THE final Queensland stop of the 2012 Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Kayak Series delivered anglers a challenging bite, yet substantial rewards at Bribie Island with Grand Final and Hobie Worlds berths on offer.
With Victoria, NSW and Queensland anglers represented at the event it was in-form south east Queensland breamer Stephen Maas who claimed the Queensland State Title crown, with the kayak bream ace compiling a 4/6, 2.06kg bag to secure the win.
Keeping it in the family was event runner-up Timothy Maas who put together a 5/6, 1.88kg bag over the two days of competition to claim a podium finish and a berth in the Daiwa-Hobie BREAM GF and Hobie Worlds.
For event winner Stephen Maas it was a victory built on no pre-fish the day before the tournament but instead waterway experience he’d accrued at a previous event at Bribie.
“I caught some fish in some canals in an event a couple of months earlier so I went straight there in the hope that the fish would still be there”, explained Maas.
Crankbaiting the concrete retaining walls first up Maas had little to show for the first half hour and was beginning to question his location and technique.
“I was twitching, pausing and slow rolling a 35mm deep Cranka and didn’t even get the slightest touch, so I stowed the hardbody away and swapped to a soft plastic,” explained Maas.
“I focused on three main areas of the pontoon, the posts at either end, and right in the middle”, he said.
Maas didn’t have too wait long for his change in approach to impress with the second pontoon that he hit with his soft plastic approach delivering him his first fish of the day. The second fish was quick to followed, and proved the standout for the day. Weighing 1.00kg it proved to be the kicker fish in Maas’ day one bag and ultimately claimed the Hogs Breath Boss Hog for the tournament. His third fish quickly followed, delivering Maas his limit by 8am.
For event runner-up Timothy Maas it was a dream start to his ABT tournament career with the Brisbane breamer finishing second, and qualifying for the Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Kayak Grand Final and Hobie Worlds in his very first ABT event.
Complete winner’s list available at: www.hobiefishing.com.au