Anglers
Jim Sammons
A San Diego California native, Jim has spent most of his life on or near the water. After receiving his first kayak as a gift, he never looked back. In 1995 he started La Jolla Kayak Fishing guide service and has been at the leading edge ever since. Recognized world wide as a pioneer of big game kayak fishing, Jim has probably caught more big fish from a kayak than anyone. He also holds the distinction of landing the first, and still only California caught Marlin from a kayak, and has landed a number of Thresher sharks in the two hundred pound range. As one of the original Ocean Kayak Pro Anglers, Jim has been closely involved with the development of new boat designs. Jim also works with Shimano on their kayak fishing line.
Jim is an IGFA certified, a California Department of Fish and game licensed guide, and a contributing writer to several fishing publications. He has managed to turn his passion (some would say addiction) into a career through guiding, writing and traveling the country on a mission to spread the word about his favorite sport.
To find out more about Jim’s activities and the La Jolla Kayak Fishing trips in both San Diego and Baja, visit www.kayak4fish.com.
Ken Whiting
The Heliconia Press is lead by World Champion whitewater kayaker, Ken Whiting. Ken is one of the most influential and respected paddlers in the world, and was recognized as such by Paddler Magazine as one of their ‘Paddlers of the Century.’ After discovering kayak fishing in 2006, Ken’s life was forever changed. His new found obsession for the sport led to the publishing of the Ultimate Guide to Kayak Fishing book and DVD, and ultimately, to the idea of producing this film. These days you’ll either find Ken on the river kayak fishing, or in the office planning the next kayak fishing adventure.
Greg Bowdish
Originally from Georgia, Greg Bowdish moved to Florida for the great shallow water fishing over a decade ago. He spent several years building fishing boats before becoming an FFF certified fly casting instructor, a popular speaker at fishing clubs and shows and a regular outdoor writer and photographer for numerous fishing publications. Greg is also a member of the Ocean Kayak Pro Staff, and an active advisor toward the design and development of new Kayaks. For more information about Greg’s activities or about his fly fishing and kayak fishing guided trips, visit www.kayak-fish-florida.com.
Howard McKim
Howard McKim Grew up in Texas. After finishing an anthropology major in college, he moved to San Diego and quickly fell in love with the ocean. He got really involved with scuba diving and did a lot of jetty and surf fishing. The desire to get further out led to his first kayak, and that first kayak led to a whole new life. Not long afterwards, Howard made the big move up to Alaska, trading his ‘normal’ life in to start a full time kayak fishing guiding business. Based out of Ketchikan, Alaska, Howard runs Ketchikan Kayak Fishing and shares the unbelievable Southeast Alaska kayak fishing with more people than anyone else. For more information on Howard’s trips, visit www.yakfishalaska.com.
Kevin Whitley
Ever since kayak fishing entered the mid-Atlantic fishing scene, Kevin Whitley (more well known as Kayak Kevin) has blazed the trail to what is possible while fishing from a kayak. Kevin is the first kayak angler to be recognized by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament as an Expert Saltwater Angler. He’s also known for his long distance solo kayak tours, having completed five in the last six years with the longest being a four and a half month, 1800 mile tour from Pensacola, Florida to his home in Norfolk, Virginia. You can follow Kevin’s adventures through his website www.kayakkevin.com ), which he updates regularly with photos, stories and a weekly catch report.
Jamie Pistilli
Jamie Pistilli has been fishing the waters of North America and the Caribbean for over 20 years, and although he has caught everything from tarpon to sharks, his specialty is trophy musky and carp fishing. Jamie has been featured in numerous fishing publications and is a regional editor for Kayak Angler Magazine. He’s also a member of the Ocean Kayak Pro Team, and an active advisor, guide and fishing consultant in Ottawa, Ontario. For more information about Jamie’s activities and guiding services, visit www.fishingconsultant.com.
Brendan Mark
Growing up on the Ottawa River, Brendan has been both a dedicated paddler and angler since he was kid. Throughout his teens and early twenties, Brendan committed himself to his obsession with kayaking, and reached his ultimate paddling goal in 2003 by winning the World Championships in Austria. Shortly thereafter, having retired from competitive kayaking, Brendan realized that he could combine his two favorite activities—whitewater kayaking and fishing—and discovered that it allowed him to access huge stretches of water that have likely never seen lures. With an honors business degree in marketing, and a passion for the outdoors, Brendan is the marketing director for The Heliconia Press—producer of this film.
Matt Moyer
Since Matt’s father bought the two of them kayaks in 2001, Matt has become one of the leading kayak anglers in San Diego—with a number of tournament wins under his belt. In 2004, Jim took Matt under his wing and together they enjoy nothing more than introducing new people to the sport of ocean kayak fishing. When Matt isn’t on the water, he works hard as the Executive Chef and the food and beverage manager of the La Jolla Country Club.
Paul Lebowitz
Paul Lebowitz hasn’t looked back since he first hopped on a kayak to catch a California yellowtail. Now one of the sport’s most widely published writers, Paul has an award-winning monthly column at the nation’s largest outdoor weekly, Western Outdoor News, and is a regular contributor to Canoe and Kayak and Kayak Angler. Many of his past stories are free for the reading at his excellent and comprehensive website www.KayakFishingZone.com. Paul is the founding director of the Kayak Fishing Association of California, a grassroots organization dedicated to “Preserve and expand kayak fishing opportunities.”
Jeff Herman
Jeff “Birdsnest” Herman was bred and baked in the great state of Texas. An ACA certified kayak instructor, Jeff has been promoting safe kayak fishing on Texas waters for many years. A workingman’s fly fisherman he is equally at home with conventional gear or swinging the fly rod. Member of the tournament juggernaut known as Team Ocean Kayak, and senior moderator of the Texas Kayak Fisherman website, Jeff has been around the block (and back again) in both competitive and recreational fishing. Jeff also serves as the Kayak Editor of Harold Well’s: Gulf Coast Fisherman Magazine and has contributed to national publications such as Canoe and Kayak Magazine
