In this episode we're joined by Ben Patrick — owner of Halco Tackle.

Halco is the most iconic fishing lure brand to ever come out of Western Australia. If you've ever tied on a Laser Pro, a Twisty, or a Rooster Popper, you've got Ben, his family & Hal cooper to thank for it.

Ben is the second generation owner of Halco Tackle, a brand founded in 1950 by Hal Cooper in his garage in Mosman Park. Today, Halco sells to over 80 countries, designs everything in-house out of their Fremantl HQ and manufactures out of their own factory in Batam, Indonesia. Halco lures are distrubted & fished hard all over the world.

In this episode with Ben Patrick we discuss…

• The origin story of Halco — from Hal Cooper's garage in Mosman Park to a globally recognised lure brand
• How Ben's dad Neil purchased the company in 1980 and the lures that defined that era
• Ben buying the business with his family in 2002 and taking it global
• The challenges of cracking the US market and what makes American anglers different
• Ben's earliest fishing memories — the Abrolhos Islands, 30lb mackerel in Grade 5, and a 48-year-old boat called Safari Two
• The real story behind the Rooster Popper — how it came to be, why it took a year to get right, and why it's now the best-selling mass-produced popper in the world
• Lure design philosophy — what most anglers misunderstand about buoyancy, weight, and balance
• Why clean water is the single most important factor for chasing metro Spanish mackerel on lures
• Ben's Spanish mackerel trolling spread and the stick bait tip Craig White swears by
• The Abrolhos Islands — how the fishery has changed, why the baldies are better than ever, and the Batavia shipwreck story
• The Iconic Twisty — how it's still made the same way Hal Cooper invented it in 1950, and why Ben nearly dropped it from the range
• Live scoping and how sounder technology is changing lure design
• Noodling for catfish in Texas
• Ben's most memorable fish — a 180lb tarpon in Panama on a Laser Pro 160
• Why the red and white Laser Pro catches more fish
• A limited edition Halco Twisty idea that the boys pitched to ben on air
• Ben's wood duck moment — sniping a drone on national television with a Rooster Popper

Plus we give away an epic Daiwa Saltiga Topwater lure pack for the best listener question submitted through our Instagram @TallTailsPodcast thanks to Daiwa Australia

halcotackle.com

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

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INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com

Whitey is back!

In this episode, we’re joined by the legends from Evolution Charters in Exmouth, Craig & Jack White, fresh off the Fremantle Sailing Club’s Premier Marlin Fishing Competition, The 2026 Sovereign Blue Marlin Classic

In this episode we recap the an epic weeknd over at Rottnest Island off Perth and break down the good times and the mayhem that occurred in between

We also throw a bunch of listener questions to Whitey thanks to the legends at Daiwa Australia.

Enjoy!

Follow Evolution Charter on Facebook & Instagram!

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

FOLLOW THE RODCAST ON SOCIALS!
🎣 Youtube
🎣 Instagram
🎣 TikTok
🎣 Facebook
🎣 Rothy's Instagram
🎣 Lecca's Instagram

INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com

You asked for a Spearo. We delivered.

This week we sit down with Perth spearfishing weapon and Australian Underwater Federation record keeper, Vin Rushworth.

Vin is a marine biologist by trade who has tagged Great White Sharks in Western Australia and whales in Antarctica. That mindset shows in the way he hunts.

Originally from Brisbane, Vin cut his teeth on the east coast before moving west 15 years ago. Since then he has speared up and down the WA coastline and built a serious list of stories with some legends of the sport.

In this episode we cover...

• Growing up in Brisbane and getting into spearfishing

• East coast vs West coast spearing

• Working in fisheries research

• Tagging Great Whites and whales

• Shark encounters while diving

• Crossing paths with an Australian Navy submarine while chasing marlin off Perth

• Yellowfin tuna & wahoo missions

• His role as record keeper for the Australian Underwater Federation

• The upcoming InterPacific Spearfishing Championships in Busselton

• Chasing Northern Pearl Perch in WA

• Spearing marlin off the teaser out wide

• A gnarly near drowning diving for crays

• Future goals in the spearfishing world

Plus we fire through a stack of listener questions & give away a Squid Jig pack thanks to Daiwa Australia.

If you have been asking for more spearfishing content, this one is for you.

TALL TAILS!

Honouring the past & acknowledging the future of Australian Fishing Culture.

DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE RODCAST!

FOLLOW THE RODCAST ON SOCIALS!
🎣 Youtube
🎣 Instagram
🎣 TikTok
🎣 Facebook
🎣 Rothy's Instagram
🎣 Lecca's Instagram

INTRO TUNE
🥩 Red Bellied Black Snake - The Beefs 🥩
Courtesy of Sam Smith
Click here to listen to The Beefs on Spotify

For all enquiries about Tall Tails Fishing Podcast, please contact jakerotham@gmail.com