Dean Bowling

Dean Bowling Jr., born and raised in Gainesville, Georgia, grew up fishing. He started kayak fishing twelve years ago, and can’t imagine what his life would be like without it. He finds great joy in teaching others about rigging, fishing, and other things about the sport across Georgia. He also loves kayak fishing for the peace that it brings after a long work day, and while he doesn’t tournament fish often, he does enjoy an occasional competition for the fun of it and for seeing others in the fishing community.

Dean volunteers with Paddle4Tomorrow, and is currently serving as a board of director member. In addition, he also volunteers with the Ft. Gordon Chapter of Heroes on the Water in Augusta, GA. For the past six years he has volunteered with the Georgia Special Olympics Kayak Event in Macon.

His favorite kayak fishing memory is the time he landed his first sheepshead from a kayak. He was at Tybee Island on the Georgia Coast, and says about the experience, “there is nothing better than hooking up with one of the toughest fish to land, especially from kayak. It is a complete battle of one-on-one, you against the monster beneath the surface!”

“Being outdoors is where I find my peace and balance in life. It is where I can reset from everything that is going on in the world around me.”