LIGHTNING struck twice for WA breamer Shane Owens when the 24-year-old Perth carpenter scored his second Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Kayak round win in as many attempts with victory in the St Helens round.
Having never fished St Helens before and with the no pre-fish the day before, Owens simply hit the water on tournament day and fished the conditions and country that was in front of him. The approach played out perfectly with Owens catching the tournament’s only full limit (3/3, 2.01kg) and only two kilo plus bag.
Repeating his fine form from the Tasmanian round last year was Brideport local Andrew Krushka (2/3, 1.50kg), with the local breaming gun once again qualifying for the end of season Grand Final.
Victory though belonged to Owens, with the Perth angler eclipsing the 23 angler field and adding his name to a short and talented list of multiple event winners.
For event runner-up Andrew Krushka it was another podium finish, with the Tassie local hitting the flats near the start line to catch his fish.
Like most tournament anglers Krushka had his missed opportunities. Pulled hooks on legal fish early and of course undersize fish all played a part, as it does for most. With a second in his home event Krushka was anything but disappointed, and was eagerly looking forward to heading to the mainland for the Grand Final in October.
The $100 Boss Hog Prize for the biggest bream of the tournament went to Bemm River victor Jordan Trusty with the St Kilda angler securing the prize with his 1.34kg fish. Caught on a ripped and paused Stiffy Minnow in tassie tiger colour Trusty caught it at 11am on a five foot deep flat about ten kilometres down river of the start line. If he’d only caught a couple of smaller fish to go with it Trusty would have definitely given the top two place getters, Owens and Krushka something to worry about.
Jordan Trusty and his Boss Hog.
Forster and Albany now lay ahead for anglers as the next two stops on the tour. Visit www.bream.com.au or www.hobiefishing.com.au for all results and other information.
Round 8 of the Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Kayak Series is on at Forster on 12-13th March.
