“Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish” doesn’t showcase three-pound bass or even one-hundred-pound tuna, their goal is to reel in monsters. Trev says he has never met anyone that doesn’t enjoy seeing big fish being caught and in his show the fish truly are the stars. The show isn’t instructional in nature, no tutorials on how to use a lure, instead it’s action packed and highlights the hunt for big fish around the world.
To begin, Trev talks about a trip to Alaska where they were targeting king salmon, incredible fighters, the biggest of all the salmon species. Trev says he was once told one of the greatest game fish you can catch in the world is a fish that comes from saltwater and goes into fresh water and that holds true for salmon. He highlights how amazing the king salmon is but also discusses the threats they face as populations have dropped drastically, especially in the famous Kenai River. Being netted with other salmon in commercial fishing operations that are targeting sockeye has contributed to the decline, enough so that fishing for kings on the Kenai River has been closed for the last several seasons. As much as fishing for monsters is exciting, Trev highlights the importance of conservation and making sure that this species is here for future generations to enjoy.
Thirty to fifty pounds stripers in less than 4 feet of water, can that be right? Trev says in Northern Massachusetts, big stripers come in to the shallows in the late summer to feed, but also just to hang out and this presents a great opportunity for anglers. To catch a really big striper in three to four feet of shallow water, Trev says the explosion on the hit is fantastic. And when they run, they run for the deep water, so you get a lot of fight out of the giant stripers as well. Because the waters are so shallow, Trev says you can sight cast or troll, both are effective, but it really comes down to water clarity. He highlights the Monomoy area of Cape Cod where there are tremendous amounts of sand flats and clear water ideal for sight casting, much like you would do in the Florida Keys. Once you see a striper in shallow water, Trev says you can take it to the bank that it has already seen you. So, he likes to bump and troll the shallow waters with live bait or plugs and sight cast or blind cast moving up and down several miles of beach front. For nighttime striper fishing, Trev says that throwing live eels or plugs onto the dry sand and then dragging them back out can be incredibly effective as the fish are right there along the edges.
Trev explains why he feels it’s so important that shows and programming aren’t done the same way all the time. That’s why he tries to treat viewers to different destinations and species regularly. Traveling all over the globe, going to new destinations, chasing different species – each episode of the show is different. In order to pull that off, Trev says that he networks with fantastic guides around the world that really know the waters they fish. Giving guides a lot of credit, Trev explains that these people spend a lot of time and sacrifice much to become as familiar and knowledgeable about their home waters as possible. As much as the show is about pursuing monster fish, Trev says it’s also about adventure and being introduced to remote places and waters. With adventure in mind, Trev talks about an episode they filmed two years ago in Scotland where they broke open a giant bluefin tuna fishery. In the end that led to “Monster Fish” team member Fred Lavitman hooking into a huge 700-800-pound bluefin tuna. The significance of this feat was huge as he was the first American, in the history of Scotland, to catch a bluefin of this caliber. Trev says that it’s adventures like this they really enjoy bringing to the viewer – experiences that are fresh, real, new and exciting. Behind the scenes Trev says that this particular trip was a long one. The “Monster Fish” team waited twenty days for the weather rain and wind to subside, so they could get on the water and ultimately experience that milestone.
Often times the work that goes in behind the scenes to document not only “Monster Fish” but also other outdoor programming is only known to the crew. The work required to capture the incredible footage they get is commendable. Trev says that crews work in tough conditions, whether it’s capturing an elk hunt at 11,000 feet in a snow storm or filming in 105-degree heat in Panama or the Amazon jungle, the crews behind your favorite shows are important. Over the course of the last decade Trev notes how far outdoor programming has come, the improvements and advancements and the producers that are stepping up their game to bring high quality shows to air. “It’s a great time for outdoor television,” says Trev.
Finally, as someone who has fished all over the world and landed countless species, Trev says that the one place he will keep going back to over and again is the Florida Keys. Flat fishing for tarpon, permit and bonefish is something he thoroughly enjoys. The beauty of the Keys, the water and the combination of hunting and fishing on the water has an allure. Sight casting to 150-pound tarpons that require the perfect cast and can throw a hook like it’s nothing. The humbling experience of hooking up with a 10-pound bonefish that will take 150-200 yards of line off your reel in the first run. The elusive nature of permit that don’t always eat and are tough to get on a fly. Combined, fishing the Keys is highly visual, always challenging and a destination that he enjoys.
Listen in as Trev Gowdy, host of “Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish”, stops by for a look at chasing some of the biggest game fish in waters around the world. You can also catch all the globe-trotting, monster chasing, amazing fishing action from previous seasons of “Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish” by hitting up the MyOutdoorTV app where you can watch on demand.
Fish on,
Trav