Download Calendar
Aaron Williams
I had a dream
Since I was a little kid
of catching a 1.5kg bream
And finally at Marlo, I did
Happy to be joining a great team of anglers at my second Australian Championships. Bemm is one of my favourite fisheries so it should be a good few day’s.
One hundred and fifty words is definitely way too many for something like this. I think the poem my amazing wife wrote had too many words in it. But now I’m just desperately trying to meet the word quota.
Adriano Tosolini
39 years old, Sydney born, resides in Collaroy in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Representing The Life Aquatic Hobie dealership in Mona Vale.
First introduction to fishing was chasing rock blackfish as a kid with my dad on the rock platforms of Port Jackson.
Worked as a chef in my late teenage years in some of Sydney’s finest restaurants and fishing definitely took a back seat to my career.
Luckily the bug returned a few years later and that’s when I purchased my first paddle kayak, many hours were spent chasing Bass with my cousin Gianni in any bit of likely water we could find.
The bream bug probably hit me late 2016 and I haven’t looked back since. The challenges they provide on any given day and their aggressive reactions to artificial baits is something I don’t think I will ever tire of.
January 2017 was when I purchased my first Hobie kayak and still own it to this day. My first Hobie competition was Series 9, Round 3 in 2018
Andrew Hancox
Shorty Hancox I have been fishing hobie comps for the past 3 years, In this time I have made the 2018 Australian championship at foster and represented Australia at the 2018 world’s on the gold coast, was also invited to fish the china open .. I love fishing hobie comps and meeting new friends and getting away fish new and old waterway that u wouldn’t normally fish. I have meet some get new friends for all over the world and that wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t hobie comps fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish fish
Brendan Pieschel
Residing in Harrington, NSW. I spend a lot of my time fishing the Manning River, targeting mainly Yellow fin Bream in the estuary or Australian Bass in the upper (fresh) reaches of the Manning. A keen Angler my whole life, I began tournament fishing with Hobie in 2016. My first round at Forster was a really awesome and grounding experience, although I didn’t get many fish I learnt a lot, met some great people and knew that this was something I was going to stick with. Qualifying for my third consecutive Championship I’m really looking forward to getting to the Bemm River 2020. I’ve enjoyed Hobie’s previous rounds at Bemm and have had reasonable results there. The Championship format is my favourite tournament and as I’ve had reasonably good results at Bemm previously, I’ll be going into the Championship with some confidence. I have owned many Hobie Kayaks, with quite a few at home to suit my fishing and lifestyle, including a Revo 11 and an inflatable; however, my Tournament rig at the moment is a 2019 MD180 outback, which I obtained from the 2019 Championships. I’d like to thank my sponsors at Hunter Waters Sports and for the continued support of my local tackle stores, Manning River Marine and Harrington Bait and Tackle. At present my go to fishing gear is my Samurai Infinite rods coupled with Diawa Certate reels, running a combination of Diawa J Braid and FC Rock fluorocarbon leader. My favourite styles are fishing are chasing Bream in the oyster leases with either surface lures or plastics and Bass on surface lures in the skinny water. My favourite lures are Zman 2.5 inch (Motor oil) grubs, Cranka Crabs and Atomic Crank baits.
Its going to be a great Championship with some exceptional Anglers taking part. Good luck to all of the competitors.
Brett Crowe
I am just a old bloke having a crack, thanks to the Hobie Bream Series I have been able to improve my angling ability to catch these pesky fish. I use the Hobie Australian Championship qualification as my yearly goal. The traveling to great tournament arena’s up and down the east coast of Australia from my home in Huskisson camping out with good mates just makes this my past time of choice. Of course there are times when you don’t do so well and that is hard to take but there is also next round. I fished 2018 Hobie Australian Championship with a top 10 qualification and I fished the 2016 Hobie World’s at the Netherlands. It is very difficult to talk about yourself when you don’t like talking about yourself for 300 words and I have well and truly run out of things to say, so as any good angler would do I will talk about the one that got away, for me the most disappointing lost fish would be not so much a fish but a whole tournament where I double donuted on my home water of St George’s Basin in the last round. I didn’t prefish the Friday I left that to the people who live a long way from here. I did have a look around prior to the prefish ban and got a 2.7kg bag and thought that would do me, unfortunately on the first day I couldn’t get anything on my spot. Day 2 being the pig headed person I am I stuck with the same plan as day one, shallow hardbodies not deeper than 1 metre and failed again. I have a love hate relationship with ‘the basin’ sadly Moree hate than love, maybe I should fish it more, anyway that’s my word limit.
Brian Hunt
Brian Hunt from Cronulla beach Sydney NSW. Grown up around fishing & started lure fishing for bream 13 years ago & been a Hobie kayak angler for 11years now. I’ve been doing the Hobie Kayak Bream Series for 5 years.
I love targeting all fish in the Estuary but my all time favourite is the mighty Mulloway. Love fishing fishing fish fish f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f
Byron Hill
Byron would like to start by thanking his two biggest supporters – Wife, Maddy and Son, Peter. They both pick up the slack when I am out doing what I love – Fishing.
Byron has been fishing the series since 2015 and has really enjoyed the friendships and opportunities the series has provided. He is part of the Hunter Water Sports Team and whilst fishing competitions can be solo event; you will often find him having a good laugh with fellow competitors. Byron enjoys producing VLOGs to promote the sport and encourage new fishos to give it a go. If you ever have questions about competing in the Hobie Bream Series, he is always available.
This is Byrons fourth invitation to the Australian championships, he recently attended the China Open Invitational where he came 5th – A big accomplishment for him.
Byron finished 17th in AOY in 2019 – this was a disappointing result for him, but he is pumped on what 2020 and has his eyes set on Worlds 10.
Byron both supports and is supported HWS and Hobie Fishing/Hobie Polarized/Power-pole.
Carl Dubois
Carl has been fishing since he was 4 years old (that makes it 52 years fishing so far) and is a seasoned tournament competitor with over twelve years experience in Hobie kayaks. You’d think he would’ve learnt something by now. He lives near the George’s River just south of Sydney and fishes with lures to catch Bream, Bass, Kingfish, Tailor and Flathead. Not Bonito though.
Carl has fished nearly all the various kayak tournaments since they started in Australia and has managed 6 wins and 12 top 3 placings over the last 8 years and was Hobie Angler of the Year in 2016. YES!
Carl was the creator of one of Australia’s first ever kayak fishing DVD’s, ‘Kayak Fishing Sydney’. He has also written numerous articles published in International and Australian magazines such as ‘Kayak Fisherman’ and ‘Sport Fishing Australia’. Carl creates videos for YouTube and has his own channel, ‘Carl Dubois Fishing’.
The highlight of Carls kayak tournament career was being selected as part of the 11-man squad of the Australian Hobie Kayak Fishing team to represent Australia in the China Kayak Open Fishing Championship at Shengzhong Lake in 2014. Placing 3rd and collecting his trophy and prizes in front of 10,000+ spectators is something he will never forget. In 2015 he once again placed 3rd and in 2017 he placed 8th. This year, Carl aimed for the number 1 spot but felt it better to sacrifice himself to allow other team members to shine!
Recently Carl has been shadowed by a long lost relative, McItchy. He is quickly learning the ropes and is expected to be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. Although not qualified for this AC, he’s expected to make an appearance which will surely make a few anglers, especially that Mitch bloke from Texas, shake in their boots. There is also a strong rumour that McItchy’s cousin, McChoker, will turn up too…
ps Little does Mark Young know that his own son sold him out and gave the luckiest rock to Carl. Mwah ha ha ha
Chris Miller
Chenny stole my intro so I really don’t know how to start ill keep it as short and sweet as possible. Crafty here this was my first season competing in the Hobie series I ended up attending 9 events in 5 states travelling as far as w.a and was very humbled to receive an invite especially after my double donut at marlo in the last round.i ended with a 15th place fishinh which im pumped about . I will be giving it a red hot crack and leaving nothing it the tank . I have been artificial bream fishing for near on 3 years and absolutely love the challenge . its an amazing comp but the relationships you make are just as good as the fishing. practicing sustainable catch and release fishing is paramount in my eyes as our future fishing for generations to come is a massive priority of mine . good luck to everyone competing and fishon and go with the flow yewwwwwww yipppppah ;)
Corey Gallagher
Corey is 42 year old based on the Victorian Surf Coast, spending his weekends chasing estuary and freshwater species in the numerous bays, lakes and rivers throughout Victoria. From targetting Spring time Snapper in Port Phillip Bay on plastics to Winter trout on hard-bodied lures in the crater lakes in southwest Victoria Corey loves to mix it up. Bream, however, have always taken up the majority of Corey’s time on the water. He loves the challenge of decoding the bite on any given day and the challenge that a wary big Victorian Southern Black Bream presents. In recent years Corey has attended more interstate tournaments and thoroughly enjoys the impressive pulling power of yellow fin bream and the challenge it presents.
Corey fishes out of a 2019 Hobie Outback using a combination of Miller and Daiwa Rods and Daiwa and Shimano reels. Corey has been involved in the Hobie Kayak Bream series for the last five seasons growing into an accomplished and consistent angler.
Corey has had a consistent 2019 season regularly placing in the top ten, qualifying for the Australian Championship by placing third at the St Georges Basin round, a venue he had previously never fished. Corey is best known for his remarkable victory in the 2017 China Open.
Bemm River is a favourite venue of Corey’s, he regularly fishes there over the warmer months. Black bream on surface lures and along shallow flats is his preferred way to fish.
Corey has been a regular at the Australian Championship attending three of the last four years however he has yet to finish inside the top ten with his best finish being 15th at Lake Macquarie in 2015. Fishing in his homes state at this year Australian Championships leaves Corey is in a great position to finally crack the top ten.
Cullen Di Mattina
Cullen’s 2019 series would not have been possible without the help of his sponsors. Hunter Water Sports, Hobie Fishing, Hobie Polarised, PowerPole and Spida Sports. Their efforts have made his 2019 series as successful as possible. Not to mention the work Hobie puts into running such high-level events.
Having just turned 17, Cullen has only been on the Hobie scene for one year. He is constantly striving to learn and better himself as an angler in order to further him in his goal of one day becoming Angler of the Year.
Fishing has been a part of Cullen’s life from an early age and this is reflected in his early results. Being a young angler Cullen hopes to grow the sport and make it more accessible for more people to get involved.
Cullen has established his name as the young gun of the Hobie scene and has proven his knowledge is well beyond his age. Cullen has big goals for his future in fishing and his first goal is to become the Angler of the year.
Cullen has had a consistent 2019 series and has managed a number of top ten finishes. He managed to qualify at the Nelson round this year taking out the win. Being his second Australian Championships, he hopes to better last year’s result of 11th place and get into the top ten.
Gear:
It is well known that Cullen loves to use gulp crabbies and nemesis in the camo colour. These two plastics have brought in multiple results for him and continue to catch fish.
Cullen fishes with all daiwa rods and reels and his current favorite is the daiwa commander snowfinch.
Cullen is very excited to have afforded the opportunity to compete against the best at the 2019 Australian Championships.
Special thanks to Hobie for running such an amazing series, the countless hours and effort you guys put into the series is admirable.
Dale Baxter
Dale is a Melbourne based angler who loves chasing bream on lures. He is a 45yr old Family man and a regular competitor on the Hobie bream circuit since his first event in 2012 at Marlo in Victoria. Dale loves the challenge that bream and the Hobie tournament series offer, the fantastic destinations that the series can take you to and the like minded people you meet. The Hobie series has attracted some of Australia’s best anglers and he enjoys the challenge of competition and learning from these people.
You will find him most weeks out honing his skills on the local Melbourne bream population on one his #thusrdale missions, where he regularly fishes the Maribyrnong River, Yarra River, Docklands and Williamstown yacht club as he tussles with some of Melbourne’s biggest bream. He is on the search for the elusive Melbourne 50cm. One of his favourite techniques is pitching Cranka Crabs on light line at pontoons and bridges that litter his favourite waterway the Maribyrnong River.
His Hobie of choice is a 2019 PA14 180 in Camo colour, and has had 4 different pro anglers since 2012. “one of the best innovation for fishing structure is the 180 Mirage drive, it has helped me catch more fish”. The current one is his favourite for sure. Dale has been associated with Hobie and Daiwa Australia for some time and can usually be found helping the Hobie team on the Camera for Hobie Media at most events. Current tackle is a mix of Daiwa rods and reels, however has been running a Daiwa Infeet family for the past year and loving them as they are a fantastic rod for treble lures.
Dale had a great start to the 2019 season with an 8th, 3rd, and 13th that was until the dreaded double donut at the Basin which kicked his butt. This is only the second Australian championship he has qualified for the other being all the way back in 2012, which was also at Bemm River. “Bemm River is an area i love to hate, i’ve has some great results and some not so great, The system will fish really well in January so am looking forward the challenge of a 3 day event on this arena. With about half of the normal field there will be plenty of fish caught and the top of the leaderboard will be tight for sure.”
Dale loves talking tackle, so if you have any Hobie or Daiwa related questions, hit him up at event or send him a message with what you want to know and I’m sure he’ll give you the right answer.
Darren Weda
A self confessed fishing addict, happily targeting any species that will eat a lure in the salt or fresh, not just bream.
Bream are definitely one of my favourite lure fishing targets though. They present plenty of challenges throughout the year, and will test any angler out on certain days, having this uncanny ability to change feeding habits from day to day.
I’ve been chasing bream on lures for around 15 years now, and am still learning stuff every time I go out and fish for them. They genuinely are a great light tackle sports fish and an interesting species.
I combine my passion for fishing with my love of photography and videography, and create short form videos of our fishing trips, adventures and tackle.
Located in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne my local bream waterways are the yarra and Maribyrnong rivers, but Gippsland is my preferred destination to go to when chasing bream, so many great systems that all offer different scenery, fishing styles and challenges.
Feel free to check out any of our fishing content on www.indepthangler.com.au and we also have channels on Instagram, YouTube and of course Facebook.
At the moment some of my favourite bream Rods would have to be Daiwa’s infeet 7’2” ULFS, the Daiwa commander 6’10” ULFS and one of the Daiwa ULFS TD black offerings.
I have these paired with Daiwa LT Caldia 2004, LT sol III 2000 and a Gekkabijin air 2004. All spooled with 6 or 8 pound J-braid grand.
Some of my favourite bream lures to use in Victoria are, Daiwa double clutches, Daiwa spikes, ecogear sx40’s, Smith jades, Zman grubs and slimswims, OSP bent minnows, cranka crabs and jackall chubby’s.
My kayak of choice is a 2018 hobie outback from Action Water Sports in Geelong, this kayak gets me into so many great locations fresh and salt.
David Shanahan
Born in Orbost and grew up in the Orbost/Marlo area with a passion for fishing with dad Tom Shanahan and local legend, in his own mind, Allan Allan Allan Lavell. Now living in Yinnar (a 3.5hr hour drive from Bemm River) with very understanding and patient wife Lynley letting me fish all around Australia in the Hobie bream series and Vic bream comps.
Started fishing with lures about 7 years ago after watching Romeo Prezioso consistently catching bigger bream on lures in an annual work fishing comp at Marlo.
I love fishing out of the hobie kayaks, getting to places I never thought fishable and enjoy the added challenge of trying to catch fish against the clock with like minded people.
This year has ticked two top items off my bucket list, namely representing Australia in the Hobie Worlds and getting an opportunity to compete in the China open, with the latter being an extra special experience by taking out the win.
With such a great year I must pass on a big thanks to the Hobie organisation for the opportunities given to me and the Australian team mates before and during the comps. With respect to the China Open I would personally like to thank Carl Dubois and Matt Pettie for their effort in organising the event and finally the much deserved 2019 AOY champ, Simon Morley for all the tips, finding fish and letting me catch (or poach) enough fish to take out my first win.
Francis Di Mattina
After just two years fishing on the Hobie circuit, Francis, a member of the Hunter Water Sports team, is thrilled to have received an invitation to the Australian Championship. The support from James Kilpatrick, and the camaraderie within the Hunter Water Sports team, have been a highlight over the last two years.
His passion for fishing is a lifelong one, having taken up the sport in his childhood. For him the opportunity to fish the circuit goes beyond fulfilling a passion, it provides him with the opportunity to spend quality time with his son, whom has inherited his fierce passion for fishing. A friendly familial rivalry has ensued which is sure to come to a head when they meet at the first Australian Championship where they are both competing; only time will tell who will come out victorious.
The Hobie series has afforded Francis with an array of opportunities. His travels up and down the east coast to competitions has allowed for the exploration and discovery of parts of the country he would otherwise have not visited. Weekend trips to small towns are a welcome escape from his inner-city home. Again, the wonderful people he has met through the Hobie series are a highlight of all comps. The series brings together like-minded people from all walks of life and has allowed Francis to develop strong friendships with other competitors from all over the country.
Francis uses a diverse range of equipment which he tailors to the geography of the location he is fishing. Some of this equipment which contributed to success this season include: Ecogear VX and ZX Blades, Gulp crabbies, Gulp nemesis, Prolure S36 Cranks, Diawa Grand J Braid, Yamatoyo Chinu Harris Leader, Diawa TD Zero, and Diawa Caldia among others.
Francis is thrilled to be making the trip down to Bemm River for his first Australian Championship!
Fred Fraser
My name is Fred Fraser, I’m a father of two from Bridgetown a small town on the banks of the Blackwood river in the lower south west of Western Australia.
I found a love for fishing at an early age. I mostly grew up fishing small creeks and dams for Trout and Redfin. Basically, if it had water in it, I would try my hand at catching a fish. In 2015 I bought my first boat and thought I would give something new a try. Sometimes it’s a challenge to get the water time with being FIFO worker and having a young family but my wife is supportive and my son loves fishing almost as much as I do. So, I try to get on the water at least once while I’m on break. I knew nothing about tournament fishing until 2017 when I started competing in the local WA bream competitions. From there I got my first Hobie kayak a PA12 and shortly after had the opportunity to buy one of the Mandurah 2017 grand final kayak PA14’s, and I haven’t looked back. In 2018 my team received a wild card to the WA Bream Classics Boat grand final on the Blackwood River that we went on to win. This encouraged me to enter a few more competitions and try some different techniques. In 2019 I managed to place third in the Hobie Kayak Bream Series also held on the Blackwood River, one of my favorite places to catch bream. It has plenty of snags and places for the fish to hide. I love the challenge. I enjoy competitiveness but most of all I love to learn. These comps are a great way to learn and enhance your skill set from a knowledgeable group of anglers. I hope to spend many more years on the water. Teach my son everything I know and maybe he might teach me a thing or two as well.
Gary Hanson
I have been fishing for over 50 years. But only fishing the Hobie comps for 5 years.
Can only urge anyone that is apprehensive about entering these comps don’t be just have a go.
You will meet a great bunch of like minded guys and girls.
In doing so you will also have the opportunity to fish some great locations that you may have not had the opportunity or even thought about fishing.
So have a go.
Glenn Allen
Glenn Allen is a born and bred local Central Coast fisho. He started out as a little tadpole and then a young little fella fishing on family holidays before hitting anything that swims with fins while he moved up the ranks earning his stripes on the local rocks as a young gun angler that could throw a lure all fly with super speed and precision and turn lookers into takers . He is now getting old and fishers for Bream in a Hobie kayak and is renowned for coming up and pulling Keggers from under peoples noses that had been sitting on a spot all day and breaking hearts. With consistent results he has fished six international events and six Australia championships. Who would of thought he still hasn’t won a Hobie kayak round yet .. anyway that’s a different story. Over the years he has been lucky enough to travel Australia and the world meeting new friends while doing what he loves . He says he would love to thank all the people who have supported him over the years especially his family and friends. He was also very tied after his profile late at night and happened to full asleep … z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z Z z z z z ZZ Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z :)
Grant Hocking
I am a 55 year old Electrician from Warrnambool Victoria.
I began fishing when I was about 11yo with my Dad for bream and Mulloway in the Hopkins and Glenelg Rivers.
I have been fishing the Hobie Kayak Bream Series for approx 7yrs.
My best result so far was the Marlo round in December 2019 with a 4kg bag and 5th place which qualified me for the 2020 Grand Final at Bemm River.
By far my favourite type of Bream fishing is with hardbody lures.
It’s challenging trying to catch bream on lures , extra challenging when your fishing against he best anglers in Australia, I just have to make the right discussions on the water, my theory is someone always catches them , I hope that someone is me ,
I’m looking forward to the Grand Final as it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity so I’m not going to waste the chance.
Greg Cooper
From Margaret River Wine Region of WA
who has been lucky enough to qualify for the Australian Championships !
This will be my third .
In 2016 I entered my first KAYAK event ;it was a Hobie qualifying round on my local Blackwood river ,I didn’t have one of those flash Hobies only small paddle Malabu , I had never bream fished out of this kayak before and found it very challenging with all the additional weight of the live well didn’t sit too well in the water .i have since upgraded my Kayak and enter as many Events as possible .
My most rewarding event was winning my first Hobie Qualifier in 2016 .
My most disappointing without a doubt was a “Tripple Donnut “ In the 2017 Australian Championships , Mandurah WA .
I have qualified for the Australian championships in 2016,17,19 .
Although my past results weren’t that impressive I am really looking forward to the Bemm River event ,
I would also like to thank Hobbie and Getaway Outdoors here in WA for providing professionally run local events Cheers
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Ian Abercromby
I started fishing competitions in Wester nAustralia a number of years ago with the support of the crew from Getaway Outdoors Kelmscott.
I have had a fantastic time however I have often struggled to catch initially any fish then sifting through for the big one. There have been many days with the dreaded doughnut. This year I finally managed to catch some fish to take to the weigh in.
I found some bigger fish even managing to take out Big Bream in one of the local West Australian rounds. I enjoy travelling around the state to different locations to fish.
I couldn’t believe it when I received the call that I was going to be offered the opportunity to fish in the Australian Championship. I am so excited to have the opportunity to travel East and fish at Bemm. I am looking forward to learning from the experience and hope to catch fish to weigh in each day.
Jack Gammie
My only goal is to beat Simon Morley and Mitchell Maddison!!
I’m 21 years young. I come from a suburb of Sydney called Berowra Heights and I’m lucky enough to be out fishing for yellow fin bream on the Hawkesbury River every weekend. Over the years of i have been lucky enough to fish Bemm River many of times. it would have to be one of the best victorian water ways for fish numbers caught and one of my favourites. blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah vblah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
James Kilpatrick
James lives at Lake Macquarie in New South Wales. He has always enjoyed fishing but didn’t fish all that often until he caught his first bream on lure in 2012 after purchasing his first Hobie kayak.
He fished his first Hobie tournament and fell in love with the travel and mateship that the tournaments provided. The Hobie Kayak Bream Series has taken him to many places around Australia that he would never had thought to go if it wasn’t for the series.
And it’s always a great weekend away!
He enjoys exploring new waterways but his favourite places to fish are Lake Macquarie and Bemm River.
He currently fishes out of Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14 but he is looking forward to upgrading to a Pro Angler 14 360 this year.
He currently use a Lowrance HDS 9 live.
James is the owner/operator of Hunter Water Sports – a New South Wales Hobie dealer based on Lake Macquarie.
Jarred Fancett
Hi I am jarred Fancett 23 years old I’ve been fishing since I was 10 but started off chasing big game fish where I was doing comps up and down the coast from Sydney to Coffs Harbour after my family having to sell the boat I looked at getting my a hobie kayak started off with a second hand pa12 which then lead me to enjoy the kayak fishing so I upgrading at the first change I got into a pa14.start doing the hobie bream series after only crashing bream for a year I thought I would throw myself in the deep end as I had a round coming to my local water Port Macquarie so my first hobie round started at my local with very hard time fishing I only landed one fish for the come but meet some amazing people which had me hooked on the rounds which I then headed down to st gorges basin for my second round which ended up going a lot better for me with find fish when it counted on comp day after no fish at throw the pre fish after a great weekend I ended up placing 6th which has lead me to the invite for the Australian championship. I hopefully this is only the start for the kayak fishing and I’ll be able to take it further learn and chase more fish all over the world cause I have found a new style and way of fishing which I am enjoying way to much it will be my first time down at bemm river so I hopping that like the St. George’s basin round I can find the fish when it counts but just excited To be a part of something that has become so big for the hole kayak seen In Australia bream series.
Jason Deenen
This is my 8th year fishing the Hobie series and this will be my 4th Championships. Bemm River is one of my favourite places and I have had some good results at Bemm River. I am really looking forward to competing against some of Australia’s best anglers at this years Championships. Based in Victoria, I started fishing at a very early age. Most of my early years of fishing were spent fly fishing for trout. Now days its all about Bream and Estuary Perch.
I started fishing when I was 5 years old for trout in local streams with my father. These early adventures eventually lead to me wanting more challenges. The answer was flyfishing and the target was trout. Fly fishing is still a passion today. It has taken me all over the world including many times to New Zealand. Recent trips to New Zealand’s South Island have produced many trout over 20 pound and even a couple of rainbow trout that weighed over 30 pound.
Today my other great passion is chasing Bream and Estuary Perch on lures and fly. This obsession kicked off my kayak tournament journey in 2012.
I now spent around 80 days a year fishing from my Hobie PA14 for Bream and a larger extent Estuary Perch. There is something about Estuary Perch that I can’t get enough of. I enjoy nothing more than sight casting hardbody lures to fish and waiting for the strike.
Hobie tournaments and fishing have taken me many fantastic places. Lots of the places the tournaments travel I would probably never have fished if not for this series. While fishing these tournaments I have met many like minded people, many who become friends for life and I my fishing has improved heaps watching and learning from other tournament anglers.
Jon Clisby
Jon Clisby is a Victorian based angler who fishes mostly in the Hopkins River at Warrnambool. A past Australian Team member who competed in China and has enjoyed the places and lifestyle the Hobie tournaments have offered him. Specializing in soft plastics fishing, he is keen to do well at Bemm River after a tough 2018 grand final series at Forster. while predominantly using soft plastics, Jon can happily turn his hand to cranking his favorite Prolure S36 or D36…Matt Black of course. Jon is lucky enough to be sponsored by Pro-Lure Australia and he enjoys using the full range of their lures finding that each of them has their important place in his arsenal. Jon has competed in boat tournaments as well as kayak tournaments but finds the kayak series really suits his style of shallow water fishing. In fact, in his view, the shallower the better. He often finds that his fish are caught in areas that are overlooked by other anglers when they deem waters to be to shallow or lacking in structure. This year, Jon has had a mixed season with a couple of solid results and a few less solid efforts. His season was highlighted by his 8th placing at St Georges Basin. He was very happy with this result as it was fishing tough and it was his first tournament in the venue. Currently, Jon is sitting in 35th position in the 2019 Angler of the year with one tournament to go. Marlo is the last comp for 2019 and a good result here will see Jon rise up the AOY ladder and cap off a good season. While there is little chance of a top ten finish, top twenty to top fifteen is possible and that will be a solid end to the season
Jonathan Chen
Yo yo yo its your boi chenbomb also know as the worlds worst interpreter.
I was born and bred in the nation capital where The closest bream is over 2hours away. I start my passion for catching fish on lures at a young age targeting golden perch, Redfin and Murray cod in the local lakes and rivers walking the banks. Only targeting salt water species when on holiday down the south coast.
I have been fishing these Hobie kayak series since the begin of time and still enjoy it today. Kayak fishing has taken me to some amazing places around Australia and overseas and I’ve met so many amazing people along the way and learn so much from every single one of them.
I enjoy mixing it up between bream and bass competitions in the kayak with a mulwala classic invitational cod competition chucked into the mix it keeps life interesting.
I’m really looking forward to getting back down to victoria and chase some big black bream especially to Bemm river which is such an amazing fishery and one of my favourite fishing locations. My first time to Bemm river was when the last Australian championships was held there and I try and get down there whenever Hobie hold a competition there.
I can’t wait to rip some lips and sink some drinks. It going to be a Australian championships to remember and I know everyone will catch fish which will make a it a great competition for everyone and it could be anyone that takes the title. It’s a location where you can catch them on any technique. Can’t wait to catch up with everyone and have a good time in the pub. Lets hope the weather is good and the fish are on the chew and the beers are cold.
Joseph Gardner
My name is Joseph Gardner from Perth, Western Australia. My love for kayak fishing started in our local Perth Series the WA Bream Classics in 2014. From there I fished every single event and was lucky enough to get my first taste of national competition in 2015 at Lake Mac which was an absolute eye opener to what competition is out there.
I had qualified every round since then except for Forster last year which really made me want to work hard to qualify this year. Being from WA sees us only with a few chances each year and I was lucky enough to qualify at the notorious Blackwood river where unweighted bream prawns brought in some really solid fish to the net and secured me 2nd place.
It was tough fishing for most of that weekend but capitalising on a morning bite and an area that not many people were fishing is what I think helped. Making sure I’m well away from the pack is something I’ve always aimed to do, it doesn’t always pay off however being away from everyone else and fishing fresh water is great.
I am really looking forward to fishing at Bemm as I’ve only ever ventured to the east coast to chase yellowfin bream so it will be a pleasant change trying to lure in some blacks. Hopefully their patterns are similar to the ones in WA and we can apply the same thinking and techniques.
There is such a good crew of people that fish the series around Australia so I’m really looking forward to the social aspect of the tournament as well.
Every time I have come over everyone has been so welcoming to us WA boys which is a delight to see and a great feeling to know it’s a competition but at the same time we are all there for the same thing, to have fun fishing!
Kane Terry
Hi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . My. . . . . . . . . . Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . .is . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .k. . A. . N . .e . . From Bulli nsw. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And. . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . Love. . . . . . To. . . . . . .fish. . . . . . . . . . . . For. . . . . Bream . In. . . . . . . My. . Hobie. . . Kayak
Kevin Varty
I am a competitive kayak angler from Nowra in New South Wales. I am currently a fishing team member for Compleat Angler in South Nowra.
I started competing in Hobie Kayak Bream Series tournaments back in 2012. I have had a number of top finishes since those beginnings and when I am able to make a round I regularly finishes in the top half of the field.
In 2014 I finished the St Georges round and won a place to complete in my first Hobie Fishing World Championship, which was held on Vinkeveense Plassen, outside of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Trailing in 17th place going into the final session of the Worlds, I pulled off a piece of magic, dragging aboard an impressive pike that rocketed me up the leaderboard and into 3rd place in the world. I was the first Australian, an achievement that has only occurred on one occasion since.
I represented Australia once again in Leadville, in Louisiana, USA at Hobie Fishing World 6 where I finished in 20th position, the 4th highest finishing Australian.
Hobie Kayak Bream Series 11 Australian Championship at Bemm River in Victoria will be my 3rd appearance at an Australian Championship. I previously competed at Australian Championship on the Gold Coast, Queensland in 2016 and then at Forster, New South Wales in 2018.
Kobi Rothall
my name is kobi rothall, I’m from mount gambier south east south Australia I’m 18 years of age. I started lure fishing from bream 4 years ago and on the banks of the glenelg river south west Victoria one year after that I entered my first tournament series the Victorian bream classic with a mate and in my first year we managed a top 5 and a third place in the grand final this gave me the boost and confidence to keep at it and I must of been doing something right soon after I owned my first boat this allowed me to further my knowledge and skills, I very quickly kitted it out with an electric motor and a power poll .the flowing year I had another 3 top ten finishes. in 2019 after some convincing by some mates I borrowed a pa 14 and entered my first hobie tournament on the glenelg river. some how I managed to finish second and qualified for the Australian championships on bemm river and I cant wait. living in south Australia I’m a fair way from any big bream fishery but tournament’s have allowed me to travel all of Victoria and some of the south coast of new south whales. by far Gippsland is my favorite bream fishery it holds some of the bream fishing in Australia on its day. I hope to purchase my own hobie pa 14 very soon as I loved fishing in the hobie tournament series. they is a great bunch of people to be around and plenty of laughs I hope to travel around Australia and fish as many round as I can in the following years to come.
I would like to thank the nelson kiosk for the support they have given over the past year it all helps a lot.
Kris Hickson
33 Years old
Tackle retailer
From West Haven, NSW, Australia. Work primarily at Manning River Marine and Tackle in Taree, NSW.
Tournament fished since I was 16 on the Australian Bass/Bream Tournament circuit with varying degrees of seriousness.
Had some great achievements over the last 5 year with a Bream Grand Final win, Bream and Bass Angler of the year titles and runner up in Bream, Bass and Hobie Kayak Grand Finals.
2018 am still ranked #1 in both ABT Bream and Bass, Took out the Hobie kayak Bream series Angler of the Year and also ABT Bream Mercury cup.
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Luke Rogan
Luke Rogan is a 33 year old angler from Alexander hills in Queensland, Australia. Rogan has been fishing the Hobie Kayak Bream Series since 2013. The first tournament he competed in was at malolaba in Queensland, finishing in the top/ bottom half of the field. But that round was enough to drive him to compete in more Hobie tournaments in Queensland, mainly Bribie Island, Redcliff, and the Gold Coast when they appeared on the Hobie calendar over the following years. His favourite location is fishing the flats all around the islands in Morton Bay up in Queensland. But if there is a canal system in any of the waterways where a Hobie round is contested it’s more than likely that you will find Rogan throwing at the pontoons and boat hulls, a strategy that has won him a few, and placed him in the top ten in many a tournament.
Eventually he ventured into tournaments contested in New South Wales, having tasted a fair degree of success in a few and he got a taste of other states like Western Australia and Victoria, making the Australian Championship on a number of occasions.
He experienced a bit of disappointment along the way as well. In 2014 Rogan led the Gold Coast round after day one with an excellent bag. He had a good sized back up bag on day two as well, travelling way up the Nerang River beyond all other anglers. That bag would have easily won him the tournament, but he misjudged the time it would take him to travel back to the event site and ended up more than 15 minutes late. His day two bag was disqualified and he received a 750g penalty, the ordeal cost him around $1000 in prize money and sponsor prizes. Not a scenario that Rogan is likely to repeat.
Since he started competitive Hobie comps in 2013 Rogan has consistently been one of the top two Queensland anglers. Regularly sitting lower on the Angle of the Year pointscore than his skills suggest he should, the only thing holding him back has been the location of tournaments, and his ability to get time off work to travel the long distances to compete in the sport he loves. If Rogan can get a fair crack at a solid number of tournaments and his luck holds, he’s a cert to represent Australia at the World Championships, sometime in the near future.
Mark Young
This will be Marks 4th Australian Championship.
Mark started competing in the Hobie series in 2015, since then he has qualified for the:
- 2015 Australian Championship at Lake Macquarie
- 2016 Australian Championship at Gold Coast
- 2017 Australian Championship at Mandurah
- 2019 Australian Championship at Bemm River
During 2018 Mark competed at the:
- Invitational Sooty Grunter Teams event paired with rookie Jack Gammie.
- Mark guided his team to victory to take out the event at Lake Eungella.
In 2018 Mark was also on the Australian team to head to China and fish the China open, Mark was the best placed Aussie, coming in at 7th. The 2018 China team will go down in history as the best Aussie team to ever participate in the China open. Just ask them.
Also in 2018 Mark qualified for the Hobie world Championships in Sweden. Fishing for pike Mark made many international friends and enjoyed the camaraderie amongst fellow fishing peers. To Marks surprise he took out Anglers choice Award and got his entry to the 2019 world Championship at the Gold Coast,
At the Hobie world Championships on the Gold Coast Mark reached Legend status amongst his international fishing peers after taking out back-to-back Anglers Choice Award, Earning himself an invite to Hobie worlds 9.
Mark is really looking forward to competing and rubbing shoulders with 40 odd of the best Hobie tournament anglers in Australia at Bemm River
Mark would like to say a huge Thankyou to HOBIE FISHING AUSTRALASIA for all they do in giving kayak anglers great opportunity’s and thank all the company’s that support the Hobie series.
Mark would also like to thank his wife Sarah for her continued support of Marks fishing habit and looking after everything while Marks off fishing.
Mark also uses lucky rocks from his son Jackson while fishing with mixed results, but is very thankful for them, Thanks Jackson!
Mitch King
Mitch king, originally from Texas USA, chased his dreams down under after dominating the pro bass circuits back home.
“I just really just wanted a challenge, these brim down here in oztralia are such a god dam head *#?%s…”
Coming off the back of a 3rd place in Bemm river earlier this year Mitch has been vocal about his confidence heading Into the final… “Ain’t nobody throwing them wacky rigs like me, ain’t nobody!”
King has been taken around the world through the Hobie Series, notching up several invites to China and attending Louisiana for Hobie Fishing Worlds 6 and Hobie Fishing Worlds 8, in Sweden. He puts all his success down to keeping himself well hydrated when on tour.
When we asked Mitch how he plans to approach the tournament, this is what he had to say…
“I’m just gonna get on out there a get 1 fish, then I’m gonna get like 2 more, then I’ll do that same thing for the the next 2 days, so yer, I’m just gonna plan on getting one fish at a time, that’s how I’m gonna do it.”
And how do you rate your competition, who will you be keeping an eye on?
“That Jonathan Chen is as shifty as a god dang rattle snake, I’m a keep a close eye on him, also that McItchy guy isn’t quite right either, I heard he drinks gulp juice for breakfast, so I’m a keep an eye on him too .”
Have you developed a plan for prefish yet?
“I’m gone move to Bemm river and fish is every dang day, them brim ain’t gonna know what hit em…”
Lastly, is there anyone you’d like to thank for helping you achieve your dream of making it to the Australian championship?
“Id be no where without my support crew back home and my main sponsor, Mountain Dew.”
Mitchell Maddison
Main reason i fish is to out fish jack gammie. This will be my second championship and i couldnt be happier to be invited. Since fishing the hobie series my passion for fishing only grew. Each event is a date on the calender i bet we all look forward too. Cant wait to get down to Victoria and fish for black bream with a good group of anglers.
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Nathan Wright
My name is Nathan wright and I’m 25 years old and I’m from Geelong Victoria . I have loved fishing since I was a little baby. my fishing highlight of my life would have to be when I caught a 1m mulloway land based on 3lb line at the Werribee river. My favourite places to fish out of my hobie are the Yarra corio bay and port Melbourne and I do enjoy my freshwater fishing for redfin and trout . I have owned my hobie PA14 for 3 years now and it has been a great asset to my fishing career. Since I have owned my hobie I have added a micro power pole, a XL live bait tank and a lowrance 7TI fish finder which have been great assets for my hobie. Some of my best catches out of my hobie PA14 are mulloway out of the Yarra river, snapper on soft plastics in corio bay and a trout out of tullaroop resivior. While I am out in my hobie my favourite fishing combos are a diawa TD zero 7ft 2 rod matched with a diawa luvias 2506 with 10lb braid for my bream and trout fishing I also like using my diawa black label 3-5 kg 7 ft with a diawa sol 3 2500 spooled with 12lb J braid. In January 2019 I entered my first hobie tournament at Bemm River and I came 2nd. I feel very honered to be entering the Australian championships for only been doing the hobie tournaments for 1 season. I look forward to entering many more hobie competitions in the future. I hope to build my fishing career in the hobie scene and one day make it to the hobie worlds. I look forward to attending Bemm River January 2020 and hoping I can succeed.
Paul Burton
My name is Paul Burton I am 35 years of age and started fishing at the age of 5 (From what I can remember that is). I grew up in a family that was pretty keen on the outdoor lifestyle and with that I found my life long love for fishing. I grew up in a suburb of Perth western Australia called salter point. Our home was only a very short walk to the canning river so as my passion for fishing grew and grew I spent more and more hours down in Aquinas bay and the point itself. Sometimes fishing but also lots of time casting. From fly gear to bait caters Ok tought myself how to cast over hundreds of hours down at the river in my younger days. At about the age of 15 once bream were becoming a regular catch I rode my bike to ian sewells tackle shop anglers paradise to purchase some bream lures. This was the beginning of a pretty big spending spree on tackle that well and truly still exists today. I think my first bream came on a 4 inch finess worm by snapback. Then slowly but surely bream became a regular catch on lures. Fast forward to 2016 I got the chance to finally fish my first comp. Managed to get big bream and that kicked off what is my main passion in life. Tournament fishing. I’ve always followed the comps I Perth but felt you needed to be a super star Fisher man to get involved. 3 years later and I’ve surprised myself with what I’ve achieved. Can’t wait to get to bemm and have a chance of taking out another championship. One can dream. I’ll be studying hard to make sure I rock up with as much knowledge as I possibly can. Really look forward to seeing everyone!
Paul Davidson
Living the fishing dream.
I have been doing Hobie tournaments for 7 years qualified 4 times now. Knowing you get to fish some of the most amazing places in our awesome country is what dreams are made of.
I’ve meet some great people and made some amazing friends. Return little on board with the bracket in it and you’ll be as happy as I am with my finds that m8 all the best I hope it gets better than the last day was never seen white caps in the river like that m8 listen to get 8weeks and I detected it to get out tomorrow and maybe Tuesday morning bite the bullet train station to get a reading of the world cup in Brazil and the Mitchell river like that m8 listen to get a new job I thought I had might not be happening in a couple of weeks ago I was wondering what happens next
Richard Somerton
I #m 47ye#rs old #nd h#ve been fishing in one w#y or #nother for ne#rly 43 ye#rs.
I grew up in inl#nd Austr#li# ch#sing some of Austr#li#’s iconic species including our Murr#y Cod. Unlike most tr#dition#l introductions to fishing I credit my Mum for getting me into fishing #nd even these d#ys she loves to wet # line with me. But now the roles #re reversed #nd I te#ch her how to fish.
I h#ve lived #nd worked in most St#tes of Austr#li# #nd of course # fishing rod h#s never been f#r from my h#nd. In the l#st 12 ye#rs or so l h#ve been fortun#te to tr#vel the world #nd ticking off # number of my fishing ‘Bucket listʼ #nd hope to continue to do so.
Over the l#st 10 ye#rs I h#ve competed in both the Bre#m #nd b#ss k#y#k series #nd enjoy the c#m#r#derie, sh#ring of knowledge #nd of course the fishing. Looking forward to competing in my 2nd Australian Championships at Bemm river and the three day format will be a real test at this venue.
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Sean Hill
Hi my name is Sean Hill and come from the south coast of NSW. I have been a keen fisherman for a long as I can remember, mostly beach and rock fishing. About 4 years ago I was introduced to kayak fishing competition through a local kayak club. As my knowledge and love of the sport grew, I progressed to competing in the Hobie tournaments. Over the past 2 years I have competed in as many of the Hobie rounds as I have been lucky enough to be able to attend. I have enjoyed the friendships, comradery and friendly competitive atmosphere that I have experienced. I have travelled to and fished at some fantastic and beautiful areas of Australia. I really enjoy the challenge of working out a new waterway and just spending time on the water. I competed in my first Australian Championship last year and was lucky enough to make it a real family affair with my wife, children and granddaughter accompanying and supporting me. I am truly thankful to be able to compete in my second Australian Championships.
Simon Morley
I really enjoy the mate ship and comradery from competing in the Hobie Kayak Bream Series and who would of thought from chasing bream that it would give you the opportunity to travel the world, doing what we love. FISHING!!! Amsterdam,Sweden,China and of course all over Australia, its been a dream and I’ve loved every minute.
I live in Bulli a small coastal town on the NSW south coast about an hrs drive from sydney. Its here where my love for fish began. Growing up just a stones throw from the beach made it just that little bit easier if i wasn’t surfing I’d be fishing.
I’m looking forward to fishing Bemm river its such a fantastic fishery, I’ve had success on this arena before and am hope to find that mojo again. I’ve been fairly consistent this year so i hope it continues onto the AC.
I know I’ve got Jack Gammie covered anyway ;)
See you guys there.
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Steven Pryke
Fishing is more than just a huge part of his life, it’s his passion and living in Lakes Entrance makes it easy to fulfill that passion. Since his earliest memories his family has been into fishing and from that background Steven’s obsession developed to the point where he started competing in the elite Australian fishing tournaments, the Hobie Kayak Bream Series, ABT bream and Vic Bream in 2014 when he was just 16 years old. At the age of 19 I purchased my first tournament boat being a nitro700 lx and making the step to become an Abt boater and competing against the highest ranked anglers in the country
Over the next three plus years he has rapidly risen through the ranks and earned a respected position in the Hobie Kayak and powerboat tournament scene making a name for himself as a young gun of the sport. He has been lucky enough to compete at the highest level in Australia and was chosen to represent Australia in the China Open in 2017 and 2018 along with the 2018 Hobie worlds in Amal Sweden.
I’m lucky enough to get wok in the industry running a Gippsland based fishing magazine known as the Gippsland fishing and outdoors .im lucky enough to speak to wide variety anglers throughout Gippsland and I’ve learnt a great deal form each individual
This will be my 4th Hobie grand final and I’m extremely excited to see a Victorian grand final with Bemm river being a well-known water way and a fishery that I have grown up fishing with it being just under a hour from home
I appreciate the great support he has received from Hobie Polarized and Frogleys Offshore ( Atomic lures , Bassday , Gamakatsu ,Unitika lines, Samurai rods ,Fuji along my mother and father who supported and encouraged me and given me the drive to reach the levels he has achieved today.
Stuart Walker
Am only very new to the kayak scene but have been fishing the ABT as a non boater for the last 6 years and have picked up a few pointers. Will be taking this peddle powered fishing one step at a time. Was very happy to find out that I had gained entry to the championship, let’s hope the weather plays nice!
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Tom McLean
My home is on the NSW South Coast. The earliest fishing memory is losing a big fish off a handline while sitting at the bottom of a rowboat in Lake MacQuarie. I was only about 4 and far too young to be trusted by my parents to sit on the seats.
I caught my first fish on lures in 1975. A bass in the Paterson River on a Floppy. Despite a lifetime of attempts I am yet to catch a bigger one but still love the thrill of lure fishing. It is mixed with rock and beach fishing.
I have owned 4 Hobie Outbacks. They suit my love of fishing away from the crowds on the many south coast lagoons and feeder creeks as well as handling camping gear for 3 day bass trips down the Shoalhaven from Tallowa Dam.
In 2009 I won the non-boater ABT at Mallacoota and fished the Grand Final finishing 3rd. A day in that final with Tim Morgan showed me the extraordinary skill and knowledge the top anglers possess.
In the last few years I have fished fewer boat tournaments preferring to do the Hobie comp and 3 day trips with my fishing buddy to places like Glenbawn, the Wallagaraugh, Somerset Dam and Sydney Harbour. We have some good memories such as scoring a century on bream twice, him catching a 6kg bag of bream in 2 hours, us catching a 6kg bag on the Basin and days with Slick Wright and Bushy.
My favourite lure brand is Jackal. After my brother was involved in their start up I had access to a lot of information and advice and today they hold my personal bests on many different waterways including Hunter Valley dams that he stocked with bass from 1995 for over 20 years.
Tony Pettie
I have been fishing the Hobie Kayak Bream series since round 1 at Bemm River in 2010. During this time I have managed to win several rounds and have a number of top 3 & top 10 finishes which have helped me to qualify for 9 Australian Championships. Although I have not had the best results in previous Australian Championships I hope to do well in this years event.
Hobie Fishing has been an amazing series that has let me fish in some great waterways around the country. It has also encouraged me to meet new people and create great friendships.
Hobie Fishing has also sent me around the world to fish in some amazing locations. These locations include, The 5th Hobie Fishing Worlds on Shang Lake in Changshu City, China, where the target species were Chinese Perch, Top Mouth Culter & Yellow Cheek Carp. The 6th Hobie Fishing Worlds in Leeville, Louisiana, USA where the target species were Redfish, Speckled Trout and Flounder.
The 7th Hobie Fishing Worlds on Lake Vanern at Amal, Sweeden where the target species were Pike & Perch. The 9th China Open on Shengzhong Lake, Sichuan, China where the target species were Chinese Perch, Top Mouth Culter & Red Tail.
Hopefully I can qualify for the next Hobie Fishing Worlds where ever that might be and be able to meet up with old friends and make new friends.
This is where you can cut this part out because 300 word personal profile is not the best fun to write. My god I have 42 more words to insert so that I can save this profile and continue on with my application to the hobie kayak bream series 11 australian championships as this has taken a long long long time and I am ready to go to bed. I have done it at last conquered the 300 word barrier and if i keep going I may get to 320 words.
Travis Newland
Travis Brice Newland, 22 yrs of age
I started competition bream fishing almost a year and a half ago but before then i used to spend all of time fishing with my old man and playing baseball on the weekends.
The fishing addiction started a few years back from going down south and trolling hardbody lures in the dams for stocked rainbow trout and doing the odd river bash when we had the chance. Breaming fishing never interested me until i bought my first paddle kayak.
Within a year of owning a paddle kayak i was hooked on the idea of using lures for bream and what kept me coming back was the strength of the fish and the excitement of landing a big one. it wasn’t long until i spent bit of money and purchased a 2015/16 Hobie pro angler.. this was where the real fun began.
Shortly after purchasing the Hobie i started competing in social fishing competitions in my local waterway the Swan river, these social events eventually lead to the more serious competitions which were run by the WATA crew and these then lead to the Hobie events.
After only competing for a second year i was stoked to finish with a third place down in Albany to secure a spot in the championship and i didn’t know how to react at first.
My excitement to fish the Bemm river is through the roof and i can’t imagine the amount of knowledge and things ill be learning over the weekend from all the other fishermen.
Owning a Hobie kayak has simply opened up so many opportunities for me and allowed me to do so many adventures, without the help of all the friendly anglers i have met along the way i wouldn’t have the skills and knowledge i do today. As far as fishing tackle goes having access to a huge range of quality Fishing lures, jig heads and other accessories has helped me catch a lot of quality fish, i get these from a local business called Razor Edge Lures who operates down in Busselton but also has an online store for the convenience of overseas orders.
Id like to thank my fellow fishing mates and all the people who have shared their knowledge along the way, its a hell of an experience to be fishing the championship and i hope i catch some fish over the three days! cheers Travis
Thanks Hobie!
Tyson Hayes
’m a Sunshine Coast local bream fisho, most of my hours are spent fishing reefs and man made structures – eg: pontoons, docks, moored boats, ect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I’ve been fishing the Hobie Kayak Bream Series for 10 years now with quite a few good results.
2018 was my best year for aoy
I finally got the 5 rounds I needed to get up in the top end of the field and managed to take 5th place over all which qualified me for the 8th Hobie Fishing Worlds event held on the Gold Coast Somewhere I fish more than my local waterway socially and competitively I ended the comp in 6th place which I was over the moon with . . . . . . . . .
My aoy score also got me a invite to the Chinese open a trip I couldn’t say no to. The comp was held on lake shengzhong in the western part of China just outside Chengdu it was a event I’ll never forget even though fishing was tough
for me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
China was a great experience and learning curve for me and I look forward to earning the trip again in the 2020 hobie series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
My thanks goes to TT LURES & Estuary clothing for suporting and supling me with great pruducts along the way. No doubt they have put me where I am today. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Zachary Morozoff
Growing up around the Penrith region Nepean river is where it all started with Australian Bass on wooden divers and topwater lures. As the years went by lure fishing became more fascinating and costly of course.
A couple years ago I was privileged enough to get a spot at the best tackle shop in Sydney, The Australian Bass Angler and boy did the fishing take off.
I tend to spend most weekends fishing for whatever is in the agenda from bream, whiting, trout and all the way through to cod and kingfish.
From a novice angler to a slightly lesser novice my learnings have broadened and changed all aspects of fishing from the importance of comradery to the practice of organisation and positive mentality in tough conditions.
Here I am thanks to The Australian Bass Angler that got me into these rounds and now participating in my first Hobie Australian Championships, what a buzz!