Hobie National Fishing Team
Angler:
Hank Parker
Home Water(s):
North Carolina
Status:
National Team Member
Experience:
The CBS Morning Show best described Hank Parker when introducing him as "the rod-n-reel answer to Michael Jordan, in popularity and talent!" Hank has enjoyed a storied professional bass fishing and outdoor television host career that continues to grow each season! His accomplishments on the professional bass fishing tournament trail support the fact he is one of America's greatest bass fishermen to ever compete.
Hank Parker's Outdoor Magazine, is among the most popular on television today and continues to entertain and educate viewers of all ages and skill levels. Hank's professional fishing career began in 1976 when he began fishing the National Bass Association Tournament Circuit, winning their national championship in his first season. The following two years he fished both the National Bass Association and American Bass Association. With this success and help from newly acquired sponsors, Hank began fishing the Bass Anglers' Sportsmen's Society (B.A.S.S.) Tournament Trail-winning the BassMaster's Classic in both 1979 and 1989. He also was the first angler to win the Grand Slam of Bass Fishing, which included the Classic, B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, and the B.A.S.S. SuperBass Tournament. Amazingly, Hank finished "in the money" in 76% of all the tournaments he fished during his B.A.S.S. career.
Angler:
Jackie Smith
Home Water(s):
Missouri
Status:
National Team Member
Experience:
Jackie Smith was a fixture in the NFL for 15 years with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1963 to 1977. He finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys in 1978. At the time of his retirement, he ranked as the all-time receiver among tight ends with 480 receptions for 7,918 yards and 40 touchdowns.
An outstanding football and track competitor at Northwestern Louisiana, Smith was the Cardinals' 10th-round draft pick in 1963. Smith was a talented receiver, a punishing blocker, a fierce competitor and an excellent runner after he caught the ball. He even handled the Cardinals' punting chores his first three seasons.
Smith became the Cardinals' starting tight end during his 1963 rookie season and remained a fixture at that spot the rest of his tenure in St. Louis. He gave notice of things to come when he gained 212 yards on nine receptions against Pittsburgh that year.
The team's offensive co-captain, Smith had one string of 45 straight games from 1967 to 1970, with at least one reception. He played in 121 straight games starting with his first NFL contest and continuing until a knee injury sidelined him in his ninth season in 1971.
Injuries slowed him again in 1975 and 1976 but Smith still played in 198 games. Smith played in five straight Pro Bowls from 1967 through 1971, and was named All-NFL in 1967 and 1969. He had his single season best performance in 1967 when he recorded 56 receptions for 1,205 yards and nine touchdowns.
During his career, he caught more than 40 passes seven different years. His 16.5-yard average per reception is a reflection of both his excellent speed and determined running style.
Angler:
Vince Console
Home Water(s):
Southern California
Status:
National Team Member
Experience:
Some have said that Vince Console has spent more time in water than on dry land. Doctors have speculated that he has gills behind his ears and webbed feat as a result of being related to generations of watermen.
Whether it’s kayaking, fishing, diving, surfing or any other water sport, Vince Console has done it all. Growing up in Southern California, he spent his youth outdoors performing activities in or around water. Influenced by his family made up of serious fishermen and hunters, Console gained the valuable experience that molded him into an avid outdoorsman at a young age.
Kayak fishing caught his attention as it began to grow and the inshore fishery of North County San Diego became his new playground. Targeting yellowtail, white seabass and thresher sharks, Console launched from the beach exploring and fishing areas along the coastline gaining experience that molded him into the Fishing Product Manager and Team Manager for one of the largest kayak manufacturers in the world, Hobie Cat Company. Combining his extensive business background and outdoor knowledge, Console has worked hard to build the foundation that the Hobie fishing community thrives upon today.
Angler:
Morgan “Roosta” Promnitz
Status:
National Team Member
Home Water(s)
San Diego
Experience:
Catching his first fish at age five, Morgan “Roosta” Promnitz was born into a lifestyle that has revolved around fishing. The rich waters of his native South Africa provided an excellent learning stage for him to hone his skills by catching bream, grunter, kabeljou and giant sharks from the beach.
In his later years after moving to Southern California, Morgan amassed a lifetime of experience working in and around San Diego’s fishing and kayak industries. If it’s fly fishing for native golden trout in the Sierra Mountains or battling giant yellowfin tuna in the Pacific, Promnitz has done it.
Landing his first yellowtail from a kayak in 2000, and becoming a guide in 2006, he has since had the privilege of watching many of his clients and friends land their first trophy fish from a kayak. After hundreds of hours fishing from Hobie kayaks, Promnitz became a huge advocate for the sport. Today he continues this passion and now works as the Fishing Sales Associate for Hobie Cat Company.
Angler:
Marty Mood (A.K.A. "PA Hillbilly")
Status:
National Team Member
Home Water(s):
Coastal/Inland Maine
Experience:
Marty’s angling skills are superior, his knowledge of the underwater world is vast, and his ability to land big fish in the most unlikely of circumstances exceeds even the most seasoned angler’s expectations. Marty grew up fishing for trout, steelhead, and bass in Central Pennsylvania and has extended his quest throughout his life for many of America’s game fish (both fresh & salt), ranging from redfish in the Gulf Coast of Mexico to striped bass in the coastal inlets of Maine.
Accomplishments:
- 2009 State of Maine Kayak Fishing Tournament Champion
- 2nd - 2009 Jamaica Bay Kayak Tournament Open division.
- 2007 Main State Kayak Fishing Tournament Champion
- 2006 Main State Kayak Fishing Tournament Champion
- 2004 Extreme Edge Kayak Fishing Tournament Series National Champion
Angler:
Mike Allen
Home Water(s):
Southern California, Salt and Fresh Water
Status:
National Team Member
Experience:
Mike produced and appeared in the Hobie kayaking DVD that is included with each Hobie kayak sold worldwide, as well as the new “Hobie – Fish The World” DVD. He is a professional Kayak Fishing Guide, and is an FFF Certified Fly Casting Instructor.
He loves surfing, diving, and fishing, and most days can be found sharing his passions as a fishing guide and casting instructor in Southern California waters. In his earlier days, he was a Naval Aviator, surfboard shop owner and high school science teacher and coach.
Angler:
Dennis Farrier
Home Water(s):
Coastal Southern California
Status:
National Team
Experience:
Farrier has spent a lifetime on the water. His earliest memories include diving and fishing the kelp beds off Southern California and Baja from his surfboard. Den went on to head up a marine science laboratory at the Smithsonian Institution that designed and built ocean mesosystems and farmed the sea.
Den produced and appeared in the Hobie kayaking DVD that is included with each Hobie Kayak sold worldwide as well as “Hobie – Fish The World” that found him kayak fishing in Australia, Alaska, France, Holland, North Carolina, Louisiana, Mexico, and California.
Den Farrier is a teacher, guide, and passionate ambassador for our sport.