ROUND 5 of the Squidgie Southern Bream Series was held on Sunday, 27th May, 2012 after gale force wind warnings cancelled the day one of this round on Saturday.
76 boating teams and 46 kayak teams hit the water bright and early on Sunday in windy and cold conditions. With three boating ABT Classic Grand Final invitations and four Daiwa-Hobie Kayak grand final invitations on offer everyone was keen to get amongst the big Mallacoota bream – regardless of the cold!
Big bags were plentiful with a bag of 5kgs or over needed to secure a top nine finish in the boating section. Team Ecogear from NSW, Simon Pender and Scott McGrath, finished in first place with a very nice 5/5 5.875kg bag, securing them the winners’ cheque of $4500, Mako Eyewear packs, Ecogear pack and a grand final entry to this years ABT Classic Grand Final. Second place was secured by The Old Boys, Brian Pelle and Jim Blazewski, with a 5/5 5.420kg bag. Finishing in third place were last year’s Mallacoota winners, Smith Barflies, Mark Hayes and Jesse Rotin, with a 5/5 5.335kg bag. The Damiki Big Bream in the boating section was a Mallacoota monster caught by Team Simrad Evinrude (Ross Cannizzaro and Alan Loftus), tipping the scales at 1.700kg
Joel Grosbie of team Rod Bending secured first place in the kayak section with a beautiful full 3/3 bag weighing 3.02kgs. Joel walked away with the $1400 winner’s cheque, Shimano Rod and Reel and Ecogear Pack. Second place went to Bay and Basin Sportfishing’s Darryl Head, with another full 3/3 2.915kg bag. Rounding out the podium was Neil Carstairs, team Scott Lovig Hobie, with another full 3/3 bag weighing in at 2.815kg. Jason Childs secured the Basin Lure and Fly Anglers Big Bream in the kayak section with another Mallacoota monster, this one weighing 1.325kg.
Batemans Bay entrant Tony Burke and a typical average sized ‘coota bream.
Next round sees the series head to Sydney Harbour on Sunday, 8th July, for full details and entry forms visit www.ssbs.basinlureandfly.org.au