Gamakatsu Teams Series
Grand Final 5/4/09
Richmond River, Ballina
Pictures
39 Qualifying teams converged on the Richmond River Ballina to contest the inaugural Gamakatsu Team Series (GTS) Grand Final. Greeted by heavy rain, flooded banks and muddy waters, anglers were skeptical, whether or not there were enough fish in the system to scratch together a 10 fish bag over two days. At the briefing competitors were greeted with a roast dinner and a social atmosphere where we handed out the 2 Engel 40L fridges and trophies for the Team of the Year winners Pflueuger / TT competitors Stephen Wilson and Darren Borg, also getting a couple of Engel fridges was runners up Anders Moore Accounting competitors Greg Byrne and Roderick Walmsey.
Competitors were also given a $250 gift bag full of Atomic, Engel, Gamakatsu and Bassday product, after this surprising packaging competitors were ready to battle the harsh conditions with the river in partial flooding upstream. Saturday morning opened with hovering clouds and stained water, but all anglers were in good spirits, eager to try their hand for the $6500 first place cheque or even part of the over $22,000 worth of cash and products.
It was team Green Machine, who topped the scales on Saturday, with the only 3kg + bag. Beginning their day on the Porpoise Wall, they landed a quality 27cm Bream within the first 10 minutes. Following many undersized fish, the father and son team made the decision to move up North Creek to Prospects Bridge and drift their way down river. Throwing Atomic Hardz team Green Machine boated 3 more legal sized fish. Upon reaching Missingham Bridge, they cranked over the big motor and went back to the Porpoise Wall. Here they upgraded with a 28, 28, and 32cm Bream. Within check in time approaching the decision was made to head closer to the start line and fish the Blue Room reef, a wise move, upgrading one more time on a Bassday Kangoku Vib.
Sunday morning saw the boys start fishing in a spot they identified while fishing Saturday. Heading into Mobbs Bay, casts were made under nesting Shags on the southern shoreline. First cast saw Jay land the first legal fish of the day. Being shallow mangroves and oyster covered rock, anytime a lure was snagged they would break off rather than risk spooking wary fish in the shallows. 2 more fish were caught in quick succession. While Paul changed lures, Jay continued to put legal fish in the well. When the bite died they moved out to the south wall but were turned away by large seas. This saw them make the move to the reef at Missingham Bridge, but resulted in no fish. The decision was made to fish the rocky point at Shaws Bay, below the caravan park. Proving to be a popular spot, team Green Machine had a stretch of 50 meters to catch there fish. Here they continued to load the live well with legal sized upgrades. In the last 20 minutes the pair moved back to hole at the Blue Room and landed their 34cm upgrade again on the Bassday Kangoku Vib.
Back at the weigh in team Green Machine, being the last to weigh, were sweating it out as team after team weigh in good bags of 5 fish. The biggest bag being 3.54kg, anchored by Steve Wilson’s 1.2kg monster. Team Squidgie after holding second place on day 1 was the team hot on Green Machine tail, and was of most concern to Paul and Jay.
Green Machine’s final bag weight of 2.860kg was enough to secure the title of Gamakatsu Team Series Grand Final Winner. When asked what they would be doing with their $6500 winner check, they replied, we’re heading of Barra fishing for a week to relax.
Taking home the second place winning a Engel 45L fridge and $750 cash, was another father and son team, Team Squidgies.
Craig and David Simmons prefished successfully up Emigrant Creek, and headed back there both days of the competition. Holding the boat at 15 degrees to the rocky walls, banks and outcrops they cast their deep diving crankbaits tight into the rocks, and employed a slow steady retrieve all the way back to the boat, ensuring the lure hit the rocks all the way back to the boat. Using only one color all weekend, a brown shrimp pattern to match the abundant black crabs, Craig and David put together a quality bag of fish, topping the scales at 2.875kg. An important factor was to liberally apply S-Factor to the hardbodied lures every 10 – 15 casts. Deciding not to pressure the fish to much they pulled stumps and headed back to the weigh. Duplicating the pattern on Sunday the pair finished the 5 fish limit at 12pm, confident of securing a place in the Top 5. Utilizing Angler Stealth DCX rods, Shimano reels and Platypus lines, Team Squidgies 10 fish limit weighed in at an impressive 5.255kg.
Third place honors were handed to the GTS Team of The Year, Team Pflueuger/TT. Finishing with only 3 fish on the Saturday, after an unsuccessful deepwater plastic bite, Steve and Dizzy made the charge home on Sunday with the tournaments biggest 5 fish bag of 3.54kg anchored by the days big bream of 1.265kg. Fishing a new spot on the Sunday, the Shaws Bay Caravan Park Reef, Steve and Dizzy would cast Megabass Baby Griffon’s in Kinkuro color tight on the rocks, into the wash, trying to imitate the struggling black crabs. Using a slow steady retrieve with the rod tip pointed high to keep the shallow running hardbody high in the water column. The pair found that their 6 and 8 lb leaders were never a deterrent to the finicky fish.
Even with the Richmond River in flood the system produced a great result of 245 fish over 2 days weighing 107.65kgs meaning an average of 6.28 fish per boat and a fish average of 0.439gms. Not a bad result for any system and it goes to show that the fish might move from their normal sports but they still need a feed! Anglers both days were greeted after the drive through weigh-in with a free BBQ and drinks and plenty of people stuck around to congratulate the winners and talk about the ones that got away.
GTS would like to thank its series sponsor Gamakatsu for all their support as well as their other sponsors Engel for the prizes for the Grand Final and other event naming sponsors Austackle, Evinrude Etec, and Sports Fishing Magazine and our series co-sponsors Blue Eye and Flow-Rite. Also to the anglers that have fished the events throughout the year, thankyou for supporting our events, and we look forward to seeing you at our ever expanding series next season.
Lastly special thanks go to the volunteers that have helped out at each event during the season, GTS is run non-profit and without the helping hand of the committee Michael Starkey, Vinnie Bleakley, Brett Hyde and Adrian Melchior as well as the assistants Steve Maclean, Joey Allan, Amanda Starkey, Amber Hyde and Susie Melchior this event would not be what it is today.
Thanks and see everyone next year for another great series and look for our events moving south, more information will be put on www.gamakatsu.com.au when made available.
Michael Starkey and Vinnie Bleakley
Position |
Team Name |
Angler 1 |
Angler 2 |
|
Fish |
Weight |
Big Bream |
Total Fish |
Total Weight |
| 1 |
Green Machine |
Paul Gillespie |
Jay Gillespie |
Day 1 |
5 |
3.040 |
0.755 |
10 |
5.900 |
| Prize: $6500 |
Day 2 |
5 |
2.860 |
|
|
|
| 2 |
Team Squidige |
Craig Simmons |
David Simmons |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.875 |
0.725 |
10 |
5.255 |
| Prize: $750 + $1249 Engel Fridge |
Day 2 |
5 |
2.380 |
|
|
|
| 3 |
Pflueger/TT |
Stephen Wilson |
Darren Borg |
Day 1 |
3 |
1.570 |
0.645 |
8 |
5.110 |
| Prize: $350 + $1249 Engel Fridge |
Day 2 |
5 |
3.540 |
1.265 |
|
|
| 4 |
Big River Bait and Tackle Shake & Bake |
Brett Young |
Mark Mulligan |
Day 1 |
3 |
1.635 |
|
8 |
5.050 |
| Prize: $200 + $500 Samurai Reaction Rod |
Day 2 |
5 |
3.415 |
0.925 |
|
|
| 5 |
www.sportshq.com.au |
Brett Gay |
Ben Godfrey |
Day 1 |
5 |
1.980 |
|
10 |
4.930 |
| Prize: $100 + $500 Samurai Reaction Rod |
Day 2 |
5 |
2.950 |
|
|
|
| 6 |
Yamba Bait and Tackle |
Mick Leavey |
Ben Lockwood |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.405 |
0.750 |
10 |
4.775 |
| Prize: $266 2 x Engel Fridges + Discovery Pack |
Day 2 |
5 |
2.370 |
|
|
|
| 7 |
Striker |
Chris Horne |
Ben Pilch |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.430 |
|
10 |
4.420 |
| Prize: $266 2 x Engel Fridges + Discovery Pack |
Day 2 |
5 |
1.990 |
|
|
|
| 8 |
Bush & Beach/Pflueger/Budds |
Robert Kwiatrowski |
Jason Seaton |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.275 |
|
10 |
4.410 |
| Prize: $266 2 x Engel Fridges + Discovery Pack |
Day 2 |
5 |
2.135 |
|
|
|
| 9 |
Ecogear |
Gavin Dunne |
Gene Ward |
Day 1 |
3 |
0.975 |
|
8 |
4.150 |
| Prize: $266 2 x Engel Fridges + Discovery Pack |
Day 2 |
5 |
3.175 |
0.875 |
|
|
| 10 |
Salt and Pepper |
John Mills |
Gary Palmer |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.150 |
0.750 |
10 |
4.095 |
| $266 2 x Engel Fridges + Discovery Pack |
Day 2 |
5 |
1.945 |
|
|
|
| 11 |
Meridian Marinas / Nitro Boats.com |
Stuart Bible |
Darrin Crawley |
Day 1 |
5 |
1.930 |
|
10 |
3.970 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
5 |
2.040 |
|
|
|
| 12 |
River City Marine |
Steve Kanowski |
Mark Lawson |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.255 |
|
9 |
3.595 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
4 |
1.340 |
|
|
|
| 13 |
Bream Dog |
Nicholas Meredith |
Chris Bond |
Day 1 |
4 |
1.980 |
|
8 |
3.330 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
4 |
1.350 |
|
|
|
| 14 |
Fishbrain |
Artie Reinstra |
Matt Bacic |
Day 1 |
5 |
1.725 |
|
9 |
3.225 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
4 |
1.500 |
|
|
|
| 15 |
Ballina Marineland |
Mick Corbett |
Jake Stewart |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.505 |
|
6 |
3.115 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
1 |
0.610 |
|
|
|
| 16 |
Gimp and Shrimp |
Glen Sturrock |
Andrew Taylor |
Day 1 |
5 |
1.550 |
|
8 |
3.040 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
3 |
1.490 |
0.725 |
|
|
| 17 |
Team Tender |
Shane Jarrett |
Scott Lane |
Day 1 |
5 |
1.925 |
|
7 |
2.995 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
2 |
1.070 |
|
|
|
| 18 |
Anders Moore Accounting |
Rod Walmsey |
Greg Byrne |
Day 1 |
5 |
1.770 |
|
8 |
2.845 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
3 |
1.075 |
|
|
|
| 19 |
Aquamates |
Peter Cashman |
Chris Lonne |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.450 |
|
6 |
2.780 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
1 |
0.330 |
|
|
|
| 20 |
Breamd as Bro |
Mark Holman |
Authur Cregan |
Day 1 |
5 |
1.930 |
|
7 |
2.595 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
2 |
0.665 |
|
|
|
| 21 |
Bream Reapers 2 |
Mick Wright |
Ben Cronk |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.440 |
|
5 |
2.440 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 22 |
Berkley/Bush n Beach/4BC |
Chris Britton |
Mark Marr |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.060 |
|
6 |
2.410 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
1 |
0.350 |
|
|
|
| 23 |
Team Port Tackle |
Neil Chegwidden |
Greg Main |
Day 1 |
2 |
0.735 |
|
6 |
2.280 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
4 |
1.545 |
|
|
|
| 24 |
Bush n Beach/Berkley/4BC - 2 |
Ben Collins |
Warrick Johnston |
Day 1 |
5 |
2.275 |
|
5 |
2.275 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 25 |
Whipett |
Steve Clarke |
Jack Clarke |
Day 1 |
5 |
1.780 |
|
6 |
2.140 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
1 |
0.360 |
|
|
|
| 26 |
Ballina Marineland 2 |
Ken Fitzgibbon |
Robert Berdin |
Day 1 |
5 |
1.790 |
|
6 |
2.125 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
1 |
0.335 |
|
|
|
| 27 |
Spotters |
Ian Baker |
Neil Gregson |
Day 1 |
3 |
1.100 |
|
5 |
1.900 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
2 |
0.800 |
0.000 |
|
|
| 28 |
Galeforce Boats |
Guy McConnell |
Darren Magorcka |
Day 1 |
5 |
1.875 |
|
5 |
1.875 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 29 |
Buckleys Chance |
Nellie Buckley |
Nicholas Buckleys |
Day 1 |
3 |
1.090 |
|
4 |
1.550 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
1 |
0.460 |
|
|
|
| 30 |
Team Chubby |
Greg Burke |
Brad Donald |
Day 1 |
2 |
0.730 |
|
4 |
1.460 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
2 |
0.730 |
|
|
|
| 31 |
Black Porpoise |
Paul Starkey |
Jock McPherson |
Day 1 |
2 |
0.650 |
|
4 |
1.185 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
2 |
0.535 |
|
|
|
| 32 |
Allround Angler |
Nole Latimer |
Shane Bates |
Day 1 |
1 |
0.430 |
|
3 |
1.185 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
2 |
0.755 |
|
|
|
| 33 |
Big River Bait and Tackle |
Brenton Smith |
Darren Painter |
Day 1 |
3 |
1.095 |
|
3 |
1.095 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
0 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
| 34 |
Atomic |
Aaron Sharp |
Rob March |
Day 1 |
3 |
0.970 |
|
3 |
0.970 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
0 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
| 35 |
Sportys |
Darren Love |
Tony Moore |
Day 1 |
2 |
0.870 |
|
2 |
0.870 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 36 |
Wild Bream Turkeys |
Chris Luis |
Twain Byrnes |
Day 1 |
1 |
0.420 |
|
2 |
0.830 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
1 |
0.410 |
|
|
|
| 37 |
Complete Angler Toronto |
Peter Macor |
Rod Riley |
Day 1 |
2 |
0.785 |
|
2 |
0.785 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
0 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
| 38 |
Fat Boys |
Mick Bruggy |
Tom Bruggy |
Day 1 |
2 |
0.685 |
|
2 |
0.685 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 39 |
Couran Cove Holiday/SEQ Building & Pest Inspection |
Grant Lazzarno |
Mick Torley |
Day 1 |
0 |
0.000 |
|
0 |
0.000 |
|
|
|
|
Day 2 |
0 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
|
|
