Swan River, WA — Kayak Round 2 Recap (26–27 July) | Hobie qualifier

This episode returns to Western Australia for a deep dive on Kayak Round 2 on the Swan River, held 26–27 July in conjunction with Hobie Fishing (a qualifying round for the Hobie Kayak Fishing Series). Andrew opens with bite windows and tides, then steps through the podium interviews with Matt McCarthy (3rd), Joseph Gardner (2nd), and winner Travis Newland (1st)—including how they adapted to a brutal weather change on Day 2.

Saturday:

Minor bite: 7:35–9:05 AM

Major bite: 12:33–3:03 PM

High tide: 10:12 AM (~0.7 m) → Low tide: 7:27 PM (~0.3 m)

Sunday:

Minor bite: 8:06–9:36 AM

Major bite: 1:19–3:49 PM

High tide: 10:39 AM → Low tide: 7:39 PM (0.35 m)

Day 1 Big Bream: Paul Siemaszko — 1.18 kg

Day 2 & Overall Big Bream + Monster Mover: Rick Raynham — 1.27 kg

Approach: Started near Garrett Road Bridge, then worked down to the Belmont stretch. Found stacked fish on live/side scan but many were shut down.

Key bites: Early flurry on an old jetty/marker line; upgraded along a two-metre contour where fish moved up and down “like a highway.”

Tackle notes: Mixed confidence baits (including mussel/crab profiles and light plastics); went as light as 3 lb straight-through fluorocarbon when bites were subtle.

Day 2: Weather made visual line control hard; persisted, left with a full bag late after grinding through rain and wind.

Takeaway: Commit to zones holding life (even when fish are lock-jaw) and cycle proven confidence baits patiently.

Prefish: Four sessions with patchy results from upriver to downriver; no firm pattern before the event.

Day 1 route: Tried Garrett Road Bridge (no eaters), then picked fish from Maylands Yacht Club/old jetty area and opposite banks; added reaction upgrades on small vibes when mussel bites were too slow.

Day 2 pivot: In severe cold/rain, timed a window at Claisebrook Cove—casting a pygmy mussel to the waterfall/drain edge before the drain began pumping hard again—pulling three key legals in ~90 minutes.

Tackle notes: Ran heavier leaders (6–8 lb) with prawn/mussel profiles; used a single rear hook on baby vibes to reduce weed/snags.

Result: Another consistent runner-up finish, crediting patience, timing and a crucial drain bite window.

Game plan: No recent prefish; trusted a down-river milk run and slow, heavy bottom work with compact yabby/creature profiles.

Day 1: Early fish from a creek mouth drop-off, then built a quality bag along the Belmont banks, working the drop-off methodically in current/wind.

Day 2 (storm): Paddled straight to the key stretch; landed a “kegger” behind an overhanging tree, then another big fish later. Finished with a strong third fish (~33 fork) to seal it.

Tackle notes: Predominantly a yabby/creature (“Bruce”) on a heavier jighead; 12 lb braid to 4 lb fluoro leader, light, soft-tipped rod to let big fish play out on clean ground.

Outcome: Win by ~700 g, plus Hobie AC qualifying spot and $650. Emphasis on patience, line control and repeated passes over a short, productive 50 m lane.

Reading wind/current lanes and depth contours (2 m “highways”).

When to stay ultra-finesse (straight-through light fluoro) vs. forcing a reaction with small vibes.

Timing drain/flow windows (bite flurries before outflow surges).

Managing mindset and decisions when it’s cold, wet, and slow—especially in kayaks.

Hosted by: 2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion Andrew Death.