Steve Campbell isn’t just another name — he’s a legend of the blue-water world. Skipper, charter captain, scientist, author (Blue Marlin Magic) — Steve has spent over 20 years chasing blue marlin across the South Pacific. From humble inshore beginnings in New Zealand to founding Tonga’s topgame-fishing lodge, his journey is as wild as the fish he chases.
Over more than two decades running charters across the South Pacific, Steve has caught an unbelievable 2,776 blue marlin, and what makes that number even more impressive is his 97% release rate. Conservation, consistency, and world-class skill — that’s the Steve Campbell formula.
In this episode you’ll get right into the heart of real marlin fishing: the lure spreads, the strike zones, the hook rig tweaks, and the data-driven methods that separate hobbyists from professionals. Steve breaks down the real science of blue marlin behaviour: how they hunt, whatmakes them switch on, and the lure-spread principles he’s refined over tens of thousands of hours on the water.
From underwater video insights to strike-zone analysis to hook-rig tweaks that actually matter, he explains the details that separate a lucky shot from a predictable pattern.
Whether you’ve never hooked a marlin or you’ve battled more than a few, this yarn is gold. Expect big stories, bigger fish, and pure blue-water insight from a bloke whose success is built on knowledge, not luck.
✅ Steve Campbell https://www.facebook.com/Bluemarlinmagic (FB)
✅ https://www.bluemarlinmagic.fishing
💡 Strobe Lure:https://www.strobelure.com/
💡 Kickstarter:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/str0be/strobe-lure-catch-more-marlin
⏱️ Chapters /Segments
(00:00) — Intro: Who Is Steve Campbell?
Setting the stage: 2,776 blue marlin, and how Steve became a full time skipper
(12:30) — Moving to Tonga & Cyclone Waka
Just weeks before opening his game fishing lodge, disaster strikes
(25:00) — Blue Marlin Behaviour & the threat to the species
How commercial longliners are taking 742,000 blue marlin out of the sea each year
(39:00) — Building a Career in Big-Game Charter Fishing
How sonar changed the game for marlin fishing
(44:00) — How keeping data lead to an impressive strike rate
Steve started by capturing data on every fish he caught, then used underwater cameras to understand how they attack prey
(51:00) — The Art of Lure Spreads & Positioning
His most effective spreads, colour theory, trolling strategy, and why consistency beats luck.
(60:00) — Strike Zones, Hook-Ups & Campbell’s Rigging Philosophy
The deep science behind his insane hook-up rates and 97%release ratio.
(70:00) – The New Gamefishing lure that generates 50% more bites
after two seasons testing the new ‘Strobe’ Lure steve gives us the data he collected on this new concept lure
(77:00) — The Stiff Rig
Why Steve uses the rigging and hooks he does and how it achieves such a high bite to hookup rate
🌟 Links & Socials
- YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@getthenet_nz]
- Apple Podcasts: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/🎣-get-the-net-–-tight-lines-loose-lips🎙️/id1824558692]
✅ Follow Us
- Instagram: @getthenet_nz
- TikTok: @getthenet_nz
🎵 Music Used
✅ Proctor, Topher Mohr & Alex Elena
✅ Satellites, Swello
✅ Momentum, Zplit
✅ Source (YouTube Audio Library)
🎥 Production Notes
✅ Shot on: Sony A7iii + Sennheiser Mics
✅ Edited in: Adobe Premiere Pro
✅ Shot, Edited & Produced by Nick Hoyle