Planning for 2009

[Steve Morgan]

Breamers,

Here's a little project for the WA ABT Tournament guys .... see if you can reach a consensus about what would be the best format for 2 x ABT Qualifiers there in 2009 .... I mean locations and time of the year. They will be draw events, the same as the rest of the country.

Have your input now before we start planning the 2009 calendar!

Cheers,

SM

[Brad Y]

For sheer numbers steve, perth is a big one. Seems like most comps held in june when it used to be really good from the rains have either been held when the rains arent quite there. The fishing is hard and 5 fish for under 2kg is common. I would suggest later in july or august when it has cranked up and the big fish are aggro. I do believe that a 3.5kg bag could be possible and thats a cracker for perth.

Also I will be biased and say the blackwood as the fishing in november and december is great too, as is feb to may. But alot of people dont like it and wont go there. I guess it leaves walpole and albany. I think its a dead heat between the two, maybe favouring albany. Walpole just isnt as good as it used to be. You would have to look at the tides though and try to get it on a high tide for fishing the flats. I would say that october november or even february march might be a good time.

Yatesy

[knobby]

I have to back brad up on the blackwood call, although squeeze january in aswell. The place just produces good fish consistently through those months. I could even envisage 4-5 kg bags. Then add walpole or albany and a 3rd in perth. Oh yeah try to avoid the full moon in the blackwood on said months, can have low water all morning.

[macca85]

I think that like brad said perth would be a good one just for the sheer numbers. The swan would bring the biggest field in a WA comp IMO, and the weight of bags wouldnt be much different to what walpole or albany offered this year. Although the whole experience of the down south trips are half of the fun as well. any chance of just adding perth in as a third? would produce more ppl and entry fees.

[Steve Morgan]

Guys,

Remember that rules will be the same as the qualifiers for the rest of the country.

There will be 2 x qualifiers max. Queensland only has two and they average over 50 boats per event.

Also, Qualifier season runs from Feb to September.

Cheers,

SM

[Brad Y]

Szarn the only problem with that is you know down right well people have never and probably wont commit to the comps that early. Its sad that its the way it goes but for some reason its how they do it. Some people dont know until the week before if they can make it.

I agree looking only on friday, but who will enforce the no rods rule? ABT should run thier own rules as they always have, people should try to commit earlier if possible, and we need to have a better range of venues, not just two predominantly flats fishing locations. Perth is always going to get better numbers than anywhere else, then walpole and albany, blackwood then mandurah. Man made structure or big snags in one location then flats and dropoffs in the other. Seems like a fair compromise

Definitely perth in july/august. Walpole, Albany or Blackwood in march.

[Dowelly]

i think a different location then the ones said.
i know it will probably never happen or be over looked strait up, but pallinup or bremer is very capable of holding a ABT imo.
with pretty much an average size of 30cm fork, bags would look very nice.
even i get sick of fishing Albany and Walpole, a different location that hasnt had a hammering with lures could be a more enjoyable option, would see alot more full bags aswell.
i think this could get more numbers as people are willing to give a new location a go.

[Brad Y]

I agree, a bit earlier entry wont hurt. I dont think pal or bremer is viable dowelly, maybe for you guys but its seven hours towing a boat from here. Not sure what it is for perth but not far off that. Plus if the pal fired in only a few spots like it did for us, try getting 20-30 boats in there. Prop carnage, gelcoat chips... nope not for me, but lots of people its something to really think about. Plus what about people launching there with a commodore or falcon, can be done but it will be slow as. Definietly a good idea for a weekend down there but not for an ABT qualifer. I still think walpole is nothing like it used to be. Its good but not as good. Swan for sheer numbers of entries should be locked in. Its a great fishery if you prefish and work out where to go and what to use. We have seen walpole sized bags pulled from the swan before so why not?

[Bear]

As long as they are the number of Classics on the Swan as it stands I can't see the point of having yet another event there.

Personally, to get numbers you'd have to have the Pole. From there we can rotate between Albany, Augusta and Mandurah (for those who feel we need one close to Perth).

Feb at the Blackwood is pretty good and the Pole in Sep can be interesting, but that can always be brought back to April.

Same wth Mandurah, angry Feb fish and then the Pole.

Our issue, trust me we've been there many times, is getting places that can hold 30-40 plus boats. Not that easy in WA when you really want places close to accommodation, facilities etc.

[Bear]

Seems we had this discussion before around Mega-Bucks

As much as the Pole does allow for a lot of fish it does still challenge people in it's own way. In the end it's a magnet to anglers that can't be overlooked moving forward.

[deacon]

I would love to see one in the Blackwood in summer and one in the Murray in early winter or spring.

Deacon

[Dave Press]

What about Murchison, Kalbarri?

It's quite a big system, has bream from the mouth to well up and seriously good by catch (estuary cod, jacks, mulloway, big tailor, etc).

If we won't try that, then I'd go with Perth and Blackwood for 2009.

Dave

[Bear]

You're going to get that in any of the more populated places Szarn. How many times have we had issues on the Swan and Murray? Even the Frankland had it's twits.

[Brad Y]

Even though i wasnt there, i thought there was a bit of a rukkas made when the second comp was announced for a place other than perth. Yes even though there are classics on, two day events are totally different, fishing can be hot one day and hard the next. I know people might think of it as overdone, but its going to draw the most boats. If you want the comps to go on, you need boats. Nothing wrong with having one at walpole or albany, but i have heard alot of people bad mouthing walpole in the last year or so. Yes its still easy to get fish, but come on we have had a comp with walpole every year and the place gets flogged. Are people too scared not to fish it? Lets test the angling skill of people a bit more and try other places, I dont mind if its mandurah, perth, albany or the wood.

Walpole is overrated IMO, dont get me wrong i will fish it, but its overrated. Lets test people a bit. The swan continually tests people in comps, especially over two days....(wiping away a tear.....)

[Yardi]

My Two Cents worth.
Szan after fishing Walpole prior to the Albany round and thinking a little outside the square (going to the fish as you stated). It really opened up my eyes on what great bags you can pull from there. I believe alot of people myself included, tend to fish in the same way and the same spots at the Pole.
IMO I dont think you can overlook it for a comp, as long as the tides etc are taken into consideration, to allow for fishing both upstream and on the flats.
The Blackwood went from being my most hated location, to now my favourite, the place has some real big angry fish and trying to bullock some of those bigger fish from the snags, can really test an angler. Isnt that what its all about (Tournie fishing) testing an anglers skills and seeing at the end of the weekend who came out on top? No one said it was meant to be easy.
Albany was a great weekend, but for me its
1 at the Pole and 1 at the Blackwood
Cheers
Yardi