a way of life. During this podcast we cover a range of topics and get great insight to the man behind the brand, from the birth of the bus...

This episode I sit down over a coffee with David Galbraith. DG is well known for his work as a mental skills coach, having worked with the Chiefs, New Zealand Sevens and Japan rugby. His skills are also utilised by high performance sport New Zealand where he works with a number of Olympic athletes including New Zealand’s most successful Olympian of all time Lisa Carrington. During this podcast we...

This episode I sit down with Rick Pollock. Rick was a professional charter skipper here in New Zealand for over 40 years. His trips were iconic. Anglers travelled from all corners of the globe to fish our infamous New Zealand waters, aboard his vessel “Pursuit”. He provided anglers from here and abroad the opportunity to fish in places most only dream of, with the chance of catching the fish of a...

This episode I sit down and chat with Andre Alipate. Andre is well known for being one of the hosts and the voice of The Hunters Club, a television show based here in New Zealand. It’s not just on our screens where Andre’s credentials end either as he has represented Tonga at the World Crossfit Games in 2019, played rugby with and against some of the true greats of the game and been on some trips...

This episode I sit down and chat with Matt Wallbank. Matt is taking on the monumental task of running 654 km during the month of October 2021. This is 1km for every suicide in New Zealand last year. A number that is far to high. His motivation for doing so is to help raise funds and awareness for I am Hope. I am Hope connect the youth of New Zealand with mental health counsellors and practitioners...

This episode I catch up with 2 x world billfish champion Bonze. Bonze has been on the podcast before but this time we are going to drive deeper into a particular area of game fishing, the boat set up. Those of you who listened to previous episode with Bonze will know that we were setting up my boat Mini Chiefie in preparation for last season and with the changes made I had my best season yet. This...

This episode I catch up with an old High School friend who just so happens to be New Zealand cricket’s best ever wicket-keeper batsman, BJ Watling. BJ has recently retired from a 13 year career at the top playing a total of 75 tests and goes out a World Test champion. Through this podcast we get a “Reel” look into the career of one of New Zealand’s most respected players. We discuss how his time a...