NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - Hobie Fishing Team Member Ty Hibbs, of Metairie, Louisiana, measured a combined limit of 112 inches to win the 2017 IFA Kayak Tour Championship presented by Hobie Fishing on October 21 at Venice, Louisiana. Hibbs fishes for Hobie dealer Massey’s Outfitters in New Orleans. He won a new Hobie Mirage Pro Angler kayak and a Power-Pole Micro Anchor for his first-place finish.
IFA Kayak Tour anglers faced stiff winds each day of the two-day event, making on-the-water travel difficult.
“Hobie definitely made the difference for the tourney. I was able to fish constantly while still moving around which is so key when redfishing and because I did around 8 miles on the first day and 14 on the second day,” Hibbs said. He continued: “Paddle kayaks just aren’t able to do the distances we do in our Hobies especially as stealthy as the fins can be over paddles and props.”
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Hibbs said the water was clean and falling, which he loves. He targeted his limit with popping corks with Berkley Gulp! and top-water baits in the Port Sulphur area.
“The ability to reverse using the MirageDrive 180 was key when catching my trout because I was able to stay in the current without an anchor and repeatedly catch trout in that spot without ever running over them,” he said.
Hibbs won by more than 1 ½ inches, partly due to his lunker redfish on day two that measured 40.75 inches and netted Hibbs the Berkley Gulp! Big Redfish Award.
“It was awesome to win the championship. I have always chased the win in an IFA because of the high level of competition that it presents and there was definitely no better way to get the win than the Championship against the top anglers in the country,” Hibbs said.
Jeffrey Oliver, of New Orleans, Louisiana, measured a combined total of 110.63 inches to win $1,500. He fished over oyster reefs in the Venice area with popping corks with Berkley Gulp! and top-water baits.
“It was an awesome event,” said Oliver. “It was a little windy, making it rough to get back to the launch.”
Longtime IFA Kayak Tour angler Benton Parrott, of Gulf Breeze, Florida, added another top-3 finish to go along with his previous three championship victories and two Angler of the Year titles. The Hobie Fishing team member measured a combined total of 105.25 inches to win $1,505. The angler’s 22.50-inch trout was the biggest of the championship, earning him an additional $200 from Berkley Gulp! and $300 from PENN Reels.
“Day one was ideal other than the wind,” said Parrott. “I caught numerous trout on a jerkbait and was able to sight-cast a few bull reds. Day two was tough, as I lost several bull reds but was able to catch both fish grinding it to the last minute.”
Parrott went into the final day with a slim lead. He fished both days in the Port Sulphur area with jerk shads, jerkbaits, popping corks and top-water baits for his limit.
“I was hoping to hold onto my lead, but the weather and fishing changed,” said Parrott. “I am very pleased and happy with a top-5 finish and my big trout.”
The championship event also named the 2017 IFA Hobie Kayak Angler of the Year with Matthew Vann taking the honors along with $1,000; $700 from Power-Pole and paid entry fees for the 2018 season. Vann, a Hobie Fishing Top Gun, was the highest-placing Divisional Angler of the Year with his fourth-place finish.
IFA Kayak Tour – 2017 Championship
Venice, La. (Top 10)
Ty Hibbs – 112.00 inches
Jeffrey Oliver – 110.63 inches
Benton Parrott – 105.25 inches
Matthew Vann – 103.25 inches
Bob Powell – 98.63 inches
Josh Repel – 98.13 inches
Brandon Barton – 95.75 inches
Miguel Pandich – 93.75 inches
Aaron Clay – 93.38 inches
Joe Komyati – 90.75 inches
