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Animal Planet series to feature Matlacha

2 min read

A new series on the Animal Planet network will feature Matlacha, as well as fishing on a stand-up paddleboard with a local business owner.

Jory Pearson, Florida Paddle-sports owner, a business located in the Publix shopping center on Pine Island Road at Burnt Store, said an initial phone call about stand-up paddleboards escalated, which he was happy about, into five days of shooting for a new show on Animal Planet – “Off the Hook: Extreme Catches.” He said the shoot was done at the end of April.

“We decided to take the host out shark fishing on a stand-up paddleboard,” Pearson said.

He said stand-up kayaks can be quite heavy, but paddleboards, on the other hand, only weigh 30 pounds and are easy to get on the water and go fishing.

“It is certainly a good way to do it,” Pearson said.

The show features creative, unusual and dangerous fishing rituals around the country by professional wrestler Showtime Eric Young.

“It was out of control,” Pearson said about the show. “The host, Eric Young, is a complete maniac a good guy.”

The two have stayed in contact since the show and are good friends.

Pearson said he taught Young how to fish for shark off of the paddleboard from Matlacha Pass, Pine Island Sound, Burnt Store Marina and southern Charlotte Harbor.

“It was a great experience, it was a lot of fun,” he said. “We caught some good fish. Tune in to find out.”

While filming, Pearson said they also brought some exposure to Bert’s Bar and Grill in Matlacha because he wanted to help promote the area.

Bernard Johnson, owner of Bert’s, said the crew came back to the bar every night to eat and enjoy some liquid refreshments. He said the crew, which is mainly out of New York, loved the local music and thought Matlacha was one of the finest towns in America to film.

The show will air on the Animal Planet on Aug. 5 at 9 p.m.