For as long as I can remember, I’ve been captivated by the sea—its endless power, its unmatched beauty. To me, it’s a blank canvas, always waiting to be filled with memories and adventure.
Growing up in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, the ocean was my playground. My childhood was built on saltwater, with its scaffolding shaped from nylon lines and secondhand fishing rods. Somewhere along the way, that foundation turned into an unstoppable fishing addiction.
We never owned a powerboat, everything we did was by sail or paddle. “Combustion engines are an expensive way to catch dinner for free.” my dad used to say.
My weekly school bus fare was $45, but the ATM only gave out $20 notes - So I’d have $15 change. My parents agreed this was to be my weekly allowance for the school tuck shop, but I saved it. Week by week, that spare cash added up until I had $1100 - Enough to buy my first secondhand kayak.
By 11 years old, I had my very own fishing kayak. I didn’t need to convince the old man to take me out anymore. “I can do it on my own now,” I told him, grinning from ear to ear as the unexpected TradeMe seller pulled into the driveway with my new kayak in tow.
That newfound freedom only fueled the fire. What started as a passion quickly became part of who I am. The ocean, Its energy and Its inhabitant, became an inseparable part of my identity.
On the 14th of October, 2022, I got my driver’s license. That same night, I left. For two weeks, I travelled, camped, and fished my way through the far north. Somewhere along the journey, I connected with a new form of freedom. Her name was Sheila— the 1998 HiAce Super Custom van I’d just recently bought.
By then, I was 16. I’d left school and was working at a supermarket, with $4,000 to my name and Sheila parked outside, kayak strapped to the roof. But I was restless, bored, craving something more. So I made what felt like the only logical decision at the time: I quit my job, moved into the van, and went fishing.
That first year was one hell of an adventure. But something was missing—a way to capture it, to tell the story. I felt the pull to share it all, and that’s when my YouTube channel, Nomadic Kayak Fishing, was born.
Fast forward to today - I’m living my dream! I’ve turned van life and kayak fishing into a career, and the best part? I get to share it all with you LEGENDS!
Tightlines, Matt
Watch an adventure