The Eastern Bay Chamber of Commerce is bringing one of New Zealand’s most respected adventurers, fishermen, storytellers and entrepreneurs to Whakatāne later this month.

The evening with Matt Watson, supported by Hubbard Contracting, brings together the worlds of fishing, adventure, business and community for an evening of insight, inspiration and connection.

Beyond his incredible fishing stories, he’ll be sharing the journey behind his business success, including the risks he took, the hard work and dedication it required, and how he even took out a loan against his house to fund his business venture.

It’s a story of determination, risk-taking and turning an idea into a successful business.

Watson made the jump from going fishing to making programmes about it when he and a mate cobbled together a videotape in his garage. Soon, that grew into the ITM Fishing Show, which screened on television for 20 years, ending in 2023.

He famously went viral around 2008 for his incredible fishing antics, including jumping out of a helicopter to catch a marlin with his bare hands, catching one from a jet-ski, and even hooking one from a surfboard.

These days Watson is a sought-after celebrity speaker and runs his Ultimate Fishing channel on YouTube.

In Whakatāne, he will share stories from the ocean, lessons learned through business, and insights into what it takes to pursue opportunities, overcome challenges and create success in a changing world.

Recreational fishers, marine industry professionals, business owners, entrepreneurs, outdoor enthusiast, and those who simply enjoy a good yarn are expected to find plenty they can relate to.

The event is also an opportunity to connect with a diverse mix of people from across the Eastern Bay and wider Bay of Plenty.

Charting a Course to Success with Matt Watson will be held at the Whakatāne Sportfishing Club on Thursday, November 19.

Tickets are limited and are available via https://events.humanitix.com/charting-a-course-to-success-with-matt-watson at $45 ($35 for Chamber members).