The Bream Fishing Project

Episode 155: Vic Bream Round 3, Nelson, 21 - 22, June 2025

Hi everyone, and welcome to The Bream Fishing Project. In this episode we’re off to Nelson on the Glenelg River reviewing the 2025 TT Glenelg Shire Bream Classic, brought to you by the Vic Bream Classics. This one was held on 21–22 June 2025. One of the things I like about the Vic Bream Classics is they have all the divisions — juniors, Big Bream, Best Bag — heaps to dig into. Roll the intros and let’s get straight into it.
What’s inside this episode:• Why the Vic Bream Classics format shines (juniors, Big Bream, Best Bag and more).• Full event stats: fish activity wheel, major bite windows and tides for both days.• Division highlights.• Interviews:– Team Blackfin (3rd overall): Steve Wheeler on mudflats vs edges, vibes vs plastics, and managing perch by-catch.– Team Nomad BKK (1st overall on countback): Peter Bouquet Jr on structure, vibes, prototype plastics, and straight-through light leaders.
The Collective (subscriber group):Quick reminder: the Collective (private subscription group for The Bream Fishing Project) is focusing on grubs this month. We pick a lure or lure style, fish it as a group, then reconvene to compare notes and dial it in together. There are a couple of exciting things coming in the next months (even Collective members don’t know yet).Join or support the show: https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com
Event stats (as discussed on the show):Dates: Saturday 21 June & Sunday 22 June 2025Location: Nelson, Glenelg River
Saturday:• Fish Activity Wheel: 47• Major bite: 7:03–9:33• Low tide: 1:04 AM @ 0.40• High tide: 10:59 AM @ 0.71
Sunday:• Fish Activity Wheel: 59• Major bite: 7:58–10:28• Low tide: 1:48 AM @ 0.34• High tide: 11:19 AM @ 0.84
Division highlights (as discussed on the show):• Sunline Best Bag: Team Sniper (Ray & Brandon Doman) — 5/5 for 5.005 kg• Ecogear Big Bream: Team Sniper (Ray & Brandon Doman) — 1.345 kg• Monster Movers: Team Weedless (Matty Katon & Byron Blaine) — 5 for 3.325 kg on Day 2, up 23 places to 28th• Junior Angler: Jarvis Kent (Team Apollo Bay Fishing Charters) — finished 8th• Miller Rods prize: Team Slow Rollers (Darren Lock & Quentin) — 1.625
Full results are at: https://vicbreamclassics.com.au
Interview 1 — Team Blackfin (3rd overall)Weights:• Day 1: 5 for 3.580 kg (Big Bream 1.27)• Day 2: 5 for 4.025 kg (Big Bream 1.175)• Total: 7.605 kg (3rd)
Notes from Steve Wheeler:• Prefish: launched at Dry Creek; checked rock-wall edges, reeds and mudflats. A 36 fork fish on a mudflat set the plan.• Boat placement let them reach reeds in ~0.5–0.75 m and the drop into ~4 m; picked fish in that 4 m zone.• Day 1 edges were quiet; moving wider with vibes (Cranka Vibe, Bivi Vibe) and small hops in 2.5–4 m produced bites. Added a heavy “muss” bite for an upgrade. Lots of perch mixed in.• Day 2 similar program on mudflats with one early ~36 fork and a bag of 32–33s.• Leader thinking: prefers thin-diameter 6 lb (and 8 lb on structure).Prize: $1,500 split.
Interview 2 — Team Nomad BKK (1st overall, on countback)Weights:• Day 1: 5 for 3.980 kg (kicker 1.145)• Day 2: 5 for 4.015 kg• Total: 7.995 kg (tied with 2nd; won on Day-1 bag countback)
Prefish & pattern (Peter Bouquet Jr):• Marked fish on Active Target (T1) before light; first ski zone edges dropping to 3–4 m with trees and rock.• Early bites on a prototype Nomad soft plastic (natural/brown-orange) and ZX35 vibe (black, assist hooks).• Structure (shacks & poles) produced 600–800 g fish on 1/16 hidden-weight jigs; saved it for comp.
Day 1:• Two early ~700 g fish on the prototype plastic on structure.• Taylor Strait: Cranka Crab (olive) on 3 lb straight-through for ~750 g.• Donovans: mixed EP/bream school on side scan; heavier plastic (1/12) delivered a 1.145 kg kicker.• Finished bag near the mouth; ZX-style vibe (black) with assist pushed through weed.
Day 2:• More pressure and tentative bites.• A foam/eddy on a pole produced three quick fish (~850 g, ~750 g, ~700 g) on the prototype plastic with stingers.• First ski zone: another solid ~750 g on plastic from an undercut edge.• Donovans: targeted shadow lines on rock; Cranka Crab (black) on 3 lb straight-through sealed the fifth fish and upgraded a 29.5 cm.• Lines/leaders: 6 lb braid; 3–4 lb leaders (and 3 lb straight-through with crabs) to keep bites coming in winter; softer, longer rods helped keep hooks pinned.Prize: $3,750.
Tackle mentioned (from the show):• Hardbodies: Spike 53 (matt prawn), various edge cranks• Vibes: Cranka Vibe, Bivi Vibe, ZX35 (black with assist)• Crabs: Cranka Crab (olive, black); slow crawl; 3 lb straight-through noted• Soft plastics: Prototype Nomad plastic (natural/brown-orange), hidden-weight jigs (1/16, 1/12), stinger hooks on Day 2• Leaders: 3–4 lb (straight-through for crabs) up to 6–8 lb on structure; emphasis on thin diameters• Electronics: Active Target (T1), side scan to find mixed EP/bream schools
Thanks & credits (from the show):• Vic Bream Classics and Bill for running great events and varied venues.• Team mates, travel crews and fellow anglers for the laughs and friendly rivalry.• Nomad & BKK mentioned by winners.• Full results: https://vicbreamclassics.com.au
Call to action:Enjoyed the episode or learned something? Please subscribe and rate on your favourite podcast app.Join the Collective for early access, private live streams, challenges and bonus content: https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com
 

Episode 154: NSW Tournament Series, Round 4 , Lake Macquarie, June 15, 2025

NSW Tournament Series – Round 4 (Lake Macquarie) | 15 June 2025 Welcome to The Bream Fishing Project. This episode covers Round 4 of the New South Wales Tournament Series held at Lake Macquarie (15 June 2025). After a quick housekeeping note about upcoming dynamic ads and a behind-the-scenes hosting platform change (no change to your listening experience—please reach out if you hit any issues), we dive straight into the results and angler interviews. Results covered Winners – Team Stratosphere (solo): 5/5 for 4.84 kg, including Big Bream of 1.40 kg. Guest: David Masters (how he located fish, why he stayed shallow with blades, coping with gear issues on comp day). 3rd – Team Flat Knacky: 5/5 for 4.26 kg, Big Bream 1.23 kg. Guest: Steve Cole (no-plan plan, hot-water outlet start, deep cockle-weed gutter, steady upgrades). Tactics & takeaways (as discussed by guests) Location & approach: Shallow blading near edges/cockle beds (Masters); deeper gutter with cockle weed and bait present (Cole). Lures mentioned: Crankbaits; Z-Man Slim SwimZ; Z-Man Prawn (motor oil); Gulp Prawn (camo); metal blades. By-catch & moments: Flathead runs, an 80 cm jewfish on a 2" prawn, and even an accidental hammerhead hookup near the boat. Lines/leaders (Masters): 6 lb braid with 3–6 lb leader, subtle bites, careful drag management. Tides & bite window (host notes) Fish Activity Wheel: 57 Minor bite period: 9:17–10:47 a.m. Low tide: 5:36 a.m. (0.26 m) High tide: 11:15 a.m. (0.77 m) Housekeeping You may hear the return of ads—now dynamically inserted so deals, lure releases, and tournament info stay current. If you’re in the fishing industry and want to get involved, reach out for a chat. Support & community Want to go deeper or support the show? Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective for community chats and extra content: breamfishingproject.supercast.com. After joining, please message me on Facebook so I can link you to the private group. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and rate the show on your podcast app. Thanks for listening!      

Episode 153: Hobie Fishing Series, Round 5, Georges River, NSW June 14-15, 2025

Hobie Kayak BREAM — Round 5, Georges River | 14–15 June (Anaconda Round) One of Andrew’s favourites! We’re on the Georges River in Sydney for Hobie Kayak BREAM Series — Round 5 (Sat–Sun, 14–15 June), proudly round-sponsored by Anaconda. We cover bite windows, tides, divisions and then dive into angler interviews with the podium—plus a shout-out to The Bream Fishing Project Collective crew for putting on the enhanced sausage sanga BBQ all weekend. 💪 Results & Guests 1st — Mitchell Taylor (6 fish, 4.91 kg | Day 1: 2.19, Day 2: 2.72) — Anaconda Big Bream 1.18 kg Finds a mid-river “hump”/rack-style structure and bridges; rotates metal vibes and Cranka Crab presentations for constant upgrades. 2nd — Jason Marshall (6 fish, 4.75 kg | 2.57 + 2.18) Smart call on safety and conditions; mixes Cranka Crab + Mussel on Captain Cook’s Bridge and makes the long haul to Cooks River for a flurry of keepers. 3rd — Mohamed “Mick” Farage (6 fish, 4.56 kg | 2.42 + 2.14) Versatile game: pontoons → deep blades → Como Bridge pylons → moored boats. Standouts: Cranka Crab UV, Ecogear VX40 (439) on 4–6 lb setups. Divisions & Notables Anaconda Big Bream: Mitchell Taylor — 1.18 kg Monster Mover / Big Bag: Blake Partington — 3.31 kg (Sun); Blake also weighed a 1.04 kg fish on Saturday Youth: Riley Whelan — 3.60 kg Women: Fiona Johnson — 1.90 kg Masters: Raymond Cooper — 3.52 kg First Timers: Kevin Nguyen — 1.30 kg Conditions (as discussed on-air) Saturday (Fish Activity 68) • Minor: 8:41–10:11 a.m. • Major: 1:07–3:37 p.m. • Low 4:41 (0.21 m) • High 10:37 (1.02 m) Sunday (Fish Activity 55) • Minor: 9:21–10:21 a.m. • Low 5:26 (0.19 m) • High 11:28 (1.03 m) Tackle & Techniques Mentioned Hard/Soft: Cranka Crab (UV/XL), Mussel, Ecogear VX40 “439”, metal vibes (Infeet/“metal vibes”), Gulp Crabby, Sprat 75, deep cranks. Structure: Como & Captain Cook’s bridges, Cooks River, moored boats (hulls & blocks), pontoons/wharves, shaded edges, mid-river “hump/rack” piece. Rigs/Lines: 4 lb straight-through for blades; 6–8 lb leader around pylons/boats; add belly weight to crabs (⅛) to pin them in current; cast up-current and let presentations track down the pylon face. Community Note Huge thanks to The Bream Fishing Project Collective members for funding & running the weekend BBQ (Jamie & Andy—legends). Also: yes, CCs on chip sambos… minds were changed. 😄 Early access & extras: Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective for early releases, live challenge sessions, and bonus content: breamfishingproject.supercast.com Instagram: @thebreamfishingproject  

Episode 152: WATA Boat Round, Peel Inlet, June 15, 2025

WA BREAM Series — Boat Round 2 (Peel/Mandurah) | 15 June 2025 We’re off to Western Australia to recap WA BREAM Series — Boat Round 2 on the Peel/Mandurah system (Sunday 15 June 2025). Andrew breaks down bite windows, tides and the winning patterns before rolling into angler interviews with the top three teams. Results & Guests 1st — Team Stinger (4.380 kg, Big Bream 1.27 kg): Alex Griesdorf & Ben Oaks detail a canals bite that shifted from Z-Man grubs early to brim prawn (Decoy Worm5/offset) as conditions changed, with last-minute upgrades sealing the win. 2nd — Team B1 & B2 (4.050 kg, Big Bream 1.62 kg): Joseph & Jenny Gardner on a four-fish bag anchored by a 1.62 kg Big Bream. No pre-fish; methodical work on lower-Murray snags, brim prawn + Decoy Worm5 on 6–8 lb leaders, shaded timber, and bird-sign clues. 3rd — Team Dragon (3.740 kg): Bill Bland (with Rob) milked bridge pylons, mixing Gulp Crabby on 1/16–1/32 jigheads and River2Sea Baby Vibes. Smart boat handling around wood vs concrete pylons delivered a near-kilo average. Conditions (as discussed) Fish Activity Wheel: 56 Minor bite: 9:42–11:12 a.m. Tides: High 12:20 p.m. (0.64 m); Low 11:44 p.m. (0.28 m) Tackle & Techniques Mentioned Brim prawn/weedless (Decoy Worm5), Z-Man Grub 2.5", Gulp Crabby, River2Sea Baby Vibe, Hurricane prawn; 6–8 lb leaders; bridge pylons, canals, shaded snags; patient bites and deliberate boat positioning to pull fish clear. Thanks (from the anglers) Huge appreciation to the event volunteers/organisers and series sponsors who keep WA comps running. Early access & extras: Get episodes early + live challenge sessions—join The Bream Fishing Project Collective: breamfishingproject.supercast.com Instagram: @thebreamfishingproject  

Episode 151: September 2025 Monthly Report with Brett Geddes 🎣

Episode 151 — September 2025 Monthly Report with Brett Geddes 🎣 In this month’s Bream Fishing Project Monthly Report, I catch up with Brett Geddes to dive into what’s been happening on the water across the country. We unpack the latest tournaments, explore new techniques, and share insights from Brett’s incredible sessions — including some big perch, whiting, and bream encounters you’ll want to hear about. We cover: 🏆 Tournament updates across the country, including Wallaga Lake and other key rounds 🎣 The latest Collective Challenge — focusing on curly-tail grubs and how to rig them for success 🦀 Gear talk: Jackall Drift Crab Mini, Blue Lip Baits Micro Mussel, and Hurricane Sprat 85 🔹 Brett’s 92-fish session, tips on lure selection, and when to use free-rig and drop-shot techniques 😂 A lighter moment with Brett’s “What Cheeses Me Off” rant — toilet paper logistics included! 📰 Updates from the Bream Fishing Project Collective, plus what’s coming next If you want early access to episodes, bonus content, and the chance to join monthly live streams where we break down tactics and techniques, check out The Bream Fishing Project Collective here: 🌐 https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com Follow the podcast on Instagram: 📸 @thebreamfishingproject

Episode 150: Action Fishing Tournaments, Tuggerah Lakes May 10, 2025

Welcome back to The Bream Fishing Project! In this episode, we head to Tuggerah Lakes for the Action Fishing Tournament held on May 10, 2025. It was an incredibly tight competition, with podium spots decided on countback and some big fish hitting the decks early in the session. Joining host Andrew Death (2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion) are the top three finishers from the round: 🥇 Rick King – 1st Place – 109.5cm 🥈 Ryan Honeybrook – 2nd Place – 107.5cm (on countback) 🥉 Aaron Enright – 3rd Place – 107.5cm (on countback) In this episode, we break down the strategies, lure choices, and critical bite windows that helped these anglers find success in challenging conditions. Rick and Ryan even jump on together for a lively chat about fishing side-by-side, swapping tips, and chasing down those metre-plus totals. Highlights in This Episode: Tightest top-three finish of the season — countback decides 2nd & 3rd! Why shallow cranks, Pro Lure Shallows, and motor oil colours dominated the flats. Key techniques for fishing weed edges and working bridges effectively. Insights into the major bite period between 8:36 AM and 11:06 AM. How the leaders handled the long tom problem and maximised their chances at the right time. Behind-the-scenes laughs as Rick, Ryan, and Aaron share stories from the day. Episode Guests Rick King – 1st Place Winner Ryan Honeybrook – 2nd Place Aaron Enright – 3rd Place Sponsors & Shoutouts Big thanks to our ongoing supporters and local legends who keep these tournaments thriving: HWS Hobie Kayaks & Accessories Fishin.com.au Podium Marine Wraps Local tackle shops, including Tackle Addiction and Hot Tackle Support the brands that support the show! Join The Collective Want early access to episodes, exclusive bonus content, and live monthly fishing deep-dives? Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective today: 🔗 breamfishingproject.supercast.com 🎧 Whether you're a competitive bream angler or just love learning from the pros, this episode is packed with tips, tactics, and laughs from one of the tightest events of the season.

Episode 149: ABT, 2025 Daiwa BREAM Series, Crushcity Tweed River Round, 9-10 August

We’re back in the fast boats on the Tweed River, NSW, for the final ABT qualifier of 2025—two wind-and-rain-soaked days that still produced cracking fishing, a first-time boater champion, and both boater and non-boater Angler of the Year stories. Non-Boaters 1st – Lance Marsh (2.975 kg): Methodical and calm across bridges, walls and the famed Blue Hole; mixed Z-Man GrubZ (motor oil), Cranka Crab, and plastics to stack steady upgrades and claim his second tour win. 2nd – Grant Painter (2.89 kg): Day-one damage on Cranka Crab over Kennedy Drive reef, then switched gears on Day 2 with unweighted Aquas and Gulp Crabby on bridges and walls to hang on for the podium. 3rd – Nathan Booth (2.730 kg) —and 2025 Non-Boater AOY: Versatile across deep rock edges and mid-river rubble with Hurricane Sprat Hybrid 85s (bloodworm tail), grubs on 1/6–1/4 oz heads, and Cranka Crabs. Light leaders (3–4 lb) and smart current angles were key. Boaters 1st – Joe Darmody (5.540 kg total, incl. 3.035 kg Day 2 & big bream ~1.335kg): A clutch Day-2 mega bream off the exposed M1 reef line sealed it. Smart tide calls, precise crankbaiting (Jackall Chubby Brown Suji) along shallow rock and man-made walls, and opportunistic Aquas around structure turned four fish into a match-winning limit. 2nd – Mark Healey (4.935 kg) & back-to-back Boater AOY (497 pts): Classic Healey consistency—deep structure rotations, Cranka Crab on reefs/bridge pylons, and selective crankbait runs. Forward-facing sonar (Active Target 2) helped pick off better schools without over-fishing dead water. 3rd – Ben Cronk (4.680 kg): In his first ABT boater start, leaned on bigger profiles (MMD Soft Prawn 60/75 rigged on heavier jigheads) to glide down rock faces and draw quality bites; finished with tidy back-to-back limits. Patterns & Tackle at a Glance Locations: Kennedy Drive reef, M1 bridge, deep foreshore walls, Blue Hole. Tides: Early bites around the run-in; quality windows on the turn and first of the run-out. Lures: Cranka Crab (brown/olive tones), Jackall Chubby (Brown Suji), Hurricane Sprat Hybrid 85, MMD Soft Prawn, Z-Man GrubZ (motor oil), Gulp Crabby, Aquas. Rigs: 1/6–1/4 oz jigheads to beat heavy flow; 3–6 lb leaders; keep hooks razor-sharp—treble swaps mattered on the tougher Day 2. Plus: playlists are now live—jump into our Tweed bundle on Spotify to binge every Tweed-system episode ahead of the Grand Final prep. Enjoy the interviews, the tactics, and the tales—from first-cast hookups to that once-in-a-season lunchtime kilo-plus bream that changed everything.  

Episode 148: The Monthly Report, August, 2025 with Brett Geddes

August 2025 Monthly Report – The Bream Fishing Project Podcast In this August Monthly Report, Andrew takes you through a big month in the bream fishing scene, bringing together tournament results, Collective news, and his own on-water experiences. It’s a packed episode that reflects on where things stand as we head into the final stretch of the year. You’ll hear about standout results from recent events, including who placed where and the conditions anglers faced on the day. Andrew gives updates from The Bream Fishing Project Collective, including the current lure challenges, member contributions, and upcoming live sessions. He also shares what’s been working for him personally, and some of the lessons learned from time on the water this month. The conversation covers the latest with popular lures like the Squidgy Bug and Crush City Trickster, as well as the role they’ve played in recent sessions. You’ll get a clear snapshot of how anglers are approaching different conditions and how community feedback is shaping the Collective’s challenges going forward. If you’ve been following the comps, want to keep up with the latest trends, or just enjoy the monthly wrap of news and stories from Australia’s bream fishing community, this episode is for you. 🎣 Lures mentioned in this episode: Squidgy Bug, Crush City Trickster.  

Episode 147: NSW Tournament, Series, St Georges Basin, 12-13 April, 2025

🎣 NSW Bream Tournament Recap – St Georges Basin | The Bream Fishing Project Podcast In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, host Andrew Death covers Round 3 of the NSW Tournament Series, held on the legendary St Georges Basin, launching out of Sussex Inlet. Across two days of competitive bream fishing, anglers battled calm conditions, an explosion of jellyfish, and the pressure of a stacked leaderboard. Despite the challenges, the top teams delivered impressive bags, showing exactly how to catch big bream in tough conditions. 🎣 Featured Interviews and Key Insights: Team Shiano Nevermind (3rd Place) – Wal discusses adapting to jellyfish-filled waters, how they found a late-day bite window, and their go-to lures and techniques, including the Ecogear ZX30 and vibes. Team Rise Above Plumbing (2nd Place) – Long-time tournament anglers Mark and Glen break down their mixed lure approach using Daiwa Reflex, Gulp Shrimp, and Juro-style lures, plus the impact of moon phases and water clarity. Team Hooked Up DTH Plumbing (1st Place) – Daniel and Steven explain how they secured the win without pre-fishing, using Hurricane SPRs, shallow crankbaits, and LiveScope sonar to target fish around cockle weed and edges. 🎯 What you’ll learn: How to target bream using soft plastics, vibes, crankbaits, and hidden weight rigs Tactics for fishing St Georges Basin in tough conditions Gear setup for tournament bream fishing: rods, reels, lines, and leaders Tips for deepwater bream fishing, using sonar and sounders effectively 🧰 Lures & Gear Mentioned: Daiwa Reflex Hurricane SPR Gulp 2.75” Shrimp Ecogear ZX30 Pro Lure Cranks PowerPro Braid and Sunline Leaders 🙌 Shoutouts to: Daiwa Australia – for the Reflex lure that turned the tide Fishin.com.au – for gear and community support Zeus Tackle – supporting Team Hooked Up Rise Above Plumbing – tournament sponsor and second-place team Casting for a Cause – charity bream competitions supporting children’s hospitals  

Episode 146:West Australian Tournament Anglers, Kayak Round 1, Blackwood River, April 12-13, 2025

In this episode, we’re recapping Round One of the 2025 Western Australian Tournament Anglers Kayak Bream Series, held on April 12–13 on the iconic Blackwood River. The event saw top anglers adapt quickly after a late venue change and battle it out under excellent bite conditions, with the river fishing brilliantly across both days. 🥇 Joseph Gardner takes us through his winning tactics and how he bagged 3.91 kg over two days using a combination of Blue Lip Baits’ Pygmy Mussels and Brim Prawns. He explains how key locations and wind direction played a major role, along with his rigging choices on six and eight-pound leaders. 🥈 Ben Oakes gives an in-depth look at how his upgraded triple-sounder setup and dedicated side scan mapping helped him pinpoint productive drop-offs and structure. He shares his successful lure rotation of Slim Swims, Dunks, Aqua Mussels, and Baby Vibes, and talks us through the heartbreaking big fish that got away. 🥉 Paul Burton rounds out the podium with smart use of tried-and-true Slim Swims on his favourite banks. He talks about adjusting his jighead weight to maintain feel, and the importance of early bags and key upgrades that ultimately landed him a spot on the podium. We also touch on: Tide and bite periods from the Fish Activity Wheel (93/96 rating days!) What worked and what didn’t in a system filled with bream The Collective’s free rig and drop shot challenge update How bream behaviour changed across the river with current, wind, and pressure And why balance beams and barnacles made all the difference 🏆 Prize sponsors included: Shimano Australia Pro Lure Australia (featuring the new Hybrid Shrimp) Atomic Lures, Rapala, TT Lures, and Force Lures Special mention to Michelle from Getaway Outdoors Kelmscott and Kanga Brew Coffee Van for supporting the event 🎧 Subscribe now and don’t miss a beat: 👉 breamfishingproject.supercast.com — early access, bonus episodes, and monthly live streams via The Bream Fishing Project Collective. 🎁 Ask about our new Junior Memberships or Father’s Day gift subscriptions — just message Andrew directly! — 📸 Big thanks to Dave Bennett for event photography and WA Tournament Anglers for running a great comp despite location hurdles. 📍Whether you're a comp angler or weekend warrior, this episode is packed with gold — from lure technique breakdowns to reading water and structure. The Bream Fishing Project: Australia’s #1 podcast dedicated to helping you catch more bream on lures, with tips, tricks, and tournament insight from some of the best in the game.