Mallacoota Turns It On For Humminbird Invitational.
Mallacoota Invitational 2008 Report
Posted: July 23 2007 10:00pm
©2008 Vic Bream Classics
Comp
Pos
|
Team
Name
|
Angler's
Name
|
Rnd1
Fish
|
Rnd 1
Weight
|
Rnd2
Fish
|
Rnd 2
Weight
|
Total
Fish
|
Total
Weight
|
1
|
Team Nitro
|
Matt Campbell
Thuan Huynh
|
5
|
5.84
|
3
|
3.46
|
8
|
9.30
|
2
|
Mitchell Fishing & Outdoor
|
Aaron Dyer
Graeme Dear
|
5
|
3.94
|
5
|
4.66
|
10
|
8.60
|
3
|
Smack That
|
Brad Hodges
Mike Hodges
|
5
|
5.78
|
4
|
2.68
|
9
|
8.46
|
4
|
Team Gulp Alive
|
Jarrod Healey
Steve Steer
|
4
|
4.40
|
4
|
3.46
|
8
|
7.86
|
5
|
Salty Dog Films
|
Warren Carter
Jordan Trusty
|
5
|
4.76
|
3
|
2.42
|
8
|
7.18
|
6
|
Giddy Up
|
Alex Franchuck
Paul Malov
|
3
|
3.04
|
5
|
3.96
|
8
|
7.00
|
7
|
McCallums B & T
|
Steve Gill
Simon Pender
|
5
|
4.94
|
4
|
1.96
|
9
|
6.90
|
8
|
Cepac Towbars
|
Kevin Tormey
Rob Williams
|
5
|
3.34
|
5
|
3.54
|
10
|
6.88
|
9
|
Team Humminbird
|
Wayne Friebe
Shaun Clancy
|
5
|
3.26
|
5
|
3.48
|
10
|
6.74
|
10
|
Samboaris
|
Shaun Quirke
Dale Pattison
|
5
|
3.32
|
5
|
3.20
|
10
|
6.52
|
11
|
Team Bunch Marine USA
|
Nick Glenn
Barry Johnson
|
4
|
2.92
|
5
|
3.32
|
9
|
6.24
|
12
|
Team Billfisher
|
Doug Phayer
Danny Torgersen
|
4
|
2.32
|
5
|
3.78
|
9
|
6.10
|
13
|
Fish-A-Fare
|
Shane Barling
Trent Stephenson
|
5
|
3.34
|
3
|
2.66
|
8
|
6.00
|
14
|
Colac Tackle
|
Steve Parker
Dan Mackrell
|
4
|
2.72
|
5
|
3.18
|
9
|
5.90
|
15
|
Uk-Lyptus
|
Clyde Hulme
Ralph Norman
|
4
|
2.34
|
5
|
3.22
|
9
|
5.56
|
16
|
Knuckle Draggers
|
Warwick Hamer
Ken McCoombe
|
5
|
3.64
|
4
|
1.88
|
9
|
5.52
|
17
|
TyrePower JigPro
|
Dean Gamble
Mark Cribbes
|
5
|
3.36
|
3
|
2.16
|
8
|
5.52
|
18
|
Gunnas Surf
|
Matt Kerr
Michael White
|
5
|
2.98
|
5
|
2.46
|
10
|
5.44
|
19
|
Top Enders
|
Romeo Prezioso
Carl Di Toro
|
5
|
5.20
|
0
|
0.00
|
5
|
5.20
|
20
|
Portland Bait - Nelson Pub
|
Nathan McKernan
Stuart McKinnon
|
4
|
2.74
|
4
|
2.40
|
8
|
5.14
|
21
|
Mako Eyewear
|
Steve Wheeler
Gary Lockyer
|
5
|
3.84
|
3
|
1.30
|
8
|
5.14
|
22
|
Nelson Boat Hire
|
Chris Carson
Brett Carson
|
4
|
2.10
|
5
|
2.94
|
9
|
5.04
|
23
|
MRB Communications
|
Bill Boyton
Stuart Hindson
|
5
|
2.50
|
5
|
2.48
|
10
|
4.98
|
24
|
Chemically Sharp
|
Damien McGlynn
Glenn Doyle
|
4
|
3.72
|
2
|
1.18
|
6
|
4.90
|
25
|
Hank Hunters
|
Dwayne Nielsen
Lucas Smith
|
4
|
1.86
|
5
|
3.02
|
9
|
4.88
|
26
|
Team TanCam
|
Cameron Whittam
Tan Trieu
|
1
|
0.66
|
4
|
4.20
|
5
|
4.86
|
27
|
Compleat Angler Melb
|
Karina Pierotti
Ben Scullin
|
3
|
1.96
|
5
|
2.90
|
8
|
4.86
|
28
|
Balls Deep
|
Stuart Buckingham
Steve Joy
|
5
|
2.90
|
3
|
1.54
|
8
|
4.44
|
29
|
Team Lowrance
|
Phil Smallman
Sing Ling
|
2
|
1.31
|
5
|
3.04
|
7
|
4.35
|
30
|
Bite Me
|
Tony Schroeder
Steven Terbos
|
0
|
0.00
|
5
|
4.16
|
5
|
4.16
|
31
|
Whitehead Timber Sales
|
Dean Truman
Shane Hill
|
4
|
2.74
|
2
|
1.06
|
6
|
3.80
|
32
|
Wirthrods
|
Greg Wirth
Hugh Wirth
|
2
|
1.46
|
2
|
1.74
|
4
|
3.20
|
33
|
The Bream Reapers
|
Marc Po*****
David McKinnis
|
1
|
0.54
|
3
|
2.36
|
4
|
2.90
|
34
|
Team Mako
|
Tim Atkins
Frank Tzorkzoukas
|
4
|
1.88
|
1
|
0.74
|
5
|
2.62
|
35
|
Breamlardens
|
Mat Hedger
Mat Wright
|
2
|
1.82
|
0
|
0.00
|
2
|
1.82
|
36
|
Full To The Bream
|
Sandy Moorhouse
Dave Murray
|
1
|
1.40
|
1
|
0.40
|
2
|
1.80
|
37
|
Bag-A-Bream
|
Josh VanHeek
Katie VanHeek
|
2
|
1.74
|
0
|
0.00
|
2
|
1.74
|
38
|
S.O.C
|
Graeme Taylor
Chris Burbidge
|
2
|
1.50
|
0
|
0.00
|
2
|
1.50
|
39
|
Team Doma
|
Damien Domagala
Zig Domagala
|
2
|
1.44
|
0
|
0.00
|
2
|
1.44
|
40
|
AMPOL
|
Brodie Palmer
Rodney Palmer
|
2
|
0.90
|
1
|
0.46
|
3
|
1.36
|
41
|
Lure Only
|
Martin Fellows
Mike Doody
|
0
|
0.00
|
1
|
0.88
|
1
|
0.88
|
42
|
No Excuse
|
John Wilkinson
Leo Guaraldo
|
0
|
0.00
|
1
|
0.40
|
1
|
0.40
|
43
|
12 Apostles Helicopters
|
Barry Thomas
Chris Allwood
|
1
|
0.36
|
0
|
0.00
|
1
|
0.36
|
44
|
Dead Ducks
|
Daryl Baird
Bradley Lestrange
|
0
|
0.00
|
0
|
0.00
|
0
|
0.00
|
45
|
Noel Clarks Tackle
|
Stephen Emerson
Mark Hayes
|
0
|
0.00
|
0
|
0.00
|
0
|
0.00
|
46
|
Westcoast Anglers
|
Tony Hynds
Paul Anderson
|
0
|
0.00
|
0
|
0.00
|
0
|
0.00
|
47
|
Whatever
|
Philip Knight
Gillian Knight
|
0
|
0.00
|
0
|
0.00
|
0
|
0.00
|
48
|
Team Berkley
|
Shane Dyason
Andrew Axon
|
0
|
0.00
|
0
|
0.00
|
0
|
0.00
|
It felt like only yesterday I was reporting on the 1st round of the 2008 Humminbird Vic Bream Classic Series from Mallacoota and yet here I am again covering the big one, the 2008 Humminbird Vic Bream Classic Invitational. What a huge weekend it was with 48 of the States best bream teams set to battle it out on the mighty Mallacoota Inlet. The weekend of the 18th & 19th of October was the date for the event and with the weather playing its part dishing up beautiful blue skies and warm conditions a huge weekend was definitely in store. For Team Nitro’s Matt Campbell and Thuan Huynh a huge weekend was an understatement as they were about to experience the biggest moment in their tournament fishing careers.
The whisper from pre-fish was that there was some good fish being landed on both hard bodies and soft plastics which got everyone a little excited. On day 1 anglers were greeted with an awesome sunrise, no wind and an already mild temperature, which was a stark contrast to the usual cold wind, drizzle and black skies that the Vic Bream Classic anglers have come to expect when competing through the winter months. The boats were away at full pace, yet another great feature of Mallacoota tournaments and with half the field heading towards Gypsy Point and the other half heading towards Fairhaven they would be well spread right throughout the system. For Team Nitro they headed off 36th on day one and made their way to Fairhaven. When they found a sandy bank at Fairhaven that didn’t already have another team working it they decided to start their shot at the title. Using a combination of G-Loomis rods, Diawa reels, 3-6lb Berkley Crystal Fire-line and 3-4lb Siglon and Yamatoyo fluorocarbon leaders the boys proceeded to make long casts into the shallows using Jackall Chubbies, Team Diawa Spikes, Eco-Gear SX40 & 48’s and Culteva Mirrashads. “We would cast as close to the bank as possible and with a high rod tip would rip the lures through the weed and surprisingly as the lure would come up out of the weed the bream would slam it even if it had been fouled with weed” Matt said. The beauty of this method was that the boys managed to cover areas that other teams had already fished with plastics and present a different technique which resulted in some quality fish making their way to the net. After a cracking day on the water Team Nitro presented 5/5 bream for a whopping 5.84kg giving them Saturday’s Berkley Best Bag Prize, the Eco-Gear Big Bream lead with a horse of a bream weighing 1.6kg and a handy lead going into day 2. Using a totally different strategy of flicking Berkley Gulp 6inch Camo Worms into snags, Team Smack That’s Brad and Mike Hodges were hot on Team Nitro’s heals in 2nd place with 5.78kg. With Team Smack That seeing the chance to complete the unthinkable in winning back to back Grand Final victories, Team Nitro would have a huge fight on their hands come day 2.
Sundays Day 2 start was a carbon copy of the weather from the previous day and when the field was let go there was no surprise that a lot more boats headed to the Fairhaven area than the day before. With the added pressure of more boats following them, the Grand Final on the line and a camera crew on board to film them Matt and Thuan knew they had to get some good fish early to settle the nerves. “We felt it was important to focus on duplicating our efforts from the pervious day and fish similar structure and methods as we knew the fish were there it was just a matter of tempting them” Matt said. Tempt them they did as early on day 2 the boys hooked into a 38cm fork length fish and then another solid fish. As the camera boat left them it looked all but a formality for Team Nitro to claim victory. As 11am approached the wind started to really blow and I received a phone call, it was Matt from Team Nitro. “Bill the fishing has shut down, we have three good fish, but one of the big 40cm bream we landed doesn’t look well and if we don’t weigh in now we risk losing him so we’re coming in early” Matt said. To give up two hours of fishing when in front in a Grand Final with only 3 bream in the well must have been a very tough decision to make, but the boys knew that one good bream was worth 2 average fish and were prepared to take the risk.
Team Nitro started the final days weigh in with 3 bream for 3.46kg giving them a total of 8/10 bream for 9.30kg. Considering no team had won a Vic Bream Classic at Mallacoota with less than a 10kg bag it didn’t look good for the boys. I was sure that Team Smack That would come over the top and take the win. As Team Smack That weighed in the tension was high, they only had 4 bream but how big where they? The scale displayed 2.68kg which was not enough, Team Nitro had held off one challenge. No one seemed to be getting close to the boys until Team Mitchell Fishing & Outdoors walked up with a bag that looked all of 5kgs. Sitting in 7th position with 3.94kg on Day 1 they needed 5.37kg to knock off Team Nitro. As the scales settled the display read 4.66kg, a cracking bag and Sunday’s Berkley Best Bag winners but not enough to take victory away from Team Nitro.
Matt Campbell and Thuan Huynh of Team Nitro had done it, the 2008 Humminbird Vic Bream Classic Champions and had also taken out the Eco-Gear Big Bream along the way with there 1.6kg bream from the day before. “It is an absolute dream to have our names on the Humminbird Vic Bream Classic Series Perpetual Champions Trophy, I can’t believe it” Thuan said.
Look out for Team Nitro in the 2009 Humminbird Vic Bream Classic Series as they try to defend their crown.
