Hey there! It's been a pretty quiet week around here, except for a few Instagram stories. In case you missed them, I'm super excited to share that I've started my own podcast - it's called "The Cottage Chronicles" (for now anyway!). Each episode is all about fishing tales, business updates, and other topics that I'm really passionate about. I'm hoping to release a new episode every month, but we'll see how it goes with my day job. I'd be thrilled if you could check out the first episode below or find me on Spotify!
*Music by OctoSound on Pixabay
Transcript:
Welcome to episode 1 of the Cottage Chronicles - a show about fishing, family, and finding your way. I'm your host, Neil Colicchio, founder of New Dawn Tackle Co.
On today's episode, I'll share a bit about who I am and how my company came to be. I'll give you a quick update on what I've been up to since launching my website, and I'll share some thoughts on the journey ahead.
[Opening Theme Music]
Our story begins in southern New Hampshire in the mid-90s — a place and time when summer adventures meant a trip to the family lake house affectionately known as "the cottage." My love affair with fishing began here, on the shores of a 270-acre reservoir. Armed with little more than a bobber, a bag of Swedish Fish, and a boundless sense of curiosity, I learned to fish for bass, bluegill, perch, and pickerel beneath the summer sun. Dad taught me how to tie on a swivel and where to place a bobber while Papa watched proudly - beer in hand - from the sandy hillside.
As the daylight faded and dusk set in, it was time to swap out bobbers for split-shots, summoning the mysterious denizens of the deep with a juicy nightcrawler. At this point in the day, I'd hope for a catfish, but I'd even settle for an eel... anything but the dreaded snapping turtles.
With a bit of luck and repetition, I honed my craft. I can't claim the cottage made me a good angler. Still, it taught me a lot about patience and appreciating the catch - whatever it might be.
While my dad's side had the cottage, Mom's side provided a proper education on crabbing, periwinkle harvesting, and most of all, scup and black seabass. Vovô (that's my grandfather on the Portuguese side) was about as seasoned a fisherman as I've ever met. Saltwater coursed through his blood, and he knew how to eat a fish! I learned as much from him about how to catch a fish as I did about how to savor it. Pro tip: when eating lobster, crack between the knuckles to get at the juiciest bits.
As much as I'd like to pretend I was instantly smitten, the reality is that I was still a kid. Like many children, I didn't have the context or the maturity to appreciate the fantastic fishing opportunities around me and the bounty on my table.
Honestly, you'd be just as likely to find me doing cannonballs off the dock or sculpting sandcastles as you would casting a line. While I did enjoy the occasional thrill of landing a trophy catch, the true fishing bug had yet to sink its teeth into me.
[Transition Music]
My fishing hobby came to a standstill during my teenage and college years. It was in my early twenties that I rediscovered the thrill of the chase. After hearing a few people at the local dog park joke that their dogs would go fishing in the pond, I decided to try my luck. It wasn't long before I began casting for bass and bluegill each day after work.
Those dog park adventures soon evolved into kayak expeditions on any section of river or lake I could find. Fueled by a newfound obsession with stocking schedules, water temperatures, and seasonal hatches, my story began to take shape.
Over the next decade, I sought lake trout and cutthroats in Utah, brown trout in Wyoming, and countless brooks and rainbows at home.
Not to mention amber jacks, mahi, blackfin tuna, and bonita in Florida.
[Transition Music]
Fast-forward once more to the present day. It's been about 10 years since the dog park days. My kayak collection and my mental catalog of nearby fishing spots and boat launches have tripled. I'm still working full-time at a corporate job and recently became a dad. Despite these changes, I've been getting restless.
2023 was the best and worst year of my life. I lost two of my best friends - one human and one canine - both unexpectedly. In the wake of that, my son was born, and my life completely changed. I spent a lot of time soul-searching last year. I'm not one to pray, and I don't meditate, but quiet contemplation with strong themes of "What have I done with my time?" and "What do I have to show for it?" became my new pastime.
I felt the gradual shift while my wife was pregnant. My YouTube viewing habits shifted from "Top 10 Baits for this Season" to "Nest with Me" and "10 Items Every Dad Should Have in his Hospital Bag." My work conversations shifted from strategy and succession planning themes to the list of must-haves ahead of my paternity leave. Between the growing mountain of work and growing household (we added a puppy to the mix one month after the baby was born), fishing took a back seat again.
It took me a while to figure out what I needed and even more time to accept it, but I knew it was time for something fresh, a new beginning - a new dawn!
[Transition Music]
With over a decade of marketing and e-commerce experience and a few years exploring new waters and acquiring new fishing tales, I decided to take a leap of faith.
And so, New Dawn Tackle Co. was born—a labor of love fueled by a desire to escape the confines of the nine-to-five grind and build something of my own.
With little knowledge of the fishing industry and no industry connections to speak of, I'm looking to you - my family and friends - to help me navigate the uncertain waters ahead.
I'm no stranger to running my own business; I spent some time freelancing and working as a contractor after college. However, it's not lost on me that this will take time, effort, strategy, and cold, hard cash. Not to mention, I'm still figuring out how to navigate professional social media after seven years away from that season of my life.
So join me as I document the journey on this podcast and the blog as I find my voice and chart my path. Until next time, tight lines and happy fishing.
[Transition Music]
I hope you enjoyed that segment and that it lent more context to the name "The Cottage Chronicles." If you found this podcast, you probably know that the site is live at newdawntackleco.shop and that I post written updates on the blog. In the future, I'll also keep links to the podcast and show notes there.
Now that you know my past, let's talk about the present. As of this recording, I'm working with 2 dealers to source products and actively looking at additional options. I've got a small selection of lures and tackle online, and the beanie I've periodically posted on Instagram and Facebook.
I could get more basic colors and patterns on most lures and add some saltwater options or kayak fishing gear. Still, I'm trying to stretch my budget. I intend to focus on the species I know best (trout, bass, pickerel, and other warm, freshwater species found here in the northeast).
It seems like the folks who've engaged on Instagram are excited about some more branded offerings and apparel, so my next move will probably be to get some better stickers (the first batch is pretty rough), some patches to let people customize their own gear, and maybe some neck gaiters.
I have a lead on some UPF50 shirts manufactured by a brand I know and love, so I will see where that takes me. I hope to have an update on that in a future episode.
That's where things stand today. If you have any suggestions, or if you like the direction I'm headed, leave me a review or drop a comment on my socials. I may not reply to everyone, but I read each comment and message that comes my way - even the spam.
If you've made it this far, thanks for staying with me. I've got one last segment that I hope you'll enjoy. Here's something I've been thinking about a lot lately: a tribute to those who came before me and a hopeful message for the next generation.
[Transition Music]
When we found out my wife was pregnant, we were about a month away from a Florida trip. In my head, this meant a week of fishing and eating fresh seafood any way I could fit it into my mouth.
After the surprise and joy of my initial reaction waned, my first question was, "Should I call the captain?"
I have a habit of planning things in advance, especially vacations. My day job and type-A personality have conditioned me to lock down the details long before a day off arrives.
By this point, I'd booked us on a half-day reef trip to fish for barracuda, grunts, grouper, and whatever else was passing through Tampa Bay in late springtime.
Don't get me wrong; I couldn't care less about losing the reservation or owing this guy for his time. I'd just never tried to bring a newly pregnant mother on a boat, and I wasn't really planning to.
For those who don't know my wife, she is a champ. She supports my hobbies, especially fishing, and she had no intentions of changing plans except in the case of doctor's orders. I guess we had a doctor who liked the outdoors because that wasn't an issue either.
So, after a short flight into Tampa and a good night's sleep, we got on the boat and had a great day on the water.
Most of what we caught went back, but we managed to haul in enough grunts for a few days of ceviche, fish sandwiches, and fish tacos.
My wife did not get to try the ceviche and only had one fish sandwich, so my week of eating fresh seafood was officially a success. More importantly, and more to the point, so was my first fishing trip as a dad-to-be.
In case you didn't pick up on it from the cottage story, I come from a fishing family. My dad fishes, my uncles do too, and so did my grandfathers before them. My father-in-law? He taught his girls to catch stripers and bluefish long before I set foot on Plum Island.
My own fishing journey had many starts and stops. Still, my most memorable and successful seasons were spent with the people I care most about. That's what drives me.
I don't know if my son will develop a love of fishing, but I hope he'll come to know and understand mine. When I can introduce him to the sport, I will. Whether he likes it or not, I can only offer my unwavering support and demonstrate the value of having hobbies you care deeply about.
My thoughts on New Dawn Tackle Co. are similar. At this moment, this is a side hustle. The budget is small, the product catalog is smaller, and the size of my company is the smallest. I have yet to compete on price, and frankly, I'm struggling to find something as simple as a grub in tequila sunrise for a friend of a friend. What I have to offer you is my enthusiasm, my sincerity, and my deep reverence for fishing. Please allow me to continue being part of the fishing community and your angling journey.
If I can ever offer a recommendation, an opinion, or lend an ear, know that I'm here. I appreciate you, and I'm immensely grateful for your support.
If you enjoyed today's episode, check out my blog at newdawntackleco.shop for additional insights and stories.
[Outtro Music]
Remember to connect with me on social media! Follow me on Instagram and Facebookat @newdawntackleco for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more.
