Reeling in Charlie Moore - the Mad Fisherman

By Matthew Harrell

 

Most fishing television hosts spend an entire 30 minute segment showing viewers how many fish they can catch. Charlie â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“The Mad Fishermanâ€� Moore would rather spend that 30 minutes making viewers laugh. Catching a few fish is also a plus.

 

Proudly hailing from Boston, MA, Charlie Moore started fishing Boston Harbor at a young age. Moore's father was an avid boater and often took Charlie along for boat rides. It was Charlie, however, that decided to take advantage of his father's Boston Whaler boat and start fishing.

 

With no college degree, Charlie realized that he would have to do something special in order to be successful. In 1996, Moore came up with the concept of doing the fishing segment for the New England Sports Channel (NESN.) Although the producers liked his show, Charlie was only given limited airtime.

 

After much negotiation with the producers at NESN, Moore was granted a full hour show. The show, â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“Charlie Moore Outdoors,â€� ended up being so successful that it began airing three to four times per week after Red Sox games. With such success in the New England area, ESPN took notice of the Boston area fisherman and decided to â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“castâ€� him in his own show.

 

In 2004, Charlie's show, â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“Beat Charlie Moore,â€� became the most successful outdoors show to date. â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“Beat Charlie Mooreâ€� challenges people from across the country to a fishing contest. If the challenger wins the contest, Charlie will give you $5,000 out of his own pocket. However, if the challenger loses, Charlie gets bragging rights! Some of Moore's opponents have included: Doug Flutie, Governor Mitt Romney, Tim Wakefield, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Ted Nugent.

 

â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“Today's [fishing] shows are pretty boring. They're all about education and education doesn't sound like too much fun to me,â€� stated Moore about how his show on ESPN differs from other fishing shows. â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“There's a ton of fishing shows, but there's only one Charlie Moore show.â€�

 

â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“People are what make a great show,â€� Moore said emphatically. â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“Fishing is all about the experience, it's not about how to fish. Sometimes I catch one, sometimes I catch four, or sometimes I catch forty. It doesn't matter.â€�

 

Currently, Charlie is looking to take his career to the next level: primetime television. Charlie revealed that he recently signed a deal with CBS Paramount to start working on a sitcom of his own. Charlie's interest in making his own television show sparked from not being satisfied with the comedies currently on television. Ironically, if there's one thing that Charlie is serious about, it's comedy.

 

â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“I love to make people laugh. The best cure for anything is laughter,â€� proclaimed Moore. â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“We're in the middle of a war and gas prices are four dollars a gallon. Where's the funny? Show me the funny!â€�

One of the most popular segments on Charlie's show is entitled â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“The Codfather.â€� In the skit, Charlie plays the Codfather, an underground mafia boss of the outdoors world.

 

â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“You can't hunt, fish, canoe, or kayak without the written permission and consent of the Codfather or there's a good chance that you're going to get whacked!â€� joked Moore. â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“The character is based on fishermen and their tight lips when it comes to helping you out [with finding good fishing spots.]

 

Even with all the success that Charlie Moore has had, he still feels like the same guy he was before his fame. Moore explains this and other aspects of his life in his new book: The Mad Fisherman: Kick Some Bass with America's Wildest TV Host. Moore revealed that the book was more about being successful in life than about being a successful fisherman.

 

â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“I'm not the smartest bulb in the Christmas tree; [my success] is from a lot of hard work and blood, sweat and tears. None of this stuff has really changed me. I've got a few more cars and a few more toys, but it hasn't changed who I am,â€� stated Charlie about his new book.

 

For more information about Charlie Moore visit: www.charliemoore.com

 

Also, be sure to check out Charlie's hit TV show â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“Beat Charlie Mooreâ€� every Saturday morning at 7:30am on ESPN2!

 

Charlie Moore's Fishing FAQ:

Favorite Type of Fishing: Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass

Favorite Rod: 6'6� Medium-heavy Quantum Baitcaster with 14lb. test fishing line

Favorite Bait: Lunker City spinner bait

Favorite Fishing Spot: â€Ãƒƒâ€¦“Wherever I'm at!â€�