Hobie 2026: New Owners, New Energy + Full Series 17 Calendar Reveal

Today’s a special one: Chris Purnell joins me to wrap Series 16, explain the big Hobie ownership change, and reveal the 2025 Hobie Kayak Fishing Series (Series 17) calendar — including a mid-week Bemm River opener, a Tassie double-header, and Mallacoota in October leading into a Victorian AC. What we cover Hobie ownership update: context on the restructure and the brand’s move under Bass Pro’s White River Marine Group, and what that means for AU/NZ dealers, parts, and anglers. Series 16 takeaways: tough late-season fishing (e.g., Wallaga Lake), standout bags, and why some arenas deserve a second look. Series 17 (2025) calendar & key notes (dates/locations below). Shout-outs to anglers (the heart of the series) and sponsors (incl. naming-rights partner Daiwa). 2025 Hobie Kayak Fishing Series (Series 17) – Dates & Locations (AC = Australian Championship; pre-Fish and lay day marked where relevant) Early Feb — AC (Australia): exact dates/location TBA (announcement ASAP). Feb 17–18 (Tue–Wed) — Bemm River, VIC (mid-week) Feb 16 (Mon) — pre-Fish Feb 19 (Thu) — lay day Feb 21–22 (Sat–Sun) — Marlo, VIC Feb 20 (Fri) — pre-Fish Mar 20–21 — Wallaga Lake, NSW Apr 8–9 (mid-week) — Little Swanport, TAS Apr 10 — pre-Fish Apr 11–12 — Swan River, TAS Tassie travel option: indicative Spirit of Tasmania sailings discussed (in via Geelong→Devonport ~Mon Apr 6, out Sun Apr 13). Most anglers base in Swansea. Local partners: Tasmanian Kayak Fishing Series & Launceston Angling Club (local bump tubs/scales). Limited loan kayaks likely; details to be confirmed via Hobie AU. May 2–3 — Forster, NSW Jun 20–21 — Georges River, NSW Jul 18–19— Lake Macquarie, NSW Aug 15–16 — Gold Coast, QLD (Broadwater Tourist Park launch as per usual setup) September — No round (spring transition month) Oct 10–11 — Mallacoota, VIC November — AC (Victoria) TBA (southern venue; details to follow) Start / Briefing times: Events typically run a briefing ~6:30am with start ~7:00am — please confirm each round’s official times on the event listing. Why these dates? Targeting better tides/moons than Series 16’s back-half. Tassie double-header to make travel worthwhile (Little Swanport → Swan River). Forster in early May (historically strong window). Gold Coast mid-August to avoid clashes and school-holiday pressure. Mallacoota in October to set up a Victorian AC in November. Quick acknowledgements (from Chris) Anglers: there’s no series without you. Sponsors: especially Daiwa (naming rights) and the many family-run partners backing the tour. Hobie AU team behind the scenes: Brad, Darryl, Zoe, Tamika, Scotty, Mick, Shane, and more. If you’re looking at Tassie, start scoping accommodation around Swansea and keep an eye out for the Spirit of Tasmania details mentioned in the episode. For loan-kayak availability and local logistics, contact the Hobie AU media team via the email referenced in the show. — Guest: Chris Purnell Host: Andrew De (2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion) Show: The Bream Fishing Project