Meet The Host
Joe Thomas
Joe Thomas. also known as the Bob Ueker of Bass Fishing (download the movie Major League kids), brings a stout resume to Ultimate Match Fishing. After a 25-plus year career on both the
Bassmasters and FLW circuits, highlighted by a landmark All-American victory in ’90 that saw Thomas cash one of the first 100K checks in the sport, Thomas has made the ultra-smooth transition to television. Calling play-by-play for Ultimate Match Fishing is just part of his job. He also hosts the critically acclaimed program Stihl’s Reel in the Outdoors on Outdoor Channel. In his spare time, he hosts the legendary hunting series American Archer, also seen on Outdoor Channel. As a matter of fact, Thomas completed the North American 29 last year, which you can see on MyOutdoorTV. It’s a little known fact that Thomas doesn’t sleep. Ever.
Fish Fishburne
If you’re looking for serious in-depth analysis and insight into the sport of professional bass fishing, then move along because you’re not going to get it from Fish Fishburne. Fishburne jumped from UMF competitor to color-commentator in 2010 and the results have been mixed. For those who love to be entertained by sharp wit and humor delivered with a serious self-deprecating side, then you’ll love Fish. For those who think bass fishing is the most serious lifea-ltering event in the history of mankind, maybe not so much. Regardless, Fishburne gives an honest, if sometime painful, analysis of what’s happening on the water in an inimical style that is often copied but never duplicated, which is what we think “inimical” means. It’s a little known fact that Fishburne can jump from the ground onto the front deck of a bass boat sitting on a trailer and land on his feet. Seriously. If you see him ask him to do it. He hasn’t tried since 1989 so he might be a little rusty.
Mark Randolph
Before there were marshals, officials, observers or concurring co-boaters, there was Mark Randolph. Since 2005 Randolph has brought an overzealous degree of human fallibility to his referee duties on Pelican’s Ultimate Match Fishing. We have no idea where he came from. We have no idea where he goes during the offseason. All we know is that when it’s time to go, he’s there … sometimes late … to do the job he pioneered. It’s a little known fact that Mark Randolph has seven aliases.