ANGLER LANDS BIGGEST CATCH
Former Toowoomba man wins $100K USA tourney
September 22 will be a day Carl Jocumsen never forgets.
The Toowoomba angler capped off his 35th birthday with a life-changing victory when he became the first Aussie to win a Bassmaster Elite title.
Jocumsen’s Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Bassmaster Elite win at Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma (US) will add $100,000 to his bank balance – a handy addition ahead of his wedding day in two weeks when he will marry fiancee Kayla Palaniuk.
“Since I was four years old, I’ve loved fishing and I’ve dreamed of the day I would do this,” Jocumsen said.
“Today is that day. This is a lifetime of work; a lifetime of passion and loving this sport with every ounce of my body.”
Jocumsen was third heading into the final day of competition, trailing leader Kyle Monti by four pounds, eight ounces, but a bold strategy paid off for the angler.
Sticking to off-shore fishing, Jocumsen relied on his Humminbird 360 to find the best fish.
“I used my Humminbird 360, side imaging and mapping to break down this lake in two and a half days. I stayed out here from daylight until dark,” Jocumsen said.
“Yesterday afternoon, I found this one tree off this island. It was one late in the day, and I caught one keeper. But I said, ‘I want to hit this early on the final day to see if they’re biting’.”
That steadfast focus paid off with Jocumsen catching four largemouth bass by 8.30am on the final morning of competition.
‘‘ TODAY IS THAT DAY. THIS IS A LIFETIME OF WORK; A LIFETIME OF PASSION AND LOVING THIS SPORT WITH EVERY OUNCE OF MY BODY. CARL JOCUMSEN
Reeling in the largemouth bass was another first for Jocumsen but it was a fourpound smallmouth bass that sealed his fate.
“I’ve waited my life to catch that fish,” he said.
“I had gone three hours without a bite and I said, ‘It can’t go down this way. I have to finish it.’
“When I caught that smallmouth, the weight of the world came off my shoulders.”
The win will be a life-changer for Jocumsen who will receive sponsorship bonuses as well as direct entry into next year’s Bassmaster Classic – a $500,000 tournament.
It is also welcome relief for the angler who has battled to establish himself for the past 10 years.
“Two weeks ago I was talking to Carl and he was pretty down,” long-time friend Kris George said. “It’s probably the worst I’ve heard him in a while, he was really struggling.
“Things are completely different now though. I know he was looking to get a loan so he and Kayla could buy a small house – now he could pay cash.
“This is a life-changing moment for him and he fully deserves it.
“Carl is one of the hardest workers – I’ve never seen someone as committed as him.
“Sometimes you need that bit of luck to go your way and that’s happened for him.
“But he’s also worked hard, grinding every day of every week for this chance.
“It’s great to see that if you persist at something your hard work will come to fruition.”