EP219 | 2025 WATA Boat Grand Final | Surface Lures, Big Bags & an Epic Albany Finish

The 2025 WATA Boat Grand Final takes us to Albany, Western Australia, where some of the country's best tournament anglers battle changing tides, windy conditions and one of Australia's most unique black bream fisheries.

This episode features interviews with all three podium teams as they break down the decisions that shaped the Grand Final.

🏆 David Bennett & Rory Laurens (The Tidal Tale) explain how committing to a surface bite around the harbour paid off with two outstanding bags and a convincing victory. Their willingness to trust Slippery Dogs, Bent Minnows and surface presentations when others were fishing more traditional patterns proved to be the winning formula.

🥈 Alex Griesdorf & Ben Oakes (Team Stinger) discuss another consistent championship campaign, how they secured Team of the Year honours, and the heartbreaking lost fish that may have made the Grand Final even closer.

🥉 Michael Sammut & Jeremy Jasinski (Team Sexual Chocolate) reveal how a massive final-day comeback, highlighted by Bent Minnows and carefully worked drop-offs, lifted them from tenth overnight to finish on the podium with the biggest bag of the tournament.

Throughout the episode you'll hear plenty of discussion about:

Fishing Albany's unique harbour and river systems.

Surface lure tactics for trophy black bream.

Bent Minnows, Slippery Dogs, Sugar Pens and soft plastics.

How to identify productive drop-offs and fish-holding pockets.

Boat positioning, wind management and fishing pressure.

Fine-tuning presentations for quality fish rather than numbers.