Interview with Tony Alcock aka Tazyarns
Today’s episode is with Tony Alcock, one half of “Podcast Yarns With Az And Taz” team, he now has his own podcast! A surfer, musician, jujitsu practioner, spearo and banana farmer from Far North Queensland, he has been spearing for the past 30 years and has a ton of valuable insights! Find out about Flinders Reef, his love for boats, hunting tips, dealing with sharks and crocodiles and how he has recently started diving past 10 meters with the help of Az! Come have a listen for a good laugh and some great tips, let us know what you thought of this episode in the comments!
Important times:
- 00:12 Good day and welcome to the Noob Spearo Podcast!
- 01:01 What all does Tony do?
- 01:29 Announcements and some sad news
- 06:36 Hello Tony!
- 07:40 Tell us about yourself
- 09:28 How long have you been spearfishing?
- 10:29 Line angling vs spearfishing
- 10:54 Half the day fishing and half spearing
- 11:19 Tides and crayfish: painted and green
- 13:54 How do you cook crays/lobsters? How do you prepare them?
- 15:16 Spearfishing with Az and his great buddy system
- 16:24 A lot of your diving is shallow, why is it so dangerous? You need a buddy after 10m
- 17:24 Are you diving in current?
- 17:55 Where are you and where do you boat out to?
- 19:00 The lifestyle up there is very different
- 20:25 What it like being a banana farmer?
- 21:05 Full moon makes your fruit grow quicker on the week leading up to it
- 21:19 Being a farmer you’re more in tune with the weather and seasons
- 24:10 Back to boats, you’re selling one now?
- 24:47 I’m going back to an aluminium boat
- 27:20 Tell us about your boat history
- 29:41 Are you someone who can just fix everything on a boat?
- 30:47 Flinders reef and a funny story
- 33:23 What do you shoot out there and what good stories do you have from there?
- 37:00 Coral trout
- 37:56 Fishing with a big mothership
- 39:07 What do you want to do there this time?
- 39:27 Are sharks a problem out there?
- 40:32 What’s your experience being in the water with tiger sharks?
- 41:38 The smaller sharks are the more aggressive ones
- 44:36 White and Black tip reef sharks
- 45:44 Have you been spooled before with your reel gun?
- 46:46 What about jelly fish?
- 47:29 Tell us about surfing
- 50:46 Good boating behavior and how to be a good boatie
- 54:44 We’re going on a spearing trip, not a snorkeling trip
- 56:35 Some people are more freediver than spearo
- 57:35 How do you approach and hunt Jacks?
- 59:01 Great hunting tip
- 01:00:10 What’s your biggest Jack?
- 01:00:59 So you’ve been spearing deeper lately? What has Az been teaching you?
- 01:02:31 A dive watch was a great investment
- 01:04:08 Tuck your chin into your chest when you dive down, slow down and relax
- 01:05:39 Weather apps
- 01:07:42 Do you pay attention to chlorophyll and water temp?
- 01:08:21 Barramundi and crocodiles
- 01:10:40 Avoid swimming with crocs
- 01:11:19 Cone shells
- 01:13:11 Tell us about your podcast
- 01:14:31 Funny story with music and Youtube
- 01:15:53 What’s in your dive bag?
- 01:18:02 GoPro’s and masks
- 01:19:49 You have anxiety for a reason
- 01:20:57 Suits with kevlar
- 01:23:08 Spearo Q&A
- What’s the best piece of advice you have been given?
- What would you do differently if you started over?
- What’s the best spearfishing lesson you’ve learned?
- What is spearfishing to you?
- 01:25:55 Thank you Tony
- 01:28:23 Jordan’s voicemail
Listen in and subscribe on iOS or Android https://link.chtbl.com/Download_This_Episode
Important Links
Noob Spearo Partners and Discount Codes
- Adreno Spearfishing – Buy your spearfishing equipment here. Use the code NOOBSPEARO save $20 on every purchase over $200 at checkout – Flat shipping rate, especially in AUS!
- Neptonics Spearfishing and Freediving – Use the code NOOB10 to save 10% off anything store-wide. Free Shipping on USA orders over $99
- KillShot Spearguns | Simple, Effective, Dependable Wooden Spearguns. Use the Code NOOB to save $30 on any speargun:)
- Penetrator Fins Use the code NOOBSPEARO to save $25 on the full Penetrator Spearfishing Fin Range here.
- Immersion Online freediving classes | 28-day Freediving Transformation (CODE: NOOB28 for 15% off) | Equalization Masterclass – Roadmap to Frenzel | Free Courses | Freediving Safety Course | How to Take a 25-30% Bigger Breath!
- How To Freedive | The 5 minute Freediver | Break the 10 Meter Barrier – Use the code NOOBSPEARO to save $
- Noob Spearo MAD GEAR | ‘Spearo Dad’ | ‘Girls with Gills’ | ‘Jobfish Tribute’
- Spearing Magazine Subscribe to the best spearfishing magazine in the world. International subscription available!
- Audible.com Get a free audiobook along with a 30-day trial here. Listen to 99 Tips to Get Better at Spearfishing
