ROUND Five of the 2011 Berkley Evinrude Team Series (BETS) took place on picturesque St Georges Basin on the NSW south coast.
Pre-fish talk had suggested a hard bite, and with only two events left to secure precious points towards a BETS Grand Final berth all teams needed a good result.
The faces that returned to the weigh-in, however, generally looked bright and whilst some teams had struggled, a good range of bags were weighed in. With the 3.5 – 3.7kg mark becoming increasingly crowded it quickly became apparent that a bag of over 4kg was going to be needed for a clear lead. Just such a bag was achieved by Team Pflueger – Mitch Birt and partner Mark Huisken – who cracked the 4kg barrier with a 4.03kg bag.
Birt and Huisken approached the nippy morning by first targeting a deep water bite. Finding water between 10 and 20 feet deep saw fish quickly accumulated and the basis for a good bag was established before the bite totally died off around 10am.
The boys had predominantly scored using Gulp 2 inch Shrimp in Camo or Pepper Prawn, with stinger hooks utilised to ensure a decent hook up.
The 4.03kg bar was not to be rattled leaving a delighted Team Pflueger to revel in their win, the 100 points going a long way to secure a BETS Grand Final berth and of course the $3000 and Engel Prize pack prize.
In the follow up places local boys Wal Balzan and Guy Jamieson of Team Shimano/Bream Nazi put their knowledge to good use and secured second place with a 3.76kg bag using a blade approach in deeper water. Backing themselves for a good result the days fishing reaped the team $2000 and a $480 Mako Eyewear package.
Just pipped to second place were BETS regulars Warwick and Eric Cregan of Rotech Australia with an agonisingly close 3.75kg. So tight was the leader board during the weigh-in Eric could not take his eyes off the results screen and even though they just fell short, $1500 and $300 in Tacklepower vouchers made the drive home a little easier.
The Evinrude Big Bream was weighed in by Luke Cowan and Ben Bray of Browan Boyz with a 1.19kg model. Courtesy of major sponsor Evinrude the Boyz get a chance to go around again at Lake Macquarie on June 26 with their entry fully paid.
Watch the video wrap (below) as Mark “Mango” Mangold talks to the winners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRgjwWGqIg8
