Matt Watson's Top 5 Fishing Tools

By Sarah Winkler

Tools for a Madman of the Sea

You'd be surprised at the tools Matt used to reel in this big catch.

New Zealand native and stunt fisher extraordinaire Matt Watson knows a thing or two about fishing. Host of Discovery's "Man vs. Fish" and Animal Planet's "Madman of the Sea," Matt takes on some of the most extreme fishing expeditions, which are broadcasted all over the world. His daring feats, which include diving from a helicopter to wrestle a marlin underwater and catching a 2,000-pound great white shark with a handline, have earned him the same moniker as his show--"Madman of the Sea."

Matt's interest in fishing began when he was three in and around his hometown of Weymouth, New Zealand. When he was seven years old, Matt took to his very own dingy and began to catch the local snapper, flounder, and mullet in the Maukau harbor.

Matt continued to develop his interest in fishing, and in 2000, he became a game fishing captain and writer for the New Zealand Fishing News. In 2004, Matt became a member of the crew of the Ultimate Lady, a 90-foot sport fishing boat. He and the crew caught 405 marlin in a season, the largest marlin catch ever recorded by a single New Zealand boat.

Matt's seemingly impossible catches and his advocacy for conservation have attracted television viewers worldwide. We've asked Matt to reveal his top 5 fishing tools. Read on to find out his top picks for fishing gear.