The Joey Chestnut of Fishing
Category: News Release
Sep 1st, 2026 by sworrall
Modified Sep 1st, 2026 at 9:29 AM
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The Joey Chestnut of Fishing |
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Marathon Man Jeff “Kolo” Kolodzinski returns to the water this week, livestreamed worldwide as he chases a number far beyond his own Guinness-certified world record |
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SPRING BAY, IL (August 31, 2026) – Every sport has its freak of nature. Competitive eating has Joey Chestnut, a man who can put away 83 hot dogs in ten minutes and make it look almost boring. Powerlifting has strongmen who deadlift small cars. Ultrarunning has people who circle a track for 48 hours straight just to see how far the human body will go before it quits. Fishing has Jeff “Kolo” Kolodzinski. Known as the Marathon Man, Kolodzinski has spent the better part of two decades hauling in fish by the thousands, all in a single sitting. He’s back on the water this week for his signature 24-hour marathon, chasing a number that dwarfs even his own Guinness-certified world record. |
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This year, though, the record chase means more than usual. Kolodzinski’s marathon falls during America’s 250th year — a milestone he’s determined to honor — and for a man who’s built his career around supporting military families and first responders, that timing isn’t lost on him. This one’s personal, a chance to fish for his country as much as for a number. The Guinness Book of World Records credits Kolodzinski with catching 2,143 fish in a single 24-hour period, a mark he set back in 2010. That’s the official number, the one carved into the record books. It’s also, by his own account, ancient history. In the years since, Kolodzinski has gone back to the water again and again and quietly obliterated his own certified mark, reeling in 2,645 fish in 2020, topping 2,700 last September, and, in a single legendary session at Giant Goose Ranch in 2022, an almost unbelievable 3,774 fish in one day. Nearly double what’s officially on record. Like Chestnut, Kolodzinski doesn’t need a sanctioning body to prove what everyone in the sport already knows. There’s the certified number. And then there’s Kolo. |
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A World Championship Pedigree What makes the number even more absurd is how he does it. Kolodzinski isn’t muscling fish out of the water with heavy tackle, but rather running a technique borrowed straight from European match fishing, a discipline where anglers compete shoulder-to-shoulder on canals and lakes across the UK and continental Europe, and where fractions of a second and razor-thin margins decide champions. His entire rig is deceptively simple: a 10-foot pole, 10 feet of fluorocarbon line, a small barbless hook, a precision float, and live bait. No reel, no rod holder, nothing to slow him down. The float itself is the real technology, a finely calibrated piece of gear designed to sit at near-neutral buoyancy, with only a sliver of the tip breaking the surface, so the faintest nibble registers instantly. It’s a method built for speed and precision, not power, and it’s the same style Kolodzinski studied under the late Mick Thill, the American who introduced European float-fishing to the U.S. and became something of a mentor to him early in his career. That grounding shows in his résumé. Kolodzinski represented the United States seven times at the World Championship of Freshwater Fishing, competing internationally against some of the most technical anglers in the world. “It’s only by the grace of God all this has happened,” Kolodzinski said. “I’ve done things I never thought possible for some Polish kid from Gary, Indiana.” “People see the fish counts and think it’s about brute speed, but it’s really about precision,” he added. “Everything I learned fishing internationally — reading the float, managing the smallest details, staying efficient cast after cast — that’s what lets me keep the pace up for 24 hours without falling apart.” |
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This Week’s Mission This week, he’s going after it again — with a bigger stage and a bigger reason than ever before. The target is 2,500 fish, but the mission is bigger than any number. Starting at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4th and running through 5:00 p.m. Saturday, September 5th at Camp Dallas in Spring Bay, Illinois, Kolodzinski’s 24-hour marathon falls during America’s 250th year, a milestone he’s dedicating this event to honoring. “Records are fine, but the only thing that really matters is people,” Kolodzinski said. “Fishing is the greatest sport in the world because you don’t have to be an athlete or have any kind of physical skill set. Last year, 57 million people fished in America. All you need is the desire to get outside, enjoy creation, unplug, and build relationships with other people.” “In the end, this isn’t about fishing or records — it’s about people,” he continued. “Fishing is a deeply relational sport, and that’s why I’m proud to support the folks at Camp Dallas, who do such great work getting kids into the outdoors and serving military families and first responders.” For nearly two decades, Kolodzinski has turned a fishing rod into a fundraising tool. Rather than compete against other anglers, he fishes for others, employing marathon casting sessions to spotlight organizations doing real good in their communities. Camp Dallas is the reason he keeps doing it. The nonprofit offers free fishing programs, instruction, and outdoor education to youth, families, veterans, and community groups. It’s a place to unplug, catch fish, and reconnect, at a time when too many people spend their days behind a screen. |
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What’s New for 2026 This year marks 20 years of Marathon Man events, and the anniversary brings the biggest expansion in the event’s history. Marathon Man is partnering with Fishing Chaos to turn what’s always been a regional event into a month-long National Fishing Challenge. Starting September 4th, anglers anywhere in the country can “Fish With the Marathon Man” from their own home waters, logging catches and competing for prizes throughout the month of September. Fishing Chaos brings serious reach to the partnership, with 236,000 unique platform users last month alone, giving the event a shot at engaging anglers, and sponsors, on a scale it’s never seen. “Twenty years ago, this was a guy with a pole and a pond, trying to get a few people to pay attention to a good cause,” Kolodzinski said. “Now we’re taking Marathon Man national, and anglers all over the country can be part of it from their own backyard. That’s the kind of growth I never could have imagined when we started this thing.” Viewers can also expect a bigger production this year, with an upgraded livestream and live call-ins to keep the broadcast moving for all 24 hours. Over 20 years, Kolodzinski’s catch log shows an astonishing 30,577 fish recorded across every Marathon Man event to date. |
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EVENT DETAILS:
The public can attend in person or follow the marathon LIVE STREAMING at MarathonManFishing.com, where viewers can watch, cheer Kolodzinski on, and donate directly to Camp Dallas throughout the event. (Live stream begins this Friday at 4 p.m. Central Time.) |
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2026 Event Sponsors: AFTCO, DAIWA, EGO Fishing, Engel Coolers, Frabill, Gemini apparel, Herman Brothers Fisheries, Humminbird, Lew’s, Minn Kota, Mr. Crappie, Norsk Lithium, Plano, Seaguar, St. Croix Rod, Strike King, Turtle Box and VMC hooks |
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About Jeff Kolodzinski Known nationwide as the Marathon Man, Jeff Kolodzinski has spent nearly 20 years using marathon fishing events to inspire anglers and support charitable causes. He’s dedicated his post-competition career to giving back through fishing, conservation, education, and community service. About Camp Dallas Camp Dallas is a nonprofit outdoor recreation facility in Spring Bay, Illinois, committed to introducing people of all ages to fishing and the outdoors. Through hands-on programs serving youth, veterans, families, schools, and community organizations, Camp Dallas helps participants build confidence, reduce stress, strengthen relationships, and create lifelong memories on the water. CONTACT: Cassi Ardis Camp Dallas |
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