On any given weekend, a skinny Kiwi kid with shaggy blonde hair could be seen dragging his dinghy—laden with fish and gear—up the steep hill from the Weymouth boat ramp. The trolley’s dodgy wheel regularly fell off, stretching the mile-long walk home into an hour. But nothing could deter him. Every Saturday before sunrise, he’d tow that dinghy back to the sea in search of another adventure.
That determined kid was Matt Watson—now one of New Zealand’s most recognisable ocean adventurers and a globally celebrated television personality.
Growing up in a small coastal community, Matt’s connection to the ocean began early. He spent weekends and school holidays working as a commercial fisherman for his uncle, gaining hands‑on experience long before he ever imagined a life on screen. At 25 he committed fully to a career in fishing, going on to build a standout reputation in the competitive world of big‑game fishing. His results aboard New Zealand’s most successful game boat for four consecutive seasons cemented his place at the top of the sport.
Eager to share the drama, danger and exhilaration of life at sea, Matt launched his own production company and brought his stories to television. His fearless style—landing huge fish from tiny boats, often in extreme or unpredictable conditions—captured international attention. A blend of adventurer, environmental advocate and self‑confessed “mad fisherman”, Matt’s work has been featured on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Today Show, 60 Minutes, NBC News and BBC World.
Today, he is known as a pioneering storyteller who brings the world’s oceans to life with authenticity, humour and an unmistakably Kiwi sense of adventure. And despite global recognition, Matt remains grounded. On every arrival card, he still writes the same occupation he did as a kid: Fisherman
