The Predatortour 2023 is one of the best-known and toughest predator fishing tournaments in the Netherlands. For three days, everything revolves around strategy, efficiency and finding the right fish at the right moment.

In this video we follow our participation in this tournament, from preparation and training to the last crucial hours on the water.

Goal:

• fish a full card
• combine pike, perch and zander
• and upgrade as much as possible with bigger fish

Preparing for the Predatortour 2023

Even before the tournament starts, everything revolves around preparation.

During the training days, the focus was on:

• locating spots
• understanding fish behaviour
• testing techniques

We knew in advance that this edition of the Predatortour would be anything but easy.

The biggest challenge? Pike.

That’s not our primary target species, but essential in this tournament to score a full card. We also expected perch to be difficult due to the season, and that zander, although our strongest species, would be no certainty either.

Day 1 – a strong start, but no full card yet

The first day of the Predatortour 2023 started with a clear strategy: start at a known perch spot, catch fish quickly, then switch to other species.

But as is often the case on big water, it went differently than expected.

• lots of small zander
• little effective action at the first spot
• having to switch quickly

After that we moved to the Haringvliet, where the focus shifted to pike.

We saw:

• multiple followers
• active fish
• but few effective bites

Later in the day the first real results came in:

• pike caught
• perch of 40 cm
• perch of 47 cm

Still, the card remained incomplete. Fish were still missing, and that always costs points in a tournament.

Day 2 – filling the card and upgrading zander

On day two, the focus shifted completely: fill the card, catch the missing species, then upgrade zander.

The perch card was filled relatively quickly, though with smaller fish. After that the focus was on zander, and that paid off.

Strong results:

• zander of 79 cm
• zander of 81.6 cm
• multiple fish over 70 cm

Technique: pelagic fishing and sharpshooting.

That once again confirmed this is one of our strongest points.

Still, one problem remained: pike was still missing.

And that’s often the hardest fish to catch specifically in this type of tournament.

Day 3 – all or nothing for that one pike

The final day of the Predatortour 2023 revolved around one thing: catching that one pike.

With an almost complete card, that single fish could make the difference between an average and a strong final ranking.

The strategy:

• back to the Haringvliet
• fish specifically for pike
• then upgrade wherever possible

But here too, external factors played a role:

• speed limits on the water
• long travel times
• less effective fishing time

Those are typical elements in tournaments that you can’t control, but which do have a big impact.

Still, more upgrades came in:

• a better zander
• a better perch

Every centimetre counts, and small upgrades can mean multiple places difference in the standings.

What makes the Predatortour so difficult?

The Predatortour 2023 once again confirms why this is one of the toughest predator fishing tournaments:

• multiple fish species required
• big water
• changing conditions
• high fishing pressure
• limited time

You have to:

• make quick decisions
• constantly adapt
• and fish efficiently

Key lessons from the Predatortour 2023

After three days of tournament fishing, a number of clear insights emerged.

1. Pike remains the wildcard

For many teams, including us, pike is the hardest fish to score consistently.

2. A full card is essential

Without a full card, you stand little chance of a top result.

3. Pelagic fishing remains a strong weapon

For zander, sharpshooting once again proved extremely effective.

4. Flexibility determines your result

From spot selection to technique: if you don’t switch, you lose.

Watch the full Predatortour 2023 video

Want to follow this tournament up close, including strategy, action and evaluation?

Watch the full video here:

Tournament fishing on big water: experience that counts

The Predatortour is more than a tournament. It’s a learning school where you refine techniques, recognise patterns faster, and learn to handle pressure better.

We carry that experience into every fishing day, training session and product choice we make.

Want to get better at predator fishing tournaments yourself?

Want to perform better on big water yourself?

Then it’s important to invest in:

• sonar and LiveScope
• reliable electronics
• techniques adapted per species
• efficient setups

In our webshop you’ll find the gear we ourselves use during tournaments like the Predatortour.