On The Sauce

Tony Orton has packed up shop with his family of 4 and jumped on a yacht to live out his dreams, fishing the globe. This is a conversation that captures the cliche of how to ‘live your best life’. These guys are seriously good fishos and have applied their knowledge to each new location to learn and grow as a family.

Join us as we sit down with New Zealand’s Nomadic Kayak Fisherman, Matt Wells, to compare the unique kayak fishing cultures of Australia and New Zealand. Matt shares what kayak fishing truly means to him, along with an unforgettable shark encounter that’s guaranteed to leave you gobsmacked.

Soli Bailey is a professional surfer who jumps on the podcast to discus his wholistic love of the ocean through fishing. We know a lot about Soli’s thought processes and experiences as a surfer as they have been comprehensively covered. So it was interesting to hear about how fishing has served as one of his dedicated passions and shaped him as a person.

Ahead of the 2026 Trophy Hunter Snapper Bash, Zac sat down with event founders Sondal Bensan and Michael Bonnici at the Pier Hotel in Coffs Harbour to uncover the story behind one of Australia’s fastest-growing snapper competitions. We dive into the ethos of the event, what anglers can expect on the water, and share valuable insights on conditions, tactics, techniques, and safety before lines hit the water.

In this second and final instalment from the Solomon Islands, Zac catches up with fellow Solomons On The Sauce anglers Mark Todman, Dave Baldwin, Isaac Steel and Louie Van Der Hecht. From memorable captures to hard-earned lessons, each guest shares their unique experience, the incredible variety of fish they encountered, and the moments that made this unforgettable adventure one to remember. More info at fishingworld.com.au .

This episode comes to you from Papatura in the Solomon Islands as part of Fishing World's Solomons On The Sauce trip. Zac joins Scott Thomas, Papatura's Kym Blanche, and chef Mark Labrooy to chat about a week of memorable fishing and fresh seafood from this special part of the world. Stay tuned to part 2 where Zac catches up with some of the guests who helped make this a week to remember. More information at https://fishingworld.com.au/news/solomons-on-the-sauce-trip-report/

Josh Bollen rejoins the podcast to catch up on his life catching and cooking some shading seafood. We focus on a large kingfish he speared and has broken down in a variety of specialised cuts.

Tristan Houghton is a fisherman, surfer, survivor, filmmaker and entrepreneur. His recent business adventure is a game changer when it comes to enhancing shelf life and flavour for seafood, in both the recreational and commercial sectors. Deep Southern is his food safe ocean water that he has refined to be as convenient as the bag of ice you grab from the servo, maintaining the marine integrity of your catch. More details at www.fishingworld.com.au.

Tania is The Hunter’s Wife. She has found consistency and peace in harvesting wild, organic and nutritious protein for her family. In this chat we discuss her journey developing the skill and mindset to embrace this lifestyle that some audiences tend to fall in and out of, whilst others can’t imagine it to begin with. See more at @thehunterswife_au

Sam Kane is a tattoo artist at Great White Studios in the Shire, Cronulla. He has built a strong reputation for catching and cooking bread-and-butter species that are often overlooked. By using the whole fish, he creates a variety of exceptional dishes, all presented with real care and creativity. It’s inspiring to see someone’s drive for excellence carried all the way through, from the catch to the plate, and how that passion becomes a central part of their life.

Mez Fletcher is a water woman who loves spearfishing and fishing. She is doing an incredible job of linking the whole cycle together by placing an enormous emphasis on her post catch procedures to produce high-quality meals that would make the most experienced anglers think twice about the potential of their own catch. More info at fishingworld.com.au.

Izac from Iron Gate knives took a leap of faith and chased his dream of designing and manufacturing premium Australian hunting, fishing and kitchen knives. He discuses what goes into the artisan craftsmanship and some of his challenges along the way. An avid hunter and fisherman himself, his knives are one for the mantle piece and the field. More details at www.irongateknives.com and fishingworld.com.au .

Tristan is a young marine biologist who cut his teeth with a PHD on billfish. Day to day he drives around to fishing clubs, seeking the donation of game fish stomachs for him to tally the contents of, not the most glamorous gig… but he loves it. Tristan is also an avid angler, with his favourite advisory being bull sharks in Sydney Harbour.

While managing a tough diagnosis, Vaughn reflects on personal growth, resilience, and the connection to fishing through his local fly fishing club. He shares how time on the water and the camaraderie of the club have shaped his values, his purpose in life, and grounded him through challenges. It’s an honest, reflective conversation about community, perspective, and finding clarity outdoors.

In this episode we sit down with Dr. Leo Guida from the Australian Marine Conservation Society for a long, open conversation about sharks, how they intersect with fishing and people using our waterways, and the real risks involved. We talk through the data and trends, and importantly how effective current management strategies actually are when humans and sharks share the same spaces. It is not a debate, more a pub-style back and forth, asking honest questions and digging into a topic I am genuinely on the fence about and keen to understand better. More info at fishingworld.com.au.

These days with mounting pressure on fishing practices and sustainability in our oceans, is it time to turn to the sustainable practices of aquaculture and farming fish to feed the masses? Ryan from Eco Marine is one of two Queensland Groper farmers in Australia doing his best to produce a high-quality product without the run-off and stereotypes of additives with farm fish. More info at www.fishingworld.com.au.

Anthony Heslewood is regarded as one of the leading commercial fishermen in Australia for quality line caught produce that strives towards best known sustainable practices. The WA government's recent decision to cancel commercial licences will force Anthony to find another means of employment come the new year. More info at fishingworld.com.au.

Mark Jones returns to On The Sauce to discuss some of Mark's iconic photos that document his year's behind the camera, filming and working alongside adventurer Malcolm Douglas. The photos discussed here and a full interview can be found in the current Summer edition of Fishing World . Out now and available where all good magazines are sold. More details at fishingworld.com.au .

Zac catches up with Fishing World editor Scott Thomas to chat about a special trip planned for 2026... Solomons On The Sauce. Hosted by Zac Panaratos, Chef Mark LaBrooy, and Scott Thomas, Solomons On The Sauce is a week-long fishing trip to Papatura in the Solomon Islands. It's much more than a fishing trip! The trip will also combine workshops in fish handling, post catch fish care, fish preparation and much more! It's a fishing trip, a learning experience, and a guaranteed good time! Have a listen and visit fishingworld.com.au/travel for more detailed info about how to get invloved.

The end to an epic adventure for the Coffey’s. Travelling by boat from their home in the Goldy to Broome is not to be scoffed at. This is the third instalment of our conversations along the way… now that they are home safe and sound they can begin downloading and reflecting on a wild six months. Watch the episodes at www.youtube.com/@coffeybreak More details at https://fishingworld.com.au/