EP 175:Vic Bream Classics Round 2, Mallacoota Inlet, 13-14 September 2025

In this episode of The BREAM Fishing Project, we recap Round 2 of the Vic BREAM Classics — the 2025 Atomic East Gippsland BREAM Classic, held at Mallacoota Inlet on 13–14 September 2025 (rescheduled earlier in the year due to weather).

This one delivers three different stories, three different approaches, and three strong results, with a full breakdown of key prizes, bite windows, tides, and detailed angler interviews from the teams that finished on the podium.

🏆 Event Awards & Key Prizes

• Sunline Best Bag: Team Bream Burglars (Liam Allen & Marlon Thompson) — 5 fish / 4.885kg

• Eco Gear Big BREAM: Team Fanatics (Phil Hulsman & Ben Thompson) — 1.165kg

• Zip Baits Monster Movers: Team EGM Revisited (Paul & Justin Conn) — 4.025kg and moved up 24 places to finish 19th

• Junior Angler Prize: Team On The Drop (Beau May) — finished 38th

• Miller Rogue: Team MAD (Mark Cribbes & Dean Gamble) — flathead 81.5cm

🌙 Bite Periods, Tides & Activity

Saturday

• Fish activity wheel: 28

• Minor bite: 8:10–9:10

• Low: 5:56am / 0.4

• High: 12:05pm / 1.19

Sunday

• Fish activity wheel: 13

• Minor bite: 9:00–10:30

• Low: 6:50am / 0.44

• High: 1:19pm / 1.4

🎤 Angler Interviews & Technique Breakdown 🥉 3rd Place — Team Marlo Bait & Tackle

Braddley Young & Harry Young — 8.100kg total

• Day 1: 4.010kg

• Day 2: 4.090kg

Key takeaways:

• Built an early bag fast fishing up-river and working through schools

• Used Eagle Eye sonar to identify fish and help target better quality fish

• Key lures included Double Clutch hardbodies, plus Bent Minnow when things slowed

• Notable observation: increased activity under wattle flowers on the surface

• Line: 4lb FC Rock

• Late-day adjustments + strategic moves to lock in upgrades

🥈 2nd Place — Prestige Worldwide

Steven Emerson & Damien Dwyer — 8.215kg total

• Day 1: 4.150kg (included 1.015kg kicker)

• Day 2: 4.065kg

Key takeaways:

• Started on fish located on the sounder during prefish (marked but not pressured)

• Strong early bag using a Z-Man grub (slow worked along the bottom in ~12ft)

• Heavy by-catch (tailor/salmon) and managing efficiency through the day

• Used Active Target in scout mode to find fish and guide casts

• Key adjustment on Sunday: dropped to 2lb when it glassed off, improving bite rate

• Core pattern: motor oil grubs + subtle bites, steady upgrades, and relocating away from the pack

🥇 1st Place — Team Bream Burglars

Liam Allen & Marlon Thompson — 9.215kg total

• Day 1: 4.885kg (included 1.155kg big BREAM)

• Day 2: 4.330kg

Key takeaways:

• Locked into Top Lake due to conditions and fish numbers

• Core lure: Hurricane Sprat on 1/20, fished slow, allowing long sink time into the zone

• Major pattern: fish were often deeper than expected (2–3m off the edge), with many bites coming after the lure sat on the bottom

• Bite style: many fish were “already on” when lifting the lure rather than clear taps

• Leaders: 4lb fluorocarbon

• Huge weekend haul including trophies, prize packs, and additional awards (Sunline biggest bag, rods, and more)

🎣 Final Wrap

A fascinating event recap — especially when you compare it to the Hobie competition fished the same weekend just a couple of hours up the coast, where results were completely different.

Thanks for listening, and I’ll talk to you next week on The BREAM Fishing Project.