OFFICIAL DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2018 HOBIE FISHING WORLDS COMPETITION IN AMAL, SWEDEN
OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA (October 26, 2017) – Hobie, the worldwide leader of personal watersport products, today announced the official dates for the seventh-annual Hobie Fishing Worlds Competition. Anglers from across the globe will meet in Amal, Sweden from May 15-20, 2018 to compete for the Hobie Fishing World Championship title. The event will take place on the western waters of Lake Vanern, Sweden’s largest lake and the third largest lake in Europe.
“This year’s championship in Sweden is set to be our best one yet, with anglers chasing the huge legendary predators that stalk the waters of Lake Vanern," said Steve Fields, Hobie Fishing World’s Tournament Director. "I can’t wait, we’ve got the top fishing talent coming from across the globe, and it should be an absolutely fantastic competition."
The world’s best kayak fishermen will be fishing from 2018 Hobie Mirage® Pro Angler 14 kayaks driven by Hobie’s MirageDrive® 180 pedal system, equipped with both forward and reverse capabilities. The angler that catches the highest cumulative length of Pike and Perch, within the daily tournament limit, over the three-day championship will be crowned the 2018 Hobie Fishing World Champion.
The Catch-Photo-Release (CPR) format will be used by the world’s elite kayak anglers, who will target two species. The first is Pike, a veracious ambush predator that can measure up to 140cm. The second target species is Perch, a common fish in Lake Vanern that tend to lie in wait, hide in structure, and attack their prey often taking lure presentations that are nearly as big as themselves.
“I think 2018 will be the strongest field we've seen yet,” said Keeton Eoff, Director of Global Strategy and Development at Hobie. “The Europeans have qualified an incredibly talented team this year of very strategic and versatile anglers, and the conditions on Lake Vanern in May will play favor to local knowledge. However, the Europeans will have to defeat the top kayak anglers in the world and that list of names will include Lessard and Somerton, two of the world's best!"
History of Hobie Fishing Worlds: The Hobie Fishing World Championship began in 2011 in Australia, and has since been hosted on four continents. The event more than doubled in size in the second championship, held in Texas in 2012. In 2013 the championship returned to Australia. 2014’s event in Vinkeveen Plassen in the Netherlands gave anglers across the globe their first world championship experience in Europe. In 2015, anglers tested their skills on Shang Lake in Changshu, China. In 2016, and action-packed championship was held in the marshes of Louisiana.
Past Hobie Fishing Worlds Champions:
•2011 – Scott Baker (Australia)
•2012 – Marty Mood (USA)
•2013 – Richard Somerton (Australia)
•2014 – Steve Lessard (USA)
•2015 – Xiaohong Ma (China)
•2016 – Steve Lessard (USA)
Event website hobiefishingworlds.com
Sponsors: Hobie Fishing Worlds presented by Rhino Rack is sponsored by Gerber, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Aftco, Daiwa, RAM, Yakattack, Lurefan, Hobie Polarized and Mustad. For more information about the competition, visit www.hobiefishingworlds.com.
About Hobie: Since 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and innovative quality products. From their worldwide headquarters in Oceanside, California, Hobie Cat Company manufactures, distributes, and markets an impressive collection of watercraft, with subsidiaries; Hobie Cat Australasia, in Huskisson, NSW, Australia and Hobie Cat Europe, in Toulon, and independent distributors; Hobie Kayak Europe and Hobie Cat Brasil. These products include an ever-expanding line of recreation and racing sailboats, pedal-driven and paddle sit-on-top recreation and fishing kayaks, inflatable kayaks, fishing boats, surfboards, stand-up paddleboards and the new Hobie Mirage® Eclipse Stand Up pedalboards, plus a complementary array of parts and accessories.
