Cy and Kerrin Taylor continued their successful 2009 Daiwa Barramundi Tour with a 1st and 2nd place finish at the Sunline Peter Faust 2-day morning event. Fishing together as Team Shimano/Millerods the Taylor brothers found consistent bites over the two days to finish over a meter ahead of their nearest competitors. With Cy securing victory at the previous Teemburra event, the result at Faust handed him the Northern Barra Angler of the Year title. With the tour now heading south to events at Awoonga and Monduran, the task of securing the Southern and overall Barra Angler of the Year honors, is clearly on the agenda for these talented anglers.
Cy Taylor 9/10, 651cm captured victory at Faust with 83cm separating him from his brother Kerrin 9/10, 568cm . Fishing small bays deep in the timber at the back of the dam, Cy identified areas adjacent to deeper water that presented horizontal timber and structure. Tying off to trees, Cy would cast into the shallows before retrieving the lure with small hops.
“The water temperature was quite warm (approx 29-30 degrees) in the areas we identified. We found the fish were moving into deeper water, around 3 meters, where it was around two degrees cooler. We found three areas that provided fish over the two days. Consequently I was able to catch my limit on day 1 and four on day 2.”
A 110mm Squidgy Pro Slick Rig in Drop Bear colour fitted with a size 4 stinger treble through the belly proved to be the lure of choice. Alternating with a Rapala X-Rap in green Cy was able to secure the bites on offer.
“On day one the bites came fairly early. As the sun got up it became more difficult, but we both got our limits. Come day two the weather and wind changed, making conditions more challenging. We found that when the sun would come over the bites would often follow. We both secured four fish for the session and fortunately in the end that was enough.”
Cy’s outfit consisted of a Millerods Salty Barra rod teamed with a Shimano Core 100mg reel spooled with 20lb Fins braid and 80lb Black Magic Tough Trace leader. Kerrin used a Millerods High Roller rod teamed with a Shimano Curado reel spooled with 20lb Shimano Power Pro braid and 80lb Black Magic Tough Trace leader.
“We tend to use lighter breaking strain braid, as it allows for better feel and finesse. You may have to freespool if you get caught in the timber, but the bites you otherwise gain make it worthwhile.”
Robert Ebzery captured the events Big Barra of 117cm on day two of the tournament. Caught around 10am on a weedy point, the barramundi fell to a Stiffy Bony Bream lure in silver. Going deep the barramundi slugged it out before finally succumbing, much to the pleasure of Ebzery. Aaron Moggs session one beast of 115cm narrowly missed out to Ebzery’s fine catch.
Overall 124 barramundi were caught over the two days of the event with an average size of 63.59cm. The 2008 event at Peter Faust saw only 52 barramundi caught overall. Lindsey Dobe from the Peter Faust Dam Fish Stocking Association gratefully accepted a stocking donation of $250 for further continuation of the organisations great work. With water levels up and fish found scattered throughout the dam, ABT is sure to return to this great fishery in the not to distant future.
The Daiwa Barramundi Tour now travels south to Lake Awoonga for the Daiwa Night Championship event, Sat 28th – Sun 29th November. Briefing is on Saturday, 2.30pm at the Awoonga Dam Foreshore (adjacent to Rangers Hut), with the event beginning at 4pm and ending at 8am on Sunday 29th November. For further information on the Daiwa Barramundi Tour check out www.australianbarra.com.au or contact ABT on (07) 3387 0888 (B/H).
| Place | Angler | F1 | L1 | F2 | L2 | TF | TL | Cash | Prizes |
| 1 | Cy Taylor | 5 | 362 | 4 | 289 | 9 | 651 | $1200 + $181 1st Pro | Daiwa Heartland rod & reel Prize Pack |
| 2 | Kerrin Taylor | 5 | 318 | 4 | 250 | 9 | 568 | $700 + $181 1st Pro | Millerod StabStick Camo rod, Tica Caman & Prize Pack |
| 3 | Trent Power | 3 | 176 | 4 | 291 | 7 | 467 | $500 | Blue Acres Lamiglas rod & Prize Pack |
| 4 | Mike Connolly | 1 | 57 | 5 | 334 | 6 | 391 | $400 | Spotters Prize Pack & Prize Pack |
| 5 | Donovan Power | 5 | 313 | 1 | 60 | 6 | 373 | $300 | Berkley Prize Pack |
| 6 | Jason Crofts | 5 | 312 | 1 | 58 | 6 | 370 | $200 | Berkley Prize Pack |
| 7 | Matt McArthur | 3 | 199 | 3 | 163 | 6 | 362 | Halco Prize Pack | |
| 8 | Len Schneider | 4 | 243 | 1 | 58 | 5 | 301 | Bozos Prize Pack | |
| 9 | Brook Ebzery | 4 | 284 | 4 | 284 | Jinkai Prize Pack | |||
| 10 | Lindsay Dobe | 3 | 237 | 1 | 44 | 4 | 281 | Prize Pack | |
| 11 | Willem Reichard | 4 | 258 | 4 | 258 | ||||
| 12 | Issac Toivanen | 3 | 166 | 2 | 91 | 5 | 257 | ||
| 13 | Richard Todd | 1 | 55 | 3 | 200 | 4 | 255 | ||
| 14 | Wes Blanch | 2 | 130 | 2 | 124 | 4 | 254 | ||
| 15 | Robert Ebzery | 2 | 196 | 2 | 196 | Daiwa Big Barra (117cm) | |||
| 16 | Spencer Troxell | 2 | 119 | 1 | 62 | 3 | 181 | ||
| 17 | Craig Birkett | 1 | 74 | 2 | 107 | 3 | 181 | ||
| 18 | Rob Wood | 2 | 117 | 1 | 56 | 3 | 173 | ||
| 19 | Tom Wood | 1 | 55 | 2 | 116 | 3 | 171 | ||
| 20 | Greg Birkett | 3 | 167 | 3 | 167 | ||||
| 21 | Jock Craig | 2 | 149 | 2 | 149 | ||||
| 22 | Jon Millard | 2 | 135 | 2 | 135 | ||||
| 23 | Phill Lyons | 2 | 123 | 2 | 123 | ||||
| 24 | Kerry Symes | 1 | 52 | 1 | 64 | 2 | 116 | ||
| 25 | Aaron Mogg | 1 | 115 | 1 | 115 | ||||
| 26 | Trevor Burgess | 1 | 56 | 1 | 55 | 2 | 111 | ||
| 27 | Peter Price | 2 | 108 | 2 | 108 | ||||
| 28 | Dean Silvester | 1 | 41 | 1 | 44 | 2 | 85 | ||
| 29 | Colin Slade | 1 | 80 | 1 | 80 | ||||
| 29 | Jason Wilhelm | 1 | 80 | 1 | 80 | ||||
| 31 | Matthew Murray | 1 | 74 | 1 | 74 | ||||
| 32 | Michael Schneider | 1 | 63 | 1 | 63 | ||||
| 33 | Joshua Meale | 1 | 61 | 1 | 61 | ||||
| 34 | Robert Mason | 1 | 58 | 1 | 58 | ||||
| 35 | Chris Nagiello | 1 | 56 | 1 | 56 | ||||
| 35 | Daniel Grech | 1 | 56 | 1 | 56 | ||||
| 35 | Mark Thompson | 1 | 56 | 1 | 56 | ||||
| 37 | Elaine Sanderson | 1 | 56 | 1 | 56 | ||||
| 39 | Paul Anderson | 1 | 55 | 1 | 55 | ||||
| 40 | Matt Coleman | 1 | 54 | 1 | 54 | ||||
| 41 | Jason Sutton | 1 | 53 | 1 | 53 | ||||
| 42 | Aaron Clifford | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Alan McNamara | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Arthur Lovern | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Cam Pratt | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Chris Anderson | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Enzo Minuzzo | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Jarrod Dalton | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Jeff Eales | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Katie Sanderson | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Les Reibelt | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Matt Martin | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Nicholas Saward | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 42 | Patrick Morgan | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 71 | 4547 | 53 | 3338 | 124 | 7885 | ||||
| 64.04 | 62.98 | 63.59 |
| Place | Team | Angler 1 | Angler 2 | Total |
| 1 | Shimano/Millerods | Cy Taylor | Kerrin Taylor | 1219 |
| 2 | Power | Trent Power | Donovan Power | 840 |
| 3 | Gulpin Xraps | Willem Reichard | Jason Crofts | 628 |
| 4 | Koolabung Lures | Wes Blanch | Len Schneider | 555 |
| 5 | McArthur Customs | Matt McArthur | Spencer Troxell | 543 |
| 6 | Quantum Fishing Team | Lindsay Dobe | Richard Todd | 536 |
| 7 | Evinrude E-TEC HO | Mike Connolly | Kerry Symes | 507 |
| 8 | Teaser | Brook Ebzery | Robert Ebzery | 480 |
| 9 | INDT | Craig Birkett | Greg Birkett | 348 |
| 10 | Gin Gin Hotel | Rob Wood | Tom Wood | 344 |
| 11 | The Compleat Anglers | Issac Toivanen | Cam Pratt | 257 |
| 12 | Gamakatsu/Mako | Dean Silvester | Phill Lyons | 208 |
| 13 | In The Zone | Robert Mason | Jock Craig | 207 |
| 14 | J.T. Reel Repairs | Daniel Grech | Jon Millard | 191 |
| 15 | Berkley | Trevor Burgess | Chris Nagiello | 167 |
| 16 | Humminbird | Colin Slade | Mark Thompson | 136 |
| 17 | We’re On | Jason Sutton | Matthew Murray | 127 |
| 18 | McBarra | Les Reibelt | Aaron Mogg | 115 |
| 19 | Reidy’s Lures | Peter Price | Arthur Lovern | 108 |
| 20 | Shimano/Etec | Jason Wilhelm | Alan McNamara | 80 |
| 21 | SMP | Michael Schneider | Enzo Minuzzo | 63 |
| 22 | Scruby Shaggers | Nicholas Saward | Joshua Meale | 61 |
| 23 | Tackle Warehouse Ladies | Elaine Sanderson | Katie Sanderson | 56 |
| 24 | Barrameters | Chris Anderson | Paul Anderson | 55 |
| 25 | Compleat Angler | Matt Coleman | Jeff Eales | 54 |
| 26 | Predator | Matt Martin | Aaron Clifford | 0 |
| 27 | Team Engel | Jarrod Dalton | Patrick Morgan | 0 |