After two big days on the water at Marlo, West Australian young gun James Gardner has emerged victorious in round two of series 17 of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series.
Gardner, the reigning Australian champion, delivered a masterclass casting OSP Bent Minnows to secure a six-fish limit weighing 6.15 kilograms — an extraordinary bag at any level of competition.
Close behind was New South Wales angler Brendan Pieschel (5.93kg), while southern
NSW birthday celebrant
Ben Hanscombe (5.84kg) claimed third.
Lakes Entrance angler Lindsay Pryke (4.95kg) finished seventh overall and won the veterans section. East Gippsland youngster Riley Whelan was the youth winner, while Beth Harris claimed honours in the women’s division.
Local angler Steven Pryke (4.02kg) produced another consistent performance to finish 14th overall.
Day two dawned with a breathtaking sunrise over the Snowy River. Anglers were greeted by hot, balmy conditions and barely a breath of wind — ideal weather for targeting the trophy black bream Marlo is renowned for — and the fish delivered.
The weigh-in featured exceptional bags and elite-level performances, with the celebrated Marlo bream measured, admired and released to fight another day.
Day one saw six anglers weigh in three-fish bags exceeding three kilograms — an extraordinary achievement more historic than routine in competitive fishing.
Overnight leader Patrick Byrne landed the biggest fish of the tournament, an impressive 1.4-kilogram specimen.
Marlo has once again reinforced its reputation as one of the country’s premier big-bream arenas — a fishery of pristine water, sustained pressure and remarkable black bream.
