THE 2013 Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Kayak Series kicked off in grand style as 44 eager anglers hit the water for the opening round of the series on Victoria’s Glenelg River.
Picking up where he left off was 2012 Kayak Angler of the Year Richard Somerton with the Victorian Commercial Diver compiling a 6/6, 3.415kg limit to claim the event win. Turning his second place from last year’s Glenelg event into an event win this year Somerton tried to repeat his hot pattern from last year but soon found that lightning doesn’t strike twice.
He went on to produce five legal fish on day one, including two upgrades, and three legal fish on day two. “It was hard work to stay focused and not get frustrated with how slow you had to work the lure and how tough the bite was”, explained Somerton. With victory in the first event of the 2013 series Somerton is continuing his hot from last year. If the pattern continues Somerton will be on track to successfully defend his AOY crown.
Joining Somerton on the winner’s podium for the second year in a row was Victorian kayaker Chris Burbidge who compiled a 6/6, 3.095kg limit to start the year in good form, and secure a berth in the Grand Final and one of the two invites to this year’s Hobie Worlds. Fishing the areas and techniques that had produced for him in the past, including last year’s win, Burbidge focused most of his attention on the rocky edges and drop offs at Simpsons Landing and Taylors Straight and worked them with a combination of Cranka Vibes and Atomic Cranks.”I worked the drop offs and undercut banks paying attention to fish slow and fish thoroughly”, explained Burbidge.
The Hogs Breath Boss Hog for the event broke the magic one kilo mark with Bruce Waterson winning the $100 prize with his 1.715kg fish caught on day one. Caught near the mouth of the river Waterson caught it on an Atomic Bream Shad in a 1.3 metre deep hole sandwiched between two stand bars.
“I threw the Bream Shad in then worked it with a series of small twitches, pauses and the occasional roll. It was on the pause that it hit the lure”, explained Waterson.
The standout fish of the tournament not only added $100 to Waterson’s winnings but also delivered him a $500 Atomic Bonus for the biggest fish caught on an Atomic lure.
Attention now turns to the next event at Victoria’s Bemm River. One of the more popular stops on the tour this event should see a big field and big fish return to the scene of last year’s Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Kayak Grand Final.
More details at: http://www.hobiefishing.com.au/content/2013-daiwa-hobie-kayak-bream-series-r-1
