Abt Bream Kayak Grand Final - Finally Caught Some Fish!

[arpie]

Hi guys

A huge thanks to Hobie, ABT, Barclays & Forster Beach Caravan Park for all their efforts in making the weekend the success that it was!

I will put up some pics tomorrow ..... not many of other people this time - too busy trying to catch fish!! Very trying!!

My buddy from Nambucca (ex Whingam,) Adrian got a Top 10 finish!!! Awesome result for a first tournie!! Luderick Luke was intially 7th after Day one, but slipped back to 26th. He will, no doubt, fill you in with his story of monster bustoffs!

Kayak BREAM Series: Hobie BREAM Kayak Grand Final Angler Results

Place Angler State F1 W1 F2 W2 TF TW Payout Cash

1 Daniel BROWN NSW 3 2.17 3 2.45 6 4.62 Hobie Pro Angler kayak $500 + $375 1st Pro

2 Andrew KRUSHKA TAS 3 2.28 3 1.94 6 4.22 Daiwa Tournament Master INLINE w/ Steez Reel $300

3 Jordan TRUSTY VIC 3 2.32 3 1.46 6 3.78 Daiwa Tournament Master INLINE w/ Steez Reel $250

4 Greg LEWIS NSW 3 1.74 3 1.87 6 3.61 Daiwa Tournament Master INLINE w/ Steez Reel $200 + $125 2nd Pro

5 Stewart DUNN NSW 3 1.94 3 1.64 6 3.58 Daiwa Tournament Master Z w/ Steez Reel $200

6 Dave HEDGE NSW 3 1.93 3 1.64 6 3.57 Daiwa Tournament Master Z w/ Steez Reel $100

7 Joel CROSBIE VIC 3 1.76 3 1.77 6 3.53 Daiwa Tournament Master Z w/ Steez Reel $100

8 Mark THOMPSON NSW 3 1.78 3 1.69 6 3.47 Hobie Fishing Apparel - AFC Jersey - Berkley Shirt $100

9 Chris BURBIDGE VIC 3 1.58 3 1.6 6 3.18 Hobie Fishing Apparel - AFC Jersey - Berkley Shirt $100

10 Adrian RYAN NSW 3 1.73 3 1.42 6 3.15 Hobie Fishing Apparel - AFC Jersey - Berkley Shirt $100

11 Carl DUBOIS NSW 3 1.21 3 1.83 6 3.04 Hobie Fishing Apparel - AFC Jersey - Berkley Shirt

12 Martin FELLOWS VIC 3 1.74 3 1.29 6 3.03 Hobie Fishing Apparel - AFC Jersey - Berkley Shirt

13 Craig COUGHLAN NSW 3 1.23 3 1.77 6 3 Ecogear Lure Pak

14 Nicholas MEREDITH Qld 3 1.64 3 1.28 6 2.92 Berkley Soft Plastics - Pack

15 Jason REID NSW 3 1.66 3 1.18 6 2.84 Atomic Lure Pack

16 Tristan TAYLOR Qld 3 1.13 3 1.67 6 2.8 Ecogear Lure Pack

17 Andrew DEATH NSW 3 1.21 3 1.57 6 2.78 Berkley Soft Plastics - Pack

18 Kevin WINCHESTER NSW 1 1.42 3 1.34 4 2.76 Atomic Lure Pack $250 Boss Hog (D1- 1.42kg)

19 Stephen MAAS QLD 3 1.12 3 1.56 6 2.68 Ecogear Lure Pack

20 Wayne BONE VIC 3 1.17 3 1.5 6 2.67 Berkley Soft Plastics - Pack

21 Steve FIELDS NSW 3 1.4 3 1.26 6 2.66 Atomic Lure Pack

22 William LEE QLD 2 0.95 3 1.69 5 2.64 Ecogear Lure Pack

23 Gary COOKE NSW 3 1.4 3 1.18 6 2.58 Berkley Soft Plastics - Pack

24 Jonathan CHEN NSW 1 0.86 3 1.71 4 2.57 Atomic Lure Pack

25 Neil CARSTAIRS VIC 3 1.08 3 1.48 6 2.56 Ecogear Lure Pack

26 Luke KAY NSW 3 1.78 2 0.72 5 2.5 Bassday Lure Pack

27 Andrew HILLYARD NSW 3 1.84 1 0.36 4 2.2 Ecogear Lures

28 Grayson FONG Qld 3 1.73 1 0.43 4 2.16 Ecogear Lures

29 Matt PETRIE VIC 3 0.96 2 1.19 5 2.15 Ecogear Lures

30 Gary BEAZLEY VIC 3 1.45 1 0.56 4 2.01 Yamatoyo Line Pack

31 Jason MEECH NSW 1 0.52 3 1.41 4 1.93 Ecogear Lures

32 Tony PETTIE VIC 1 0.48 3 1.4 4 1.88 Ecogear Lures

33 Derek STEELE ACT 1 1.03 1 0.83 2 1.86 Ecogear Lures

34 Rowan STANEK NSW 2 0.76 2 1.06 4 1.82 Ecogear Lures

35 Scott LOVIG VIC 2 0.91 2 0.74 4 1.65 Ecogear Lures

36 Jason PRICE ACT 1 0.43 3 1.2 4 1.63 Ecogear Lures

37 Peter WOODS NSW 2 1 1 0.6 3 1.6 Atomic Lure Pack

38 Scott BAKER VIC 2 1.58 2 1.58 Hobie Fishing Apparel

39 Mal GRAY QLD 3 1.45 3 1.45 Hobie Fishing Apparel

40 Tim MOUZEKIARI SA 3 1.23 3 1.23 Hobie Fishing Apparel

41 Brad TURNER QLD 3 1.19 3 1.19 Hobie Fishing Apparel

42 Scott SANDILANDS QLD 1 0.93 1 0.93 Hobie Fishing Apparel $250 Boss Hog (D2- 0.93kg)

43 Raymond STORK QLD 2 0.8 2 0.8 Hobie Fishing Jersey

44 Roberta PEARCE NSW 2 0.8 2 0.8 Hobie Fishing Jersey

45 Ben HARRISON SA 1 0.59 1 0.59 Hobie Fishing Jersey

46 Brian RUTLEDGE NSW 1 0.45 1 0.45 Hobie Fishing Jersey

47 Liam SULSKIS SA 1 0.38 1 0.38 Ecogear AQUA Soft Plastic

48 David MAGNER Qld Ecogear AQUA Soft Plastic

49 Patrick CURRAN ACT Ecogear AQUA Soft Plastic

Not long back from dinner out - I was too tired to cook any!! Not so much wind today, which was nice, but still a tough day fishing. I am glad to report that I finally managed to find 2 of the pesky little rascals & they managed to stay alive in the live well (with the use of an aerator that I brought along 'just in case') as the live well came to a sudden stop during my quest to find No 3!!!

My topwater didn't fire at all today and too much weed to use diving lures, so I resorted to Gulp Shrimp in ...... you guessed it ...... banana!!! Yep, it really does work! Shame I dropped a couple of fish as I got them at the same spot & reckon that I would go there again for any other Forster comp!! I started in the Paddock & I couldn't raise a bite, so headed along the sheds & leases, peppering poles, jetties & walls with casts. All previous round winners were in yellow yaks & I had seen a few hanging round there, & in hindsight, should have stuck it out!

I was just SO pleased to get the 2 fish today, so didn't donut! YAAAY!!! Got 800g for the 2 & came in 44th out of 49!! So I wasn't last either!! I was given a nice Hobie fishing shirt (as well as the one we were given to compete in!) Still very tough fishing. A lot of lures had been tossed to most of the fish, & it was difficult to find a spot that hadn't been fished, unless you went to the Keys or half way to Nabiac!! Dan Brown (the winner & current ABT competitor) stayed in 'the paddock' the whole time & got terrific bags! He will now be competing in the Hobie AFC team next year! Max (Dan 'Bubba' Frost's Dad) had originally said to 'do the paddock' as the bream come in from the sea, rest up there eating oysters before going up river to spawn! Caught 2 flatties, a few undersized bream & a MONSTER longtom! Must have weighed 2kg! I was lucky to retrieve my lure!!

I was totally knackered by the time i got back to the marina - only had 2 minutes to spare to get my tag onto the board! All that paddling & & early mornings & lots of fishing had taken its toll on me! I knew it would take me a while to get out of the yak, so I tossed the tag to Keith to put on the board!! You lose 50g weight from your fish for every 10 mins you are late! Wendy was there to meet me as well, so it was terrific to see her there. Her Mum was there too. Lots of friends came up to check out the Weigh Ins including my buddy Steven & family from Scone were also. I really appreciated everyone's support. To be honest, I pretty well felt like hiding yesterday afternoon after failing to catch a fish, but formulated a cunning plan of attack today (along with Jon & Adrian) ....... non of which any of us followed!!! But luckily, it all worked better for me today, even tho I didn't get a full bag. Lots of folk found it really tough today too, so I was not alone! More donuts today than yesterday, too! (but not me!!! ) First Female to weigh in fish at an ABT Bream Kayak Grand Final!!! Bet there will be more in it next year - Michelle (who also competed in Camden Haven) for one & who knows who else??!!

I will put up some pics tomorrow ....... didn't get many of competitors, tho, until prize giving!! Too busy trying to catch fish! Very trying!!!

Cheerio for now ....... now I can get back to more important things, lik ....... Blackie Fishing!!! During Prefish on Fri, I spotted some HUGE blackies in the corner of one of the leases, all 'doing their stuff' under a clump of floating weeds! There were hundreds of them! Not sure if they will take bait tho, with their minds so obviously on other things!

Roberta

Prefish fish - caught on an atomic hardz crank bait.

Heaps of Blackfish 'doing their thing' under the big batch of floating weed-some real monsters down there!

I didn't land any legals & didn't take any pics of the small ones on day one

Prior to the start ..... Adrian in the forground

All the PAs lined up ready to start - nearly $200,000 worth of kayaks there alone + 20,000 freight & other expenditure by Hobie!

Luke weighing in Day 1

Day 2 & finally I am on the board! Caught on the drop off of an oyster covered bank

Another little one

THen a flattie (I hoped it would be a bream!)

And a bigger flattie (Grant's tip to hold them 'upside down' & they don't wriggle!! Good one, Jewhunter!) I truly hoped this one was a bream!

Another legal for the bag - bigger than the first legal, caught off a pole

The obligatory Long Tom - I caught an even bigger one later! No pic tho!

My High Tech adjustment to the pedals, so that I could reach them more easily! Thanks for the suggestion, Sails/Cam!

Local Fisho, Mark Thompson came in a very creditable 8th place!

Waiting to weigh in - Canberra buddy Jon Chen (second from right) all in our Competitor T-shirts

Luke weighing in Day 2 - he was busted off by monsters!

Adrian weighing in Day 2 (also had a wild card.)

Receiving my Prize - another great Hobie shirt

Luke receiving his Shirt

To the winner, goes the spoils - Dan Brown from Taree

Edited May 17, 2010 by Roberta

[iggy]

G`day great read,shame you couldnt find some monsters( apart from long toms) but still a great achievement to make the GF to start with well done.

Iggy

Edited May 16, 2010 by iggy

[slinkymalinky]

Great to hear you got into some fish, Roberta. So many competitors it's amazing the fish didn't get complete lockjaw after the first half an hour

Most importantly it sounds like you really enjoyed yourself. Looking forward to seeing lots of smoked Blackie pics over the next few months.

Well done

Slinky

[james7]

It's an honour to fish in the final, so well done Roberta!

It sounds like it was a tough weekend for most competitors.

Looking forward to seeing some photos.

Cheers

Peter

[Ray R]

Good onya Roberta, you did very well in the comp a real blast just to in it I'll bet. A huge credit to you for spending the time to scribe all the info on the event.

Great work and congrats..

[Luke K]

Hi Roberta,

What a great weekend it was indeed and you have certainly covered it very well. Congratulations on your efforts!

Thankyou for all the great pics too!

It was great opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. It was an awesome event, very well organised and well run too.

Congratulations to all those who competed and especially Daniel, with an emphatic victory.

Thankyou also to all support from fellow raiders.

Regards

Luke

[Jewhunter]

Thanks for the terrific rundown of the comp Roberta!

Some great pics to go with the great read.

It must have been tough in the new yak after fishing for so long in your sport model.

Glad to see you nail some fish. Just to be there & weigh in a couple of fish is a fantastic result.

Well done to Luke also. Shame he got dusted by some big fish.

It sounds like you had a load of fun as always.

Well done!

Cheers,

Grant.

[Hodgey]

Congratulations on reaching the GF, Roberta. When we spoke on the phone the wind was quite apparent, so it was obvious that conditions were going to be tough. From the looks of your photos you accounted for fish on a couple of different lures and techniques, so you were certainly on the right track.

It looks like a great tournament, and the shirts look very smart. What a shame the better models eluded you. If history is any indicator, you'll bag a heap of blue-nosed bruisers this weekend A terrific report as always

Cheers

Ian

[Richard Warren]

Roberta,

Great report and photos as usual. Pity You couldn't find those comp winner bream but it sounds like you had a great time anyway.

Regards

Richard

[arpie]

Thanks guys - it is currently pouring with rain & the temp is down to 14 degrees ........ thank GOD we weren't out in THIS weather!!

Ian - my whole body is sore ...... my hands, from all the bream fin spikes, plus a couple of cuts to the tops of my fingers that I got the day before Prefish ..... every new knot I tied opened them both up (I couldn't wear bandaids as I would have no 'sensitivity' at all!) Then, the knees & hips are sore from the extreme paddling effort (at speed on Sunday pm to get back within the time frame!) I made it with 2 mins to spare!! The back is much better - Keith suggested I wear my 'elastic back support' and that made a huge difference on Sunday, plus the blocks of wood!! Hi Tech, eh?? Yep, I bet next time I get out, they'll throw themselves onto the hook!!! When you rang during Prefish, I could hardly hear you with the rush of wind!! It was up around 35knots & made everything much more difficult! Saturday was the same, wrestling with the big yak, when used to the quick responses of my little Sport. Luckily it backed off on Sunday! Man, I was chucking EVERYTHINHG at them! I only lost the one Sammy, so I guess I just wasn't accurate enough & getting in front of their faces!!

So far, there goes my theory of top water pencils working over winter!! I will continue trying them, tho, as you know that I am, if nothing else, persistant!!!

Grant - I tried the pearl watermelon minnows, bright pink ones too! I think that 2nd fish came in on the watermelon!

....It must have been tough in the new yak after fishing for so long in your sport mode.... I vote that everyone should use a Sport model NEXT year for the GF!!! That'll fix the 'big boys'!! Oh yeah - The GF will be in VIC for the next 2 years - I am picking Marlo, Bemm or Mallacoota!!! Kim & I may just do a little 'fishing trip' from the south coast, down there & back before the Xmas Holidays!! Will stop in at Tuross, of course!!!~

Luke - such bad luck to be dusted by your blue nose monsters!! You had done the drag up as hard as you could & the fish still took enough line to make it to an oyster covered pole & smoke you (on both days!) Bushy used to use a pair of pliers to do the drag up even harder!! Shoot me your email address & I will send you full copies of the pics!

As Luke said, it is an amazing event to be a part of - just a shame that the 'comp nerves' took me over on the Sat, so ecstatic that I brought home the 2 fish on the Sun. Dropped a couple more, but hey! That is fishing.

I would have loved a pic of my body language as I arrived at the finish line on the Sun - both Keith & Wendy took one look at me & said - you must be exhausted!!! I'd been pedalling against the current all the way down the Breck Channel, and then Jon tells me that he upgraded under one of the boats within minutes of the stop time ...... and still managed to land it & to get back within the time frame & he was behind me all the way!!!

I'd kept telling myself that I was just 3 casts away from 3 fish ........ I'd forgotten about the other 1000 in between! Well, at least I have heaps more lures to play with! I'd stocked up pretty well before the event & even pinched one of Jewhunters 'shrimpy' looking things!! I tried it, too, Grant!!! I'll be sending you one of my favourites, in the mail!!

Cheerio for now - I must go down & sort my gear! On Sunday, I just dumped everything (apart from the rods) in bags on the garage floor!! I was too knackered to do anything with it yesterday, so must do it today!

Cheerio for now and once again, many thanks for your terrific support of both Luke & I. Can't wait to fish with him again!! He is the best at flicking those 2" gulp shrimp around on non-existant weight! Now that he knows where the bruisers hang out up here, I reckon he'll be back for some more!!

Roberta

Edited May 18, 2010 by Roberta

[arpie]

Gee!! Gotta be happy to be in the top 1/3 of all anglers that have competed over the 2009/2010 seasons!! I Only did the 1 event this year plus the GF!! Must do more next year!!

Cheers

Roberta

Bream Kayak Series Ranking Points for 2010 (including Grand Final)

The rankings for the BREAM Kayak Series work the same as a BREAM Qualifier. You get 40 points for an event win, 50 for a State Title and a massive 70 points for being the Grand Final Champ. Your best 3 events from season 2009 and best 4 from season 2010 count towards your total score.

Columns are for:

Current Ranking Previous Ranking Angler Name Total Points

1 1 Greg Lewis 266

2 2 Scott Lovig 244

3 3 Gary Cooke 233

4 6 Dave Hedge 229

5 8 Stewart Dunn 220

6 7 Steve Fields 217

7 4 Peter Woods 217

8 5 Scott Baker 213

9 12 Carl Dubois 189

10 9 Brian Rutledge 173

11 11 Scott Sandilands 168

12 10 Jason Meech 164

13 13 Kevin Winchester 162

14 14 Neil Carstairs 148

15 20 Stephen Maas 145

16 15 Derek Steele 143

17 16 Matt Petrie 142

18 29 Jonathon Chen 135

19 23 Jason Reid 131

20 17 Josh De Groot 126

21 18 Ken Raley 117

22 19 Wayne Robinson 117

23 70 Daniel Brown 114

24 22 Michael Maas 114

25 36 Joel Crosbie 112

26 94 Andrew Hillyard 106

27 38 Nicholas Meredith 104

28 30 Gary Beazley 102

29 28 Mal Gray 101

30 21 Kevin Crawford 101

31 41 Tristan Taylor 98

32 49 Craig Coughlan 96

33 55 Chris Burbidge 95

34 39 Martin Fellows 95

35 24 Paul O'Leary 94

36 25 Barry Trapp 93

37 26 Raymond Stork 91

38 27 Trevor Martin 91

39 101 Andrew Krushka 87

40 61 Andrew Death 83

41 31 Darren Borg 81

42 Mark Thompson 80

43 50 Grayson Fong 80

44 111 Jordan Trusty 79

45 32 Josh Holmes 79

46 33 Rob Cooke 78

47 34 Phil Pluis 73

48 76 Wayne Bone 72

49 51 Jason Price 72

50 56 Rowan Stanek 70

51 168 Luke Kay 69

52 35 Brett Green 69

53 37 Chris Lacey 68

54 44 Dave Manger 65

55 40 Chris Martin 63

56 42 Wendy Sandilands 63

57 43 William Keeley 63

58 93 Roberta Pearce 62

59 45 Tracey Mammen 62

60 46 Lynette Parker 61

61 47 Steve Mastrosimini 61

62 48 Pete Bostock 60

63 83 Michelle Carmody 59

64 52 Will Lee 57

65 84 Tony Pettie 56

66 53 Bill Woods 55

67 54 Garrett Hilton 54

68 80 Tim Moszekiari 51

69 57 Russell Babekuhl 51

70 59 Duke Gary Hoffman 50

71 58 Huan Tran 50

72 60 Nigel Webster 50

73 62 Clark Wilson 49

74 139 William Lee 48

75 64 Gavin Smith 48

76 63 Neil May 48

77 81 Brad Turner 47

78 65 Douglas Evans 46

79 66 Terrance Langham 46

80 67 Vince Console 46

81 68 Tameika Purnell 45

82 69 Brett Ozanne 44

83 71 Carey Smith 43

84 72 David Doherty 43

85 73 Justin McKinnon 43

86 74 Lee Evans 43

87 75 Stuart Whitehouse 43

88 78 Patrick Curran 42

89 Adrian RYAN 41

90 77 David Tindale 41

91 86 Ben Harrison 40

92 79 Josh Carpenter 40

93 124 Simon Hill 38

94 82 David Varney 37

95 95 Liam Suiskis 35

96 121 Scott Carmody 35

97 85 Terry Grima 35

98 87 Ben Hough 34

99 88 Ray Worley 34

100 133 Ben Thompson 33

101 90 Mick Lee 33

102 91 Mitch Flavell 33

103 92 Thomas Laszio 33

104 140 Dave Jones 31

105 96 Robert Greetham 31

106 97 Jayson Clarke 30

107 98 John Van Vliet 29

108 100 Andrew Battersby 28

109 102 Craig Grech 28

110 103 Mark Fox 28

111 99 Scott Brownlees 28

112 104 Glenn Chester 26

113 105 Michael Passau 26

114 203 Chris Hunt 25

115 106 Colin Peasey 24

116 107 Dave Gleeson 24

117 108 Greg Woods 24

118 109 Jake Underwood 24

119 110 Jarrod Murfett 24

120 112 Alan Durkin 23

121 113 Chris Byrne 23

122 114 Matthew Kris 23

123 115 Matthew Sherriff 23

124 116 Richard Creighton 23

125 117 Gary Bateman 22

126 118 Greg Cowie 22

127 119 Kieran Smith 22

128 120 Peter Woolgar 22

129 122 Scott McIntosh 22

130 123 Scott Smith 22

131 125 Stephanie Shaw 22

132 126 David Gwillm 21

133 127 Georgia Hoffman 21

134 128 Leigh Purbie 21

135 129 Mark Triston 21

136 Robert Simpson 21

137 130 Sam Beavis 21

138 131 Tarren Jeffreys 21

139 134 David Green 20

140 132 Jason Wong 20

141 135 Rob Walter 20

142 136 Robert Highet 20

143 137 Chad Aumann 19

144 138 Richard Somerton 19

145 Steve McCormack 19

146 141 Brad Reid 18

147 142 John Clisby 18

148 144 Danny Allen 17

149 145 Evan Hulme 17

150 143 Jeff Mcdonald 17

151 146 Kelvin Huang 17

152 147 Mark Whitehead 17

153 148 Matt Lawless 17

154 149 Matt Tay 17

155 150 Rob Taylor 17

156 151 Steve Bayly 17

157 152 Todd Young 16

158 153 Craig Vertigan 15

159 155 Alex White 14

160 156 Danni Suttil 14

161 157 Kane Lewis 14

162 154 Tom Taylor 14

163 158 Wayne Dunkley 14

164 159 Alan Cummins 13

165 160 Alan Parkinson 13

166 161 Bill Folino 13

167 162 Cameron Smith 13

168 163 Darren Ryan 13

169 164 David Brown 13

170 165 Gavin Joyce 13

171 166 Graeme Taylor 13

172 167 Les Simmonds 13

173 169 Marcel Chaloupka 13

174 170 Paul Blenkin 13

175 171 Roger Thornton 13

176 172 Ross Corner 13

177 174 Daniel Holder 12

178 175 Philip Self 12

179 173 Tim Golby 12

180 176 Damien Nayna 11

181 177 David Christensn 11

182 178 Dustin Gartung 11

183 179 Geoffrey Schulties 11

184 180 Glenn Hayter 11

185 181 Joe Pietraszkiewicz 11

186 182 John Ticehurst 11

187 183 Justin Pitt 11

188 184 Lindsay Hadfield 11

189 185 Martin Bibel 11

190 186 Michael Sullivan 11

191 187 Paul Ricketts 11

192 188 Peter Christensen 11

193 189 Warwick Medwin 11

194 190 Eric Wood 10

195 191 Matthew Davern 10

196 192 Josh Coates 9

197 194 Bruce Flavel 7

198 195 Glenn Hamilton 7

199 193 Guy Curtis 7

200 196 Mark Underwood 7

201 197 Patrick Morgan 7

202 198 Paul Matthews 7

203 199 Roger Stevens 7

204 200 Steve Riding 7

205 201 Tom Laszlo 7

206 202 Peter Ritchie 6

207 204 David Bird 5

208 205 Robert Liebelt 4

209 206 Scott Edwards 4

210 207 Phil Smallman 2

211 208 Robert Maya 1

[bassboy888]

Well done roberta, can't wait to hear about next years results.

The weather was a bit unfortunate though, but you still got fish, that's always a plus.

[tide'n'knots]

well done roberta at least you got a couple and didnt score a donut!

and congatulations to keith also

pete.

[quaddy]

Good on ya Roberta. Thanks for taking the time and writing up a report. Found it very interesting (and exciting).

A great achievement

TJB

[andrew@walkerjohnstone.net]

Well done Roberta, reading your posts always make me want to give Yak fishing a go...

Great rundown on the comp.

[snag]

Nice report reberta, also nice pic of you in this mths fishing monthly aswell.