Americana Outdoors E-Magazine - September 2019

Never in eight championships has a Worlds seen such per- fect conditions. After registration and the mandatory briefing on Sunday afternoon, competitors and their guests partied on, cruis- ing the canals around the affluent mansions that line one of the world’s largest man-made canal systems. The next morning 43 excited anglers pedalled off from the Power-Pole Starting Line on Lowrance Pre-Fish Day One, the first chance for many international anglers to fish in Australian waters. Others had planned their trips to arrive early, and to adjust to the new species by fishing in alterna- tive systems to the championship arena where a pre-fish ban was not imposed. To the delight of competitors across the arena, not only were there plenty of bream about but, anglers from all con- tinents were catching fish. Another surprise to competitors was how awesome the fish were to catch on light tackle. The first angler to pull a fish on board in the event was Joe Komyati (USA). As he held a nice 35cm Yellowfin Bream in his hands he commented, “It’s my first bream ever. I watched some videos the Austra- lian Hobie guys put up, and I used what they told me to use, and it definitely worked. There you go (holding out his fish).” Power-Pole Pre-Fish Day Two saw a similar pattern with anglers getting a taste of alternative locations. The Sun- dale Bridge pylons were hit hard by up to 15 internation- al anglers, but they did not have a lot of success because their timing was wrong, and the tide was not suited for that type of strategy. Nevertheless, many persisted in the area, a mistake a few would continue to make over the champi- onship days. The big story though was at the lineup of trawlers, which were closer to the event site. As their decks were washed down, prawns fell off into the surrounding water attracting plenty of good sized hungry bream. Like a flock of seagulls, more than a quarter of the competitors headed straight there from the start. Despite being hit hard the day before the location held up with some quick bites. Nate Gloria (USA) was onto his first bream in just a few casts. That first fish was in his Hobie Livewell just on twen- ty minutes after the start, fifteen of which were spent trav- elling to the location. Most of the people that hit the trawler fleet were sensible enough to leave the area after a half an hour, not wanting

The Gold Coast is a metropolitan region south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast. It’s famed for its long sandy beaches, surf- ing spots and elaborate system of inland canals and waterways.

USA Angler Joe Komyati (above) holds up his first Yellowfin Bream ever during the Day One of Pre-Fishing.

Felix Frey (SWE) figuring out a game plan during Day Two of Pre-Fishing.

Mark Young (AUS) was able to isolate himself from the crowds and picks apart a line of trawlers during Day Two of Pre-Fishing.