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Den Farrier, kayak fishing the world

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Category: Interviews

Published on Sunday, 29 November 2009 22:25

Written by Josh

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Dennis Farrier is a member of the Hobie US Fishing Team and one of Hobie's most active kayak fishing evangelists. I was fortunate enough to spend some 4 or 5 days fishing with him in far north Queensland during the filming of the Aussie segment of the recently released 'Hobie - Fish the World' DVD. In that time I came to know him as an intelligent and insightful person whom I shared a great deal of philosophies with and it was an absolute pleasure fishing alongside him and his kayak fishing partner, Mike Allen.

Aside from his many kayak fishing achievements and experiences, Dennis has accomplished a hell of a lot in his lifetime, having worked with the Smithsonian Institution, The United Nations, Disney Television, Paramount Pictures, the Rainforest Institute in France and was involved in the creation of Biosphere II (Arizona). He is also a multiple Emmy award winner and has also been recognized for his work by the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Centre for Transnational Corporations, the American Academy of Science, as well as the governments of Japan, Puerto Rico, France, and Italy. At the request of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, Dennis was both a Delegate and featured speaker during the launch of the International Green Cross Program in Kyoto, Japan.

So as you can deduct from all of that, Dennis is a very accomplished person and it's easy to see why I found him to be such an interesting individual. On top of all that I truly appreciated his genuine passion for the environment as well as his enthusiasm for kayak fishing. Recently Dennis finished up a world-wide kayak fishing tour, making this an ideal time to interrupt his busy schedule to corner him and ask some questions about his passion for the sport.

JH: Thanks for taking some time to answer my questions Den. I'll start off with an obvious question. When and how did you discover kayak fishing and what was it about the sport that you found so attractive?

DF:  My first attempt to fish from a kayak was in 1964. I was in the United States Coast Guard, I tried to fish from a sit-inside – which didn’t work out – and I was fishing just outside the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.

A big part of kayak fishing is the time I’m able to spend on the water with Mike Allen, my cousin. For me it’s about the friends we’ve fished with for years, and the great folks we meet on the beaches, rivers and lakes that we’re privileged to fish all over our state, around the United states, and the world. Mike and I grew up together.  We surfed in the morning and fished from our surfboards in the afternoon.

Just as important?  Spending time in a natural world that brings me immeasurable joy every day. And we can’t think of a better place to play.  California – our backyard - offers us 1,000 miles of coastline, 4,000 lakes and reservoirs and some 30,000 streams and rivers to play in. Mike and I love to fish. If it came down to it we’d fish in a puddle in a parking lot.

JH: Recently you and Mike Allen embarked on a kayak fishing world tour, fishing in various unique places in Europe, America and Australia. After all was said and done, did you conclude upon a favorite destination? And if so, was that influenced by the environment you fished in, the fish that you caught, or something else entirely? 

DF:  Australia is way up there on my list of favorite spots. The beauty, Barramundi, and great people made this a top destination. I also was blown away by fishing the bayous of Louisiana for redfish. I’ve been fishing down in Baja Mexico for many years and the marlin, dorado, and roosterfish are phenomenal.

JH: What was the most impressive fish caught during the tour (from either Mike or yourself), and can you share a photo of that magic fish with us?

DF: There was a three-hour period in the Bayous of Louisiana when the Redfish fell in love with anything we threw at them.  They’re beautiful with their neon tails, they’re great fighters, they gave us a sleigh ride with each catch and are strong enough to remain strong and healthy when released.  Perfect.

JH: Its difficult to imagine many people having had the opportunity to catch as wide array of species as yourself. Do you have an all-time favourite fish to try and catch? If so, what is it, and why?

DF: The first fish that come to mind are the 40 to 50 pound Yellowtail off Cedros and Benitos Islands on the west coast of Baja, Mexico.  They fight like a freight train. I love the sleigh ride.

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