Roy Leyva: 500+ Species, World-Records, and the “Why” That Catches More Fish
From inner-city Boston to global species hunts, Roy Leyva explains how to fish smarter by asking better questions, reading structure, and dialing cadence. We also cover his world-record stories and the two lures he would take anywhere.
Who is Roy Leyva
Roy is a multi-species angler credited with 500+ species and a longtime educator and creator in the fishing world. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
World-Record Highlights from Boston
- Koi from Jamaica Pond: a 20.5 lb catch that shattered the standing record.
- Landlocked Atlantic Salmon: a bright fish tied to Boston’s unique stocking history.
The Two Lures That Work Almost Everywhere
Roy’s universal kit is simple: a soft plastic and a jig. Change size, shape, and how you fish them to cover baitfish, squid, and bottom forage almost anywhere.
Strategy Before Tactics
Roy stresses asking “why” on every trip, scouting structure first, and logging patterns. Maps and past weather or tide checks help connect dots.
Striped Bass Foundations
We talk about why stripers are a linchpin fishery and why so many anglers connect with them season after season.
Chapters
- 00:00 Intro and background
- 10:55 Striper love and seasonality
- 12:00 World-record koi story
- 34:00 Landlocked salmon in Boston
- 36:38 Soft plastics and jigs explained
- 41:20 Cadence, confidence, and adapting retrieve
- 44:13 Planning tools and structure
- 47:37 Two big tips for anglers
- 53:51 One last day to fish: snakeheads
John
November 04, 2025
Hey Roy good seeing you on the video talking about the old days at Jamaica pond I’ve fished with you a few times catching trout and salmon at Jamaica pond and the one time they put them in Houghton’s pond. Good to see your still out fishing.