State of Sportfishing - Billfish Group

Episódios

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  EP 145: PE ruining Boat Brands? 550lbs Bluefin and Annual Venice Trip! 28.07.2026 1h 6min

  Is Private Equity ruining boat brands? Bob is back from his Cape Cod trip and updates us on how it went, we discuss Private Equity buying Center Console brands, The Sargassum problem and more!
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  EP 144: Dewey Weaver - 64' Bayliss 'Is That So' 21.07.2026 1h 4min

  The boys are joined by Dewey Weaver of the 64' Bayliss 'Is That So'. They talk about how Dewey got started up in NC, Shipping nightmares, Mexico and more!
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  EP 143: Mike Able of Haddrell's Point Tackle 14.07.2026 1h 5min

  The boys are joined by Captain Mike Able of Hadrell's Point Tackle - no script, just a bunch of fishermen chatting it up! Enjoy!
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  EP 142: FishCBC Recap 07.07.2026 38min

  The boys are back - no guest this week, just shooting the shit! Chase takes the wheel to recap his recent run in the Carolina Billfish Classic, highlighting the team's tournament winnings and a wild day on the water chasing meat. The crew also hits on the point scaling debate between blues and sailfish, the corporate buyout of Los Suenos Marina, and some legendary off-the-water antics—from cooking fresh wahoo on deck to an aggressive post-tournament paintball showdown.
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  EP 141: Big Rock 2026 Recap and More 30.06.2026 54min

  The boys are back - no guest this week, just shooting the shit! The crew breaks down Marlin Fever’s record-breaking $6.5 million Big Rock payout before diving into the realities of running a sportfish boat. They also briefly swap stories about rookie fishing mistakes, review the latest sea-surface temperature apps, and share advice on making the jump from mate to captain.
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  EP 140: 75 Scarborough ‘Skin Deep’ 23.06.2026 1h

  The boys are joined by Chris Haley, owner of the 2026 75 Scarborough Boatworks “Skin Deep”. Team ‘Skin Deep’ is captained by Kyle Smith. Chris walks us through the process of designing the new boat, why he went with certain options, their travel and tournament plans and more Tune in on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fI9XxC4gJDbeJzpWDK5eI Watch full episode to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/BillfishTV Check out our gear at: https://billfishgear.com/ To our socials,...
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  EP 139: 46 Sparks, Dream Center Console Build 16.06.2026 1h 2min

  The boys are joined by Michael Grandonico, owner of the 46 Sparks Boatworks “Roll out”. Mike grew up fishing his whole life tournament fishing and was fortunate enough to get to build his dream Center Console. No Buggy Top, Tower Legs as thick as Sportfish yachts, Remote control teaser reels and more. Hear the story behind the build and how he’s been using the boat since taking delivery. Tune in on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fI9XxC4gJDbeJzpWDK5eI Watch full episode to our Yo...
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  EP 138 Barker Boatworks, 40' Cat and More! 09.06.2026 1h 11min

  Today we're joined by Kevin Basirico, CEO at Barker Boatworks. Kevin has wore many hats during his time at Barker until ultimately buying the company and taking on the role of CEO. Kevin gives us an inside look into what it's like to operate a boat brand, what makes the Barker difference. Tune in on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fI9XxC4gJDbeJzpWDK5eI Watch full episode to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/BillfishTV Check out our gear at: https://billfishgear.c...
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  EP 137: Building 56 Freeman Hull #2 02.06.2026 58min

  The boys are joined by Lancen Halbert, who will be running the 56 Freeman Hull #2! Lancen is managing the build closely as they prepare to hit the ground running this tournament season. They plan on fishing the White Marlin Open and several other tournaments as soon as she’s done. Please enjoy the the inside story of what it’s like to build a Freeman Boatworks 56! Tune in on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fI9XxC4gJDbeJzpWDK5eI Watch full episode to our YouTube channel: https://www....
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  EP136 - Team Rising Sons, The Gulf Circuit and Female Anglers 26.05.2026 1h 25min

  The boys are joined by Toby Berthelot and Jacelyn Berthelot of team Rising Sons. Toby tells us how their program got started, carrying bladders in the back of a Proline Center Console all the way to the team competing in the Sportfishing Championship and winning BIG in the Bisbee’s down in Mexico. Hope y’all love it!
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  EP135 - Reputation, Firing Customers, Charleston Billfish Invitational, Elite Charter Operation Insights 19.05.2026 1h 11min

  Leo, Chase and Bob sit down to discuss The Charleston Billfish Invitational, Fishing with the Rising Sons, What it takes to run a startup and scaleups, Firing Clients and awesome experiences with clients.
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  EP 134: John Floyd of F&S Yachts joins the pod! 12.05.2026 1h 10min

  Legendary boat builder John Floyd and his team join the podcast to discuss their latest build, the 82’ F&S “You Never Know”. They previously had a 72’ F&S and are now in the process of taking delivery of their new 82. John talks about the challenges involving boatbuilding in an inflationary environment, the ins and outs of boat building and more!
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  EP 133: 56 Freeman, Distributing Tournament Winnings and More 06.05.2026 1h 1min

  The pod is back! Leo, Chase and Bob are joined by Chase Edgren. Chase runs the Triple Net, a 48 Viking out of Charleston, SC. The guys discuss the new 56 Freeman, Distributing Tournament Winnings and more!
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  Record-Breaking Sailfish Challenge Bite - State of Sportfishing EP132 11.03.2025 1h 28min

  This episode of State of Sportfishing Podcast dives into the excitement of competitive sailfishing, focusing on the recent Sailfish Challenge. Hosts Dave, Danny, Brandon, and Mark discuss the record-breaking event, which saw 1,467 sailfish caught over two days. Brandon shares his experience fishing with Liquidated, while Danny explains how weather conditions contributed to the explosive bite. The hosts highlight top-performing boats like Native Sun, Living Water, and Sandman, and anal...
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  High-Stakes Fishing and Boating: Adventures, Costs, and Insights from the Gulf - State of Sportfishing EP131 04.03.2025 1h 9min

  In this episode of the *State of Sport Fishing Podcast*, we dive into the thrilling world of sport fishing with Mark and Captain Bob Hovey, sharing stories from Venice, Louisiana. The episode kicks off with a humorous recount of a chaotic fishing trip filled with equipment failures and lost catches—blamed, in part, on “too much alcohol.” Bob also provides exciting updates on the fishing season, highlighting record-breaking yellowfin tuna and swordfish catches while discussing the evolving fis...
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  200 Pound Yellowfin chokes on a Live Bait - State of Sportfishing EP130 10.09.2024 51min

  In this episode, we dive into an exhilarating fishing trip I took with Bob in Venice, Louisiana, a unique fishing destination known for its vibrant fishing culture and stunning scenery. We kick things off with some light-hearted banter about the energy that comes with hooking a fish, which is always a game-changer for our podcast vibe. Bob shares his insights on the fishing conditions during my visit, noting that while the fishing was challenging, we managed to have an incredible experience. ...
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  Hooked & Prepared: Epic Catches, Tournament Tactics, and Offshore Survival Tips - State of Sportfishing EP129 20.08.2024 1h 3min

  In this podcast episode, the hosts dive into thrilling fishing adventures, tournament insights, and essential boat safety tips. They discuss a harrowing fishing day filled with lost catches, the dynamics of fishing tournaments like the White Marlin Open, and the importance of proper gear and teamwork. The conversation also touches on innovative fishing technologies, such as Starlink for offshore communication, and the practical use of drop-in pumps and stay afloat putty for emergency situatio...
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  Free gaffing a Swordfish After Pulling the Hook Ft. Bob Hovey - State of Sportfishing EP128 23.07.2024 1h 32min

  Today, we are excited to bring back the State of Sportfishing podcast with an incredible episode featuring Mark Spurgeon, Leo Chapman, Danny Clinton, and Bob Hovey. In this episode, everyone catches up and shares their fascinating experiences on the water, from their thrilling marlin fishing adventures and first encounters with sonar to transitioning from the Coast Guard to owning a charter business. If you have any requests or awesome guest for the podcast let us know via: podcast@billfish....
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  Winning Nearly every Fishing Category Ft.Taylor Sanford - State of Sportfishing EP127 03.10.2023 49min

  In this episode of the State of Sportfishing podcast, host James LeGrone talks to Taylor Sanford to discuss their recent victory in a fishing competition. They reflect on his boss's bragging rights and the origins of their team. The conversation delves into the purpose of fiberglass boats and the beauty of the sport. Taylor Sanford, who shares his background in fishing and his experiences running on a 66 Viking boat. Tune in to hear more about their fishing adventures and insights into ...
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  From Key West to Pacific: Exploring the Fishing World Ft. Eric Leech - State of Sportfishing EP126 12.09.2023 53min

  In this episode of the State of Sportfishing podcast, host James LeGrone is joined by Eric Leach to discuss all things fishing. They start by talking about the current weather conditions in Florida and then dive into the topic of Eric's boat, the Miss Elizabeth. Eric shares that he has been running this 61 Viking for two years now and also mentions his 27 Kong bait boat. They discuss the popularity of the 27 Kong and its production location. James then asks Eric about how he got into fishing,...