Some of you know I recently purchased a Hobie Quest 11 as a suitable kayak to use for bass fishing in rivers and creeks as well as flats fishing for Whiting on open sand flats. I have owned a few smaller kayaks in my time and I rate the Hobie Quest 11 as the best yet.

Hobie has had a Quest 13 in their range for some time, I too owned one and I loved it but in comparison the recently released Quest 11 has some excellent new features, the solid lifting handles, the draining stowage pockets, the replaceable keel guard, an additional 8" Twist and Seal Hatch and the self draining foot well make the Quest 11 an awesome fishing kayak. 




The first trip out in my Quest 11 I was amazed at the comfort level of the seated position, as well a superior stability and tracking which came to into my spot light when paddling into and across strong currents. The Quest 11 held its
position and was not dragged or towed off line, With plenty of in hull storage accessible from three area of the hull I could keep warm clothes dry and have plenty of snacks,  water and emergency supplies stored.

I have done little to customise my Hobie Quest 11,  simply adding a scotty raised rod mount on the console, this will allow me to either fit a single scotty rod holder or if I feel I need more rod holders I can also slot my Scotty Triple Bar mount in there which will allow me to have up to three rod holders.


To check out my overview of my Hobie Quest 11 go here.

Recently I competed in my first ABT Kayak Fishing Tournament at the Lake Macdonald round on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. 

The fishing was tough with a south easterly wind gusting during the day with a cooler temperature and squally showers passing through, 

It was encouraging to see forty two  competitors for the event.  Of these nineteen caught fish and twenty three of us including myself did not catch a bass, although I did manage a couple of larger size Boney Bream bait fish on a blade lure. 
I certainly enjoyed the weekend and it was great to meet other kayak fisher people with similar interests. I was particularly amazed at the long distance some competitors travel to attend these events. I came across anglers from   Canberra, Sydney and south of Sydney including a majority from south east Queensland.

All eyes are now focused on the next round in the series to be held at Maroon Dam near Boonah in South East Queensland on 24 August 2013.  It would be sensational if we could get over fifty anglers to attend this one, I am thinking we will as it is so much closer to Ipswich, Brisbane and the Gold Coast where a lot of local Bass fisher people are based. 

For more information on the Lake Macdonald Kayak Fishing results go here. 

For more information on the up coming Maroon Dam ABT Kayak Fishing event go here. 

Recently I sold  some kayaks to gather some money to buy a Hobie Pro Angler 12, one of the kayaks I sold was my WS Tarpon 100 and just about on the day I sold, it my good friend Steven Micalef called me and asked me if I wanted to go down to the Queensland border to fish for some Murray river cod. 

Naturally I accepted his invitation to go, but I was without a kayak suitable for the trip. So after fishing along side Steven on many occasions in his Hobie Quest 11, I decided to get one as well. It was a easy decision to make really as my second fishing kayak I ever owned was a Hobie Quest 13 and I had some wonderful fishing trips in that kayak.  I called Sunstate Hobie and organised one and Steven even picked it up for me to bring it out to Ipswich. 

So recently we made the trip down to Texas and fished the near by river, check out my report here 

I have all intentions to fish the first of the Queensland Rounds of the ABT Kayak Bass Series next weekend at Queensland's 
Lake Macdonald on the Sunshine Coasts hinterland Saturday 11 May 2013. 

This is the first time the ABT has held a full series of Bass Tournaments after trailing some events last year. The tournaments are based on catch, photo , release, so there is no need for you to carry a live well on board your kayak.  Also of significance is there is no need to be an ABT member to fish these events unless you qualify for the grand final.  So its fifty dollars to enter . 

For More information on the events go here, http://www.hobiefishing.com.au/