Posts
Today marked the official prefish event for the Daiwa-Hobie ABT Grand Final 2011. For those that could make, dozens upon dozens of Hobie Pro Angler kayaks hit the water in search of hot water (So to speak). As most of us well and truely know each other no real secrets were kept, entrants often shared what tackle success they discovered on the day with others (Who in turn shared info) but also where they went and why. The diversity of techniques that took fish was right up there with rounds past, and while some caught bags full others found the bite rather timid.
Water temperature was close to 25 degrees and according to locals it was the first sunny sky day they region has had over a week or so (Don’t quote me on that though). The tide swings strong here so moving up the system was rather easy considering, depending on where you wanted to fish. Some bays, creeks and racks were unfishable due mainly to tide hight but those that fished flats openly got a Bream or two. The surface bite was on, then off, then on, but some nailed in down.
My prefish consisted of spooking half a dozen large Flathead (Im talking council shovel heads) and working the edges of Mangroves, high sticking as I went. While this can be a risky affair lures were cast in water less than a foot deep, meaning snags were likely. For some reason or another I pulled a bag limit rather quickly, although nothing of major size. Cycling through lures I looked for successive option and missed a few on the surface. Lots of just undersize Bream hung around the kayak, they were keen but I wasn’t.
The upgrade never came, but all in all my typical published Khamsin approach worked well, in beer bottle browns and dark hues (Unsure of colour names). Flash Minnow TR also worked in super shallow water but once the tide turned and forced us out into the deep I floundered around for very little. The Hastings is a lovely system that would make the ideal family vacation, and due to the options competitors faced also is a great home for this years grand final.
Nothing more to say really, registration for the big show commences at 5pm with Bream talks from Steve Morgan and Kris Hickson after, followed by a pasta feast (Courtesy of Hobie). To any naysayers who bag Hobie for no specific reason (except to jump on the bandwagon) I really hope/wish you could be here. The whole town has been gripped by Grand Final fever and the Hotel and show that Steve Fields, Hobie and ABT have pimped and primped for players is a real sight to be seen.
Bring on day one...
