▲TopSTARLO’S FISHING REPORT #16

▲TopAFC Outdoors Series 5

I recently returned from three weeks on the road shooting the fifth series of the very popular Australian Fishing Championships (AFC Outdoors) for Channel 10 and the Southern Cross Network.

For those not familiar with the series, the AFC is a made-for-television tournament circuit that pits the absolute cream of the nation’s bream, bass and barra tournament anglers against each other. This year, each of the four teams consisted of three members; a bream pro, a bass pro and a barra pro. There were two bream rounds, two bass rounds and two barra rounds, with the barra and bass anglers joining forces on the barra rounds.

Arenas for series five of the AFC were Forster and Nambucca Heads in NSW (for the bream events), Lakes Monduran and Cania in QLD (for bass) and Lakes Awoonga and Teemburra, also in QLD (for barra).

The four team sponsors were Humminbird, Berkley, Mercury and Club Marine, and the competing anglers were Cy and Kerrin Taylor, Tim Morgan, Carl Jocumsen, Darren “Dizzy” Borg, Scott Towner, Matt Mott, Jason Wilhelm, Harry Watson, Steve Duff and Jason Medcalf. All qualified for their roles through stellar performances on the ABT Tournament circuit throughout 2006/07. At the end of the series, three of these contenders will be relegated and new competitors chosen for series six in 2008, so it’s a fairly cut-throat business, with everything on the line for the anglers!

Several of this year’s arenas were selected specifically because they are renowned for being very tough venues (specifically the Nambucca River for bream and Monduran Dam for bass) and the pro’s did struggle to fill their bags at these locations, but I suspect viewers will find this quite fascinating in itself, and will marvel at the tricks, techniques, tactics and tackle used by the eventual winners.

There’s some absolutely stunning footage in this year’s series of the AFC, with extensive use of helicopter shots and underwater cameras to really spice up the action. You won’t want to miss a single episode! The commentary team was also expanded, with former Moto GP motorbike riding legend and sports commentator, Daryl Beattie, joining Adam “Mad Dog” Royter and myself in calling the action on the water and interviewing the competitors.

The series goes to air earlier in the season than normal this year, commencing on the last weekend in October with a daytime slot on the weekends (see draft schedule below). Check your program guides for up-to-date details and any last-minute schedule changes… But don’t miss it!

Tight Lines!

AFC SERIES #5 DRAFT SCHEDULE (Channel 10/Southern Star)

Episode #1 – Forster Bream: 12 Noon Saturday 27th October, 2007
Episode #2 – Nambucca Bream: 12 Noon Saturday 3rd November, 2007
Episode #3 – Monduran Bass: 12 Noon Saturday 10th November, 2007
Episode #4 – Cania Bass: 12 Noon Saturday 17th November, 2007
Episode #5 – Awoonga Barra: 12 Noon Saturday 24th November, 2007
Episode #6 – Teemburra Barra: 12 Noon Saturday 1st December, 2007

ONE WEEK BREAK
Episode #7 – ABT BREAM Grand Final, 12 noon, Saturday 15th December, 2007