In a story 26 years in the making, the Australian Bass Tournament have crowned their first ever two-time Bream Series grand final winner, when Mark Crompton secured the 2025 Grand Final with an awesome 15 fish total of 13.795 kilograms.
The three-day event began at Marlo, before venturing to Bemm River for day two, before returning to Marlo for the finale.
The event attracted the top 30 anglers from the 2025 series, with the field cut to just 15 for the day three finale.
Crompton going home with a $95,000 boat package and securing an invitation to the 2026 grand final.
Crompton was never far from the lead, second after the day one, the leader after day two, before winning by over a kilogram from Steve Moragn (12.775), with Marion Vukic (12.370) finishing third.
Lakes Entrance wizard, Steven Pryke (12.215), put together three solid days to finish fourth, while Bairnsdale’s Scott Scicluna (10.855) recovered from a mediocre first day, to finish strongly with an outstanding final day to claim fifth.
The non-boater section which was staged over the first two days was won by Samuel Raco (3.340), with Lance Marsh (3.200) second and Chris Hokin (3.155) third.
Orbost local, Allan Lavell (2.920) finished fifth after a slow start.
But the story was Crompton, the plumber who loves to fish on the weekends, who made the trip to the event with no expectations and went home a winner.
“I honestly thought I was making up the numbers, just planned to bag out each day, keep it simple and hope it all came together,” Crompton said.
It more than came together, with Crompton in the top three totals on all three days, which he conceded were all so different.
“Conditions varied greatly but I had plenty of success throwing the Hurricane Sprat,” Crompton said.
The worthy winner last seen heading back to Sydney with a new boat on the tow.
