Hobie Fishing World Championship Welcomed in Texas

Hobie Cat Company has just welcomed and hosted 42 competitors representing 12 countries for the second annual Hobie Fishing World Championship. The final day has ended, but the fish, fun and international camaraderie will remain for many years to come for the team members that “angled” for the honor of being crowned World Champion. The event, presented by Daiwa, took place November 4-9 just outside Austin, Texas. All competitors fished for freshwater bass from identically rigged Hobie Mirage® Pro Angler kayaks provided by Hobie Cat Company and powered by the Hobie MirageDrive. They were all outfitted with Lowrance® Electronics and Ram® Mounting Systems. 42 competed, but it was Florida’s Marty Mood that took top honor, walking away as World Champion.

“The goal of the annual event will always be to continue building a platform for Hobie fishing competition in an environment embracing a common passion for fishing that overrides language and cultural barriers,” commented Doug Skidmore, president of Hobie Cat Company. “The event ignited the spirit of achievement and produced iconic moments and compelling stories. No matter where the anglers placed, they all had much to cheer about.”

The 2011 inaugural event in Port Macquarie, Australia was such a success that Hobie Cat and year one sponsors, Daiwa and Lowrance, were joined by new corporate partners this year including Columbia®, Gamakatsu®, Hobie Polarized and Ram® Mounting Systems. All seven companies contributed to make the Texas event possible by generously contributing to the prizes that went along with the coveted World title.

The competition was held on two well-known fisheries in Texas: Lake Bastrop and Fayette County Reservoir. Each of them holds the caliber of fish necessary for an international competition. Consistent with the conservation practices of the fisheries, the Hobie Fishing World’s was a Catch, Photograph and Release tournament (CPR). Each angler used this method to score their best three fish each day to reach their final three-day total.

Since 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and quality products. From their headquarters in Oceanside, California, Hobie Cat Company manufactures, distributes, and markets an impressive collection of watercraft worldwide. These include an ever-expanding line of recreation and racing sailboats, pedal-driven and paddle sit-on-top recreation and fishing kayaks, inflatable kayaks and fishing boats plus a complementary array of parts and accessories.
-END-