Tom Rowland Podcast Carey Chen | Legendary Marine Artist | Ep. 994
Carey Chen is a world-traveled marine artist and lifelong fisherman who turned a passion for blue water into a career—painting billfish from memory and chasing giants with some of the best crews on earth. Born in Los Angeles to Jamaican parents, raised in Jamaica, and later based in Miami, Carey went from motorcycles and video stores to fishing tournaments across the Caribbean, licensing deals, and live painting at world-class events.
In this conversation, we get into how a first sailfish on a kite lit the fuse, why sonar is changing offshore fishing (and why he thinks it’ll soon be on every boat), what it’s like to fish with the Bad Company program, and how a lifetime of travel turned into 3,000+ paintings “stuck in his head.”
Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were:
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The first sailfish on a kite off Miami—and how one fish can change your life
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From fisherman to painter: leaving retail, painting live, and getting “discovered” at boat shows
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Fishing the world with Bad Company: Mag Bay marlin numbers that sound impossible until you see them
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The sonar debate: why new tech doesn’t replace skill—but rewards crews who master it
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Big-fish mindset: chasing granders, tagging programs, and letting the big breeders go
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Seychelles, Cape Verde, Madeira: what “no-pressure” fisheries really feel like
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Growing up around legends—boxing promoters, Bob Marley, and the value of giving back through art
Timestamps
00:00 Intro & who is Carey Chen
01:35 Jamaica → Miami → first sailfish on a kite
05:10 From fisherman to artist: the boat show breakthrough
10:42 Touring the Caribbean tournaments & live painting
15:28 Bad Company stories: Mag Bay marlin madness
21:40 Sonar, strategy, and the “is it cheating?” debate
28:05 Chasing granders: Africa, Cape Verde, Madeira
34:20 Seychelles & the magic of low-pressure fisheries
40:55 Flats talk: triggers, bumpheads, bonefish, Andros
47:10 Art from memory: anatomy, light, and getting it right
52:25 Business today: licensing, dropship, 3,000+ pieces
57:30 Growing up around champions & giving back
1:02:10 Final thoughts on passion → profession
🔗 Visit Carey Chen’s Website – [custom link]
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Instagram → @[guest_handle]
Website → [guest_website]
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