SHALLOW cranking dark lures on a windswept shore of Crangan Bay proved the winning formula for local Nathan Cliff in the recent Hobie Kayak Bream Series event on Lake Macquarie.
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Cliff snared the major prize of $1490 and a sponsor prize pack with his four-bream bag weighing 2.72kg.
Fifty-three anglers from NSW, the ACT, Queensland and Victoria descended on Rafferty's Resort to take part in the event.
Predicted high winds peaked at 52km/h by midday on the Saturday, vindicating the event organiser’s decision to cancel the first day of competition.
Sunday brought considerably better conditions with early-morning clear blue skies, a frosty temperature ranging from 8 to 12°C and a relatively light breeze blowing in at 16 to 20km/h.
At the weigh-in, Cliff gave an insight into his winning methods.
“I just started out shallow cranking along a shore line of Crangan Bay, south of Cams Wharf,” he said.
“I was focusing on the windblown shores and found a patch of fish, so I just stayed there. I lost my go-to lure to a flathead, so I switched out to another lure with purple in it, and then later to a black Pro Lure.
“This was my second Hobie event. I fished one about a year ago at St Georges Basin and didn’t do too well, so it was really good to do well here.”
Cliff’s equipment included a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7’1” and a 6’10” rod; Yamatoyo 3lb Spinning Fluro line; and a Diztek FB 35 lure.
Second place went to Tony Pettie with four bream weighing 2.52kg, and Michael Halliday from Queensland took the final place on the podium with four bream that went 2.23kg.
NSW angler and tournament 6th place getter, Luke Kay, bagged the tournament’s biggest fish which weighed in at 1.03kg.
Kay took home the Hog’s Breath Café Boss Hog Big Bream cheque.
Round 13 of the series will be held at Nelson, Victoria, this weekend. The final round will shift to Queensland.
- Visit hobiefishing.com.au