Canoe Alley
FISH TALES:
Casting Across Continents Fred Towfigh’s global journey reveals the thrill, patience, and adventure behind the art of fly fishing. By Rachel Wagenman
➳ From the vibrant coastline of Australia, to the remote jungle rivers of Bolivia, Fred Towfigh has traveled farther than most to chase fish on the fly. His pursuit of elusive species has taken him across continents and hemispheres—all for the thrill of spotting a flash in the water, delivering the perfect cast, and releasing them to swim another day.
Originally from Los Angeles and growing up in Southern California, he first learned to fish using conventional methods. It was in college that he first experienced fly fishing during a trip with a friend to Christmas Island in 2001. Here at home on O‘ahu, you’re likely to find him fly fishing Triangle Flats near Honolulu’s airport with guide Makani Christensen. He explains that the waters around Sand Island are full of shallow flats where fish come to feed—and that’s when he makes his move. “O‘ahu has some of the largest ‘ō‘io I’ve seen anywhere in the world, but probably the hardest to catch,” he laughs. But his most exciting catch from the area? A golden trevally. “If there’s anything more difficult to catch than an ‘ō‘io on a fly rod, it’s this!” Towfigh’s fly fishing adventures have taken him far beyond Hawai‘i—including the small coastal town of Exmouth, Aus- tralia, one of his favorite spots, where he’s encountered some large ulua. “As soon as my fly hit the water, they all turned on it,” he recalls. “The excitement of those gigantic fish coming at my fly is something I won’t forget.” Although quite a large catch, the one he ended up hooking was the smallest of the group (if you can believe it). Towfigh’s pursuit of the Golden Dorado—a powerful, golden game fish—led him into the Amazon rainforest. The journey itself
24 AMA | JULY / AUGUST 2025
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online