The Hooked Pod

In this episode, The Chippy dives into the real highs and lows of owning a business in the fishing industry. From the early mornings to the tough financial decisions, he opens up about the sacrifices it takes to keep a company afloat. He shares candid stories about borrowing money, paying staff before himself, and carrying the weight of responsibility that comes with leadership. This is an honest conversation about resilience, risk, and what it truly takes to build and sustain a business in one of the toughest industries out there. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

In this in-depth reaction, Chippy breaks down how the WA Government’s decisions show a complete lack of respect for fishers, small businesses, and local communities. From tighter restrictions to poor consultation, these changes are driving fish prices through the roof and squeezing the entire supply chain. Chippy explains how wholesale prices are hurting his restaurant, pushing up menu prices, and forcing cheaper fish options to increase in cost due to higher demand. This isn’t just about fishing — it’s about livelihoods, small businesses, and the growing disconnect between government decisions and real-world consequences. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Chunk and The Chippy reflect on the recent WA law changes and the commercial fishing bans they’ve already had to confront, just three weeks into the new year. The impact on the restaurant has been immediate, with fish prices rising sharply and customers now being forced to pay more. They question the government’s approach, pointing to the undeniable damage these policies are causing to small businesses across Western Australia. It leaves you wondering who these decisions are really helping — both in the short term and in the long-term future of the fishing industry. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Commercial fisherman Brendan Balls joins Chunk and The Chippy to discuss the management of fisheries and commercial fishing in WA. Brendan shares his thoughts on the commercial fishing bans and the measuring, management and maintenance of fisheries on the west coast of Australia. They discuss the appetite for fresh local fish in WA and question the awareness the community has on the drastic impact the changes will have on access and affordability of the resource. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Scott and Matt join the pod this week as Chunk and the Chippy continue the conversation about the new demersal fishing restrictions in WA. They focus on the impact to recreational fishing and what this will look like for the coming years. Scott sheds light on the potential long term benefits to recreational fishing and what species can be fished and targeted instead of demersals. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

In unprecedented times The Chippy chats to local fisherman Ryan Bradley about the upcoming demersal fishing bans that have recently been announced. The boys unpack the huge impact this will have on fisherman, your local fish and chip shop to tackle stores and everything in between. They struggle to fathom how this decision was made and share their concerns on the future of WA’s fishing industry and small businesses. If you fish or eat fish this uncut conversation is not to be missed. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Visiting from Wales, Dave Vale walked into Hooked on Middleton Beach and then found himself behind the mic chatting to Chunk and The Chippy. Dave shares his tales of fishing in Wales including fly and coarse fishing. The boys learn about Dave’s experience teaching fishing. They compare the fishing scene across Wales and Australia including fish stocks, sustainability and of course, the best eating fish. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Rod Dog jumps behind the microphone to chat with Chunk and Chippy about how he found himself in WA and the meaning behind his Youtube channel name. The boys chat about fresh water fishing in South Africa, sports fishing for Carp and the unusual animals you encounter. Rod Dog also shares his monster kraken story and speaks about his want to catch a Blue Groper. The team discusses what goes into creating and maintaining a youtube channel and the importance of having a back up plan for when things go astray. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Chunk and The Chippy are joined by Josh Berente from Pleasure Marine, Albany. Josh chats about how he found himself running Alban’s Pleasure Marine and becoming a mechanic. Chunk and Josh reminisce on how Chunk sank a boat on New Years Eve in their earlier years and fishing in WA’s North. Josh chats about the current advancements in the marine industry, diesel outboards and fuel efficiency. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Chunk and The Chippy welcome John Di Giusto to the studio. The team chat through John’s fishing experience mainly with his father, rock fishing in Western Australia’s north. The boys learn about Ballooning and spinning from cliffs and John’s favourite places to do this. John also shares his experiences of being in the army, med school and some sketchy spearfishing with The Chippy’s son. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Grant Chitty joins the pod to chat about all things, Bill Fishing, the Montebello Islands and his favourite spot to fish, Coral Bay. Grant shares tales of his time fishing with The Chippy’s brother and catching a 240 pound Marlin. The Chippy and Grant recount trekking the Western Australian Coastline by boat and the adventures that were had. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

The Hooked Pod turns French when Chunk and the Chippy are joined by Tom and Carla. Chunk and The Chippy chat to the pair about their experiences of life on an Australian farm, learning English and how they found themselves in Albany WA. Carla talks about growing up working in her family's French seafood restaurant and the differences between French and Australian seafood culture. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Chunk and the Chippy share their recent stories from their winter holiday break joined by Brad Vale. They chat about the only two team footy league in Australia and Chunk pulling on the boots. The boys describe their spontaneous day fishing off Hopetoun and Chunk debriefs about taking his young family of 4 caravanning for the first time. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

In our Spring 25 edition of Tackle Talk, Chunk and The Chippy are joined by Western Angler’s Scott Coghlan and Outback Breamer Bait’s Callum Dowell. This episode will take you through what tackle you need to get you set up for fishing in Spring. The team will show and explain the best rods, bang for your buck reels and what braid to match. If you are hoping to catch a bream and smaller fish in rivers and estuaries they take you through what lures, soft plastics and jig heads which will give you the best chance of success. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Chunk and the Chippy take their podcast to the screen to talk about everything filleting. They chat about how they learnt the skill, what knives to use and the importance of sharpening. The Chippy talks through how he has managed to hand fillet fresh fish to serve at his award winning fish and chips shop while explaining the tips on how to preserve the taste and quality for the best eating results. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

The man who has tagged 1000 Billfish, Bomber Farrell joins the pod this week. Bomber describes his time living on Groote Eylandt and how he came to be a Billfish catching legend. The boys chat to Bomber about his vast experience in catching, tagging and releasing Billfish. Bomber recounts his time Barramundi, Spot Tail Bass and Trout fishing throughout the years. The boys have a laugh about Bomber’s unique Killer Whale experience off Grout Island and his knowledge of hydration and the essential lunch to accompany fishing. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Steven Plants joins the podcast and talks about his recreational fishing experiences. Steven chats about fishing with his father and brother throughout his childhood which cemented his love for fishing. The boys and Steven share stories of their fishing experiences throughout WA and his bucket list fish to catch. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Chunk and The Chippy get nostalgic sharing their most epic fishing adventures. The Chippy shares a fishing trip to Bruboodjoo in WA’s north that was filled with surprising events, lost tinnies, medical emergencies and epic fish. Chunk relives a fishing adventure in Australia’s North East where the fish may not have been biting but the memories have stuck and Marty the crab is yet to be found. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Fishing guru and squid expert Tony Thwin joins the podcast to chat to Chunk and The Chippy. Tony shares how he gained fishing knowledge through magazines and became a tackle expert and rep. Tony tells the story of being a young entrepreneur, how he learnt to read the water and make the most of fish and chip Fridays at the pub. The boys talk about the best tackle and gear to use for squidding and light bait fishing. The boys ask what's in the future for Tony, including charters from Fremantle and fishing consultancy to share his vast knowledge. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!

Chunk and the Chippy welcome fishing legend Korg to the podcast. Korg shares his stories of fishing the Mackerel Islands throughout the years and his toothless trip to the Scott Reef, catching Dogtooth Tuna. The team chat about their favourite fishing spots in the Great Southern of WA, including seeing flying fish. Korg talks about fishing safety and the importance of wearing PFD’s, sharing his experience of being swept off rocks at Quobba. ● Follow us on Facebook→https://shorturl.at/mx8gV ● Follow us on Instagram→https://shorturl.at/1irPJ ● Contact us on→thehookedpod@gmail.com ● Australia Best Fish & Chips→https://shorturl.at/6IJ9Q ● Visit our official website→https://shorturl.at/KnDaY Thank you for listening!!