When did you first start fishing?
I was probably only three or four when my uncle took me fishing. I did it off and on during high school but could never really afford to do it properly. It was only when I started working that I was able to really take it seriously.

What is the appeal?
There’s a quote I heard by a guy called John Buchanan that sums it up really well. He said, “The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.” The biggest thing is you never know what’s going to happen. Every time you go out it’s like buying a lottery ticket.

How did you get spotted for King Fishers?
Well, when I decided to pursue this full-time I really worked hard at marketing myself—as well as learning how to fish properly. My website makes use of all the skills I learned in my media jobs. If you search for fishing in Thailand, my website comes up on the first page of Google. The production team found me through that and, because I speak good English, I was the right fit for the Thai contestant.

What’s the show about?
Basically three fishermen have to go and fish in each other’s countries then score each other based on the fishing and on the cultural experience.

Where do you like to go fishing and what do you like to catch?
I probably prefer to go fishing in reservoirs as that’s where you find giant snakehead. They are very vicious and very intense—they fight dirty which makes catching them very challenging.

You fished in different countries for the show; how was it?
Fishing in Darwin, Australia, was just great. There are so many regulations in place there that are strictly enforced, which makes fishing that much more interesting. Here, if someone finds a good spot, it gets hit hard and fished out quickly. The idea of catching a fish then releasing it back to grow further is totally alien to Thais. There are no regulations.

What’s your strangest fishing experience?
Well, a couple of years ago my stepfather died in a violent accident. Afterwards, it was a very tough time and I decided I needed to go fishing, as therapy. My mum got the monks in to do a ceremony at our home while I was out fishing and, as they were chanting their prayers, I caught this huge giant catfish. To make things even stranger I caught it surrounded by a group of Japanese fishermen. My stepdad was Japanese and the fish weighed almost the same as he did.

What’s next for you?
I’m in talks about the possibility of having my own show, but it’s still quite early days. But my experience on the show has made me realize that I want to go and fish around the world. I want to go everywhere.
You can see Oz on King Fishers on National Geographic Channel Aug 7, 9pm.