The Bream Fishing Project

Watch the full video version here: 👉 https://youtu.be/c8DnXHOeXnE This is the April Report EP190 of The Bream Fishing Project. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Brett Geddes and Plinio Taurian to break down what’s happening across the country, with a deep dive into the upcoming Tasmanian events. The conversation covers key systems including the Huon River, Derwent River, Swan River and Little Swan Port, along with insights into lure choice, fish behaviour and tournament strategy.

In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, Andrew breaks down the Atomic Tournament Series Round 1, held at Lake Macquarie on March 14–15. This was a standout event where numbers of BREAM were high, but consistently upgrading to better-quality fish proved to be the key to success. Across the two days, over 300 fish were weighed, with a noticeable drop in average size on day two, making decision-making and execution critical. The episode begins with a full breakdown of bite periods, tides, and tournament stats before diving into interviews with the top three teams. 🥇 1st Place – James Dunn & Mark Huisken (9.22kg + Big Bream 1.38kg) A dominant performance built around one key lure — the Samaki Reddick (40LC). Fishing shallow flats and edges in 1–3 metres, they focused on slow rolling their lures, keeping them close to the bottom and pausing when needed to trigger bites. Early in the session they identified a freshwater/saltwater line, which held fish and allowed them to quickly build a strong bag. Technique: Slow roll with pauses Depth: 1–3 metres Lure: Samaki Reddick (medium & deep) Key factor: Matching bait profile and staying in productive water They filled a bag quickly both days (including a 20-minute bag on day two) and spent the rest of the time upgrading, finishing with over 9kg and taking out Big Bream as well. 🥈 2nd Place – Mitch & Matt Simonis (7.52kg) A highly consistent approach built around 30mm vibes (matte black, no eyes). Fishing around 2–2.5 metres off weed edges, they worked vibes along the bottom with a hopping retrieve, with most bites coming on the drop. They secured a bag early and upgraded steadily throughout the day. Later in the session, they switched to topwater (Force Lures Ziggy), raising fish off structure and landing key upgrades. Technique: Bottom hopping vibes + topwater later Depth: ~2–2.5 metres Lures: 30mm vibes (matte black), Force Lures Ziggy Key factor: Locking in numbers early, then upgrading 🥉 3rd Place – Aaron Clifton & Simon Moore (6.91kg) A methodical approach starting on the flats before moving deeper to upgrade. They mixed hard bodies (chubby-style cranks) and plastics, working from shallow water out to 10–15 feet, upgrading fish gradually throughout the day. Technique: Rotating depths and lure types Depth: Flats out to 10–15 feet Lures: Hard bodies (chubby style), plastics Key factor: Patience and systematic upgrading A small but critical adjustment — switching from 6lb to 4lb leader — made a noticeable difference in bites. 🎯 Key Takeaways from Lake Macquarie Early bagging was critical Upgrading separated the field Hard bodies, vibes, and subtle presentations dominated Topwater played a role later in the session Small adjustments (leader size, retrieve, depth) made a big difference Fish were holding in specific zones, not everywhere This is a must-listen episode for anyone looking to improve their tournament BREAM fishing or understand how to break down a system like Lake Macquarie under pressure.

In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, Andrew is joined by Vic Bream Classics founder Bill Hartshorne to break down the full 2026 season, including all five rounds and the Grand Final. With over 20 years of history behind the Vic Bream Classics, Bill shares insights into how the series has evolved, the incredible statistics behind the events, and what anglers can expect from this year’s calendar. The conversation dives into each round in detail, including Gippsland Lakes, Marlo, Mallacoota, the Hopkins River, and Nelson. Bill explains how each location fishes differently, seasonal changes, and what anglers need to consider when preparing for each event. There’s also a strong focus on what makes Vic Bream Classics unique, from the team format and grassroots feel to the supportive community that helps new anglers improve quickly. Bill shares stories of how beginners progress through the ranks and how experienced anglers contribute to the growth of the sport. The episode also highlights: The structure of the 2026 Vic Bream Classics season Key locations and expected fishing conditions How the team format benefits anglers Sponsor contributions and prize structures Junior and female angler initiatives The importance of community and knowledge sharing in tournament fishing Bill also discusses the future of the series, including opportunities for growth, sponsorship, and ideas for expanding events. This is a must-listen episode for anyone interested in tournament BREAM fishing, whether you’re looking to compete, improve your skills, or better understand how these events operate.

🎣 Sydney Harbour Showdown! | NSW Tournament Series Round 6 Recap In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, we head to iconic Sydney Harbour to break down Round 6 of the 2025 New South Wales Tournament Series, held on September 14. This was a fascinating event with tough conditions, changing water clarity, and a strong mix of experienced anglers returning to the scene. From early bag limits to last-minute upgrades, this round had it all. We’re joined by the top three teams as they walk us through exactly how they approached the day, what worked, what didn’t, and the key decisions that shaped their results. 🏆 Top 3 Results & Interviews 🥉 3rd Place – Jason Graham & Craig Norbergen (Team fishing.com.au) A strong start west of the bridge saw them quickly secure a bag on soft plastics before upgrading with a crucial kicker fish on a crab in the Lane Cove River. They dive into how scent played a key role and how they balanced plastics vs crabs throughout the day. 🥈 2nd Place – Joshua Richards (Team Fanatics) Fishing shallow rock structure, Josh and his teammate put together an incredibly consistent day, catching fish right from the start and rotating productive zones. With over 30 fish landed, they explain how persistence and simple patterns paid off, plus insights into lure selection, leader choice, and fishing efficiency. 🥇 1st Place – Adam Hughes & Matthew Green (Team Edgy Bites) A late decision to fish the event turned into a winning performance. Targeting shallow flats in Hen and Chicken Bay, they secured an early kicker fish and built their bag quickly. Their strategy of sticking to strengths, fishing confidently, and making the most of subtle conditions proved the difference. 🎯 Key Takeaways from This Episode • The importance of getting a quick early bag to unlock upgrade opportunities • How scent can influence bite conversion in pressured systems • Adjusting leader strength based on water clarity and structure • When to commit to plastics vs crabs in Sydney Harbour • Why confidence and fishing your strengths can win tournaments 🌊 Conditions Overview • Location: Sydney Harbour • Date: 14 September 2025 • Low Tide: 6:45 AM (0.49m) • High Tide: 1:27 PM (1.53m) • Bite Window: Minor period from 11:19 AM – 12:49 PM 👏 Special Mentions A big thank you to the New South Wales Tournament Series team for running a fantastic event, and to all competitors who continue to support and grow the sport. 🎧 Listen Now If you’re looking to improve your tournament performance or better understand how top anglers approach Sydney Harbour, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply on your next session. 👍 Enjoyed the episode? Make sure to subscribe, leave a rating, and share it with a mate who loves chasing BREAM on lures. #BreamFishing #SydneyHarbourFishing #TournamentFishing #FishingPodcast #NSWTournamentSeries #BreamOnLures #AustralianFishing

🎣 Hobie Fishing Series Australia – Marlo Round 2 (2026) | Full Breakdown + Angler Interviews In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project Podcast, we head to Marlo, Victoria for Round 2 of the Hobie Fishing Series Australia, held on February 21–22, 2026. Andrew was on the ground for this one, soaking up the atmosphere, catching up with mates, and diving deep into what turned out to be a fascinating and highly tactical tournament. Marlo is one of those iconic systems that can reward anglers with big BREAM—but it can also humble even the best. This round showcased exactly that, with strong bags, shifting bite windows, and a mix of finesse and surface techniques proving critical. 🏆 Tournament Overview We break down all the key results and standout performances from the event, including: Anaconda Big BREAM: Patrick Byrne – 1.4kg Monster Mover: Evan Leonard (Donut Day 1 → Huge comeback Day 2) Youth Division Winner: Riley Whelan Women’s Division Winner: Beth Harris Masters (60+) Winner: Lindsay Pryke (4.95kg – inside Top 10 overall) Top 10 Highlights: 1st – Joseph Gardner – 6.15kg 2nd – Brendan Pieschel – 5.93kg 3rd – Ben Hanscombe – 5.84kg 4th – Simon “Batman” Morley 5th – Dale Baxter 6th – Tyler Bruce 7th – Lindsay Pryke 8th – Leon Loeng 9th – Joe Crosby 10th – James Scott 🎙️ Featured Angler Interviews This episode includes in-depth interviews with the Top 3 finishers, breaking down exactly how they approached the event: 🥉 Ben Hanscombe (3rd Place – 5.84kg) Dialled in shallow water finesse bite Key lure: Pro Lure Hybrid Shrimp Fishing ultra-light (3lb straight through) Focused on lake edges and subtle presentations 🥈 Brendan Pieschel (2nd Place – 5.93kg) Incredible Day 2 comeback with the biggest bag of the tournament (3.56kg) Key lure: Hurricane Skimp (cleaver colour) Strategy built around tight casting into reeds and shallow structure Stuck to one lure for the entire comp 🥇 Joseph Gardner (1st Place – 6.15kg) First time fishing Marlo and takes the win Unique approach using surface (Bent Minnow) Long pauses and ultra-subtle retrieves triggered bites Focused on less-pressured water in Frenchs Narrows 🧠 Key Takeaways from Marlo Surface lures can dominate—even in tough systems Slow presentations and long pauses were critical Light line vs confidence—finding the balance Managing pressure and fish location over multiple days Adapting retrieves based on weather and light conditions 🎣 The Marlo Factor Marlo continues to prove why it’s one of the most exciting—and challenging—BREAM fisheries in the country. Big fish are there… but not easy Bite windows are short and crucial One decision (or one lost fish) can change everything 🤝 Thanks & Acknowledgements A big thank you to Hobie Fishing Australasia for running another outstanding event, and to all competitors who shared their insights throughout the episode. 🔗 Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective If you want to improve your fishing faster and learn from Australia’s best anglers, check out: https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com Inside the Collective: Monthly live streams Exclusive content Direct access to Andrew (AMA sessions) A community of anglers all working to improve 🎧 Listen Every Tuesday Make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss an episode of The Bream Fishing Project Podcast—your home for tournament insights, techniques, and stories from Australia’s best BREAM anglers.

Hobie Fishing Series 2026 Round 1 – Bemm River | Greg & David Crebert Go 1–2 | Leon Leong Breaks It Down In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, we head to Bemm River in Victoria for Round 1 of the 2026 Hobie Fishing Series, held on 17–18 February 2026. This round was sponsored by St. Croix Rods and Strike Pro, and it produced one of the best stories you could ask for to start the new Hobie season. At the end of two fascinating days of fishing, the event delivered a remarkable result with brothers Greg Crebert and David Crebert finishing first and second, while Leon Leong rounded out the podium in third place after a very methodical and thoughtful tournament performance. This episode includes discussion about: • tournament strategy at Bemm River • fishing weed edges and flats • how wind direction shaped the event • lure choice for big BREAM • breaking down open water structure • the mental side of tournament fishing Hosted by Andrew Death, the 2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion, this episode is a great recap of a cracking tournament and a strong start to the 2026 Hobie season. Event Overview Event: Hobie Fishing Series 2026 – Round 1 Location: Bemm River, Victoria Dates: 17–18 February 2026 Round Sponsors: St. Croix Rods and Strike Pro Bemm River once again showed why it is such a respected tournament location, producing strong bags and interesting tactical fishing. The winning total weight was 6.14 kg, which works out to just over 1 kg per fish across the six fish weighed over the two competition days. Special Awards and Division Winners Big BREAM Cameron Cole – 1.15 kg Monster Mover Corey Lean Day 1 – 0.14 kg Day 2 – 1.96 kg Youth Division Riley Whelan – 2.62 kg Women’s Division Ruth Beeby – 4.30 kg Masters Division Patrick Byrne – 4.33 kg First-Time Competitor David Chapman – 1.97 kg Overall Podium Results 🥇 1st Place – Greg Crebert Total – 6.14 kg 🥈 2nd Place – David Crebert Day 1 – 2.29 kg Day 2 – 2.97 kg Total – 5.26 kg 🥉 3rd Place – Leon Leong Day 1 – 2.23 kg Day 2 – 2.71 kg Total – 4.94 kg Leon Leong – Third Place Leon Leong’s interview is one of the highlights of this episode. Andrew notes during the conversation that listeners should pay attention to the way Leon broke down the system and worked through the conditions, because his approach was very disciplined and thoughtful. Leon explains how his preparation included: • listening to previous Bemm River podcast episodes • researching the fishery online • testing the river during pre-fish before abandoning that plan • identifying a key five-foot zone with broken weed patches Using side scan, Leon located fish holding around weed patches and worked through the area very methodically. His key lures and tackle included: • Cleaver Sprat plastics • Wave Minnow • Clone Prawn • Atomic Deep 38 crankbait • three-pound leader • Atlas tungsten jigheads • Shine Away and S-Factor scent Leon describes how: • the fish wanted long pauses and subtle bites on Day 1 • on Day 2 they responded strongly to the Cleaver Sprat • broken weed patches in about five feet of water held the better fish • kayak positioning and wind direction were critical For third place Leon took home: • $895 cash • St. Croix Mojo Bass rod • trophy and sponsor prize pack • qualification for the Australian Championship Greg and David Crebert – Brothers Finish 1st and 2nd One of the best stories from the event was the Crebert brothers finishing first and second. Andrew interviews Greg Crebert and David Crebert together, which makes for a fun conversation as they talk about fishing together and competing against each other. They explain that: • every fishing trip between them becomes competitive • they record results when fishing socially • they share information but still want to beat each other • this result was special because it happened with family Pre-Fish Strategy The Creberts kept things simple during pre-fish. They headed toward Mahogany, where they quickly found fish holding close to the reeds. Key lures included: • Sprat 75 soft plastics • Baby Vibes During pre-fish the fish were sitting extremely shallow, right near the reeds. Day 1 Conditions changed slightly and the bigger fish were no longer right in the shallows. Both anglers moved slightly deeper to target fish around weed edges. David Crebert • early fish – 900 g • second fish – 540 g • third fish – 760 g Day 1 total – 2.29 kg Greg Crebert • early fish – 900 g • second fish – 450 g • third fish – 1.1 kg • later upgrade – 980 g Day 1 total – 2.97 kg Greg finished Day 1 in first place. Day 2 Stronger winds on Day 2 forced both anglers to adjust by moving to heavier jigheads while continuing to fish the same productive area. David Crebert Late upgrades pushed his bag to: 2.97 kg on Day 2 5.26 kg total Greg Crebert Greg found a late bite window and upgraded strongly with several quality fish. Final winning weight – 6.14 kg Key Lures and Techniques This episode includes lots of useful insight into lure selection and t

Hobie Fishing Series Round 9 – St Georges Basin | Grant Oliver Claims First Hobie Win | The Bream Fishing Project In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, we head to St Georges Basin on the South Coast of New South Wales to recap Round 9 of the 2025 Hobie Fishing Series, brought to you by BerleyPro and Fish Tech Solutions. This was a tough two-day tournament, with only three full bags recorded across the entire field, but despite the difficult conditions there were still some standout performances, including a dominant win from Grant Oliver, who put together two full bags for a total of 4.57 kg and secured his first Hobie Fishing Series victory. Host Andrew Death, the 2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion, was also on the water for this event and sets the scene for a challenging but memorable weekend that included changing conditions, strong bite windows, a daylight savings time change, and a few big storylines — including the season-long Batman and Robin battle between Simon Morley and Tony Petty. If you enjoy tournament recaps, kayak fishing strategy, and hearing how top anglers break down difficult BREAM events, this is an episode worth listening to. Event Overview Event: Hobie Fishing Series Round 9 Location: St Georges Basin, NSW Dates: 4–5 October 2025 Sponsors: BerleyPro and Fish Tech Solutions St Georges Basin produced a very tough round, with anglers having to adapt to changing weather and low bag numbers across the field. Conditions and Bite Periods Saturday – 4 October Fish Activity Wheel: 60 Major Bite Period: 8:02 AM – 10:32 AM High Tide: 6:12 AM – 1.18 m Low Tide: 11:51 AM – 0.44 m Sunday – 5 October Fish Activity Wheel: 74 Major Bite Period: 9:49 AM – 12:19 PM High Tide: 7:49 AM – 1.29 m Low Tide: 1:39 PM – 0.32 m A couple of factors made the event even tougher: • A north-westerly wind came through on Sunday • Daylight savings changed on Saturday night, meaning anglers effectively started an hour earlier on Sunday The result was a challenging competition where every fish counted. Division Winners Anaconda Big BREAM Ben Harrison – 0.99 kg Monster Mover Luke Rogan – 1.95 kg After recording zero on Day 1, Luke came back strongly on Sunday to claim the Monster Mover prize. Women’s Division Leanne Cowen Leanne landed three fish for 1.97 kg on Saturday, which was enough to secure the women’s division and finish 12th overall. Masters Division Peter Nord – 2.62 kg Peter recorded 1.99 kg on Saturday and one fish for 630 g on Sunday. Overall Podium Results 🥇 1st – Grant Oliver Day 1: 3 fish – 2.27 kg Day 2: 3 fish – 2.30 kg Total: 4.57 kg 🥈 2nd – Adam Lalor Day 1: 3 fish – 2.15 kg Day 2: 3 fish – 1.35 kg Total: 3.50 kg 🥉 3rd – Rick King Day 1: 3 fish – 1.85 kg Day 2: 2 fish – 1.30 kg Total: 3.15 kg Only three anglers recorded full bags for the entire tournament, highlighting just how tough the fishing was. Rick King – Third Place Rick King continued what he described as a “purple patch” season, finishing third overall with 3.15 kg. Rick committed to fishing the islands, using shallow crankbaits and blades to grind out bites in difficult conditions. Key lures and techniques discussed in this episode: • Pro Lure Combat crankbaits • Stealth blades • Slow rolling crankbaits to avoid weed • Fishing 1–2.2 metres around the islands Rick finished the season 7th in Angler of the Year and walked away with: • $550 cash • Hobie trophy • Sponsor prize pack Adam Lalor – Second Place Adam Lalor had one of the most dramatic performances of the event. After struggling most of the morning on Day 1, Adam suddenly caught three fish in three casts to secure a bag over 2 kg. Key techniques Adam discusses in the episode: • Daiwa Rolling Cranks in brown suji • Fishing shallow structure around the islands • Switching to Hurricane Vibe 37 in camo crab • Fishing the entire event on 2 lb fluorocarbon Adam also talks about rod choices, including Millerods Flats Freak rods, and how long casts helped him cover water effectively. For second place Adam received: • $915 cash • BerleyPro Bottom Drawer storage system • Trophy • AC qualification • Sponsor prize pack Grant Oliver – First Place Grant Oliver delivered the standout performance of the tournament, catching two full bags for a winning total of 4.57 kg. Grant relied on years of accumulated marks around St Georges Basin and focused on a consistent pattern fishing 2–2.5 metres around the islands. Key lures and techniques: • Jackall Chubby Deep – brown suji • Pro Lure Clone Prawn • Gulp Nemesis soft plastics • Slow rolling crankbaits into weed and sand patches • Targeting known fish-holding structure After filling his bag early both days, Grant upgraded multiple times to secure a winning margin of just over one kilogram. First place winnings included: • $1,500 cash • Hobie trophy • Sponsor prize pack • Australian Championship qualification Batman vs Robin – The Season Result For years, Simon Morley and Tony Petty have jokingly been called Batman and Robin, a nickname given

Hobie Kayak Fishing Series 2025 – Power-Pole Round 8 | Burrill Lake | Luke Rogan Takes the Win In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, we head to the south coast of New South Wales for the Power-Pole Round 8 of the 2025 Hobie Kayak Fishing Series, held at Burrill Lake. What started as a calm, mill-pond morning quickly turned into an absolute washing machine of wind and waves, making for a very challenging day of tournament fishing. Despite the tough conditions, the anglers still managed to find some quality fish, with Luke Rogan rising to the top with a winning bag of 2.58 kg, ahead of Corey Lean in second place and Daniel Quarmby in third. Host Andrew Death (2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion) sits down with the podium anglers to break down exactly how they approached Burrill Lake, the key decisions they made throughout the day, and the lures and techniques that ultimately produced their fish. Event Overview Location: Burrill Lake, NSW Series: Hobie Kayak Fishing Series 2025 Round Sponsor: Power-Pole With strong winds forecast later in the day, the event launched early at 6:00 AM to give anglers the best possible window to fish before conditions deteriorated. Bite Periods Major Bite Window: 6:22 AM – 8:52 AM Tides for the session: High Tide – 4:26 AM (1.05 m) Low Tide – 9:38 AM (0.68 m) Even with a good bite window early in the morning, Burrill Lake fished very tough, with only a small number of anglers managing to secure full bags. Tournament Results 🥇 1st Place – Luke Rogan 3 fish – 2.58 kg 🥈 2nd Place – Corey Lean 3 fish – 1.88 kg 🥉 3rd Place – Daniel Quarmby 3 fish – 1.82 kg Big BREAM: Wade Walker – 1.17 kg Daniel Quarmby – Third Place Daniel travelled five hours from Orange in Central West NSW to compete in the event and went into the tournament without a pre-fish. Starting on the edges with crankbaits, Daniel initially struggled to find BREAM and instead caught several pinkie snapper and flathead while searching the lake. Eventually he located fish holding deeper off a point and switched to soft plastics, using: Keitech Easy Shiner Z-Man Grub (motor oil) Light jigheads with a long fluorocarbon leader By anchoring in shallow water with his Power-Pole and casting into deeper water around six metres, Daniel slowly worked his plastics along the bottom and secured three scoring fish. His biggest fish measured 37 cm, helping him claim his first Hobie podium and his first tournament trophy. Corey Lean – Second Place Corey focused on deeper structure and drop-offs early, finding fish holding slightly off the edges rather than up shallow on the flats. Fishing lightly weighted soft plastics and prawn-style lures along a drop-off, he secured two fish early before landing his key fish for the day. One of his best BREAM came from beneath a pontoon boat sitting over deeper water, where he skipped a soft plastic under the structure and hooked a 41 cm fish on light line. As the wind intensified, Corey made the decision to head back early for safety, finishing the day with three fish weighing 1.88 kg and securing second place. Luke Rogan – First Place Luke’s winning strategy involved committing to fishing upstream in the creeks, despite hearing reports from other anglers that the area hadn’t been producing fish. Fishing crab-style crankbaits around deeper snags, Luke found BREAM holding slightly off the bank in deeper water rather than tight to structure. Once he located the fish, he quickly secured his bag, landing multiple quality fish to finish with 2.58 kg, giving him a clear win in the tough conditions. Gear and Techniques Discussed During the episode the anglers discuss a range of gear and techniques used during the event, including: Samurai Infinite rods Samurai Reaction rods Shimano Stella reels Atomic X8 braid Soft plastics and prawn-style lures Crab-style crankbaits Long fluorocarbon leaders Power-Pole anchoring systems Listen to The Bream Fishing Project 🎧 New episodes every Tuesday Hosted by Andrew Death – 2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion The Bream Fishing Project brings you: • Tournament recaps from around Australia • Interviews with elite competition anglers • Techniques to help you catch more BREAM on lures Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective Become part of the community through The Bream Fishing Project Collective, where members get: • Early access to episodes • Monthly live streams with anglers from around the country • Extra fishing content and discussions Join here: https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, please consider: ⭐ Subscribing ⭐ Leaving a rating or review ⭐ Sharing the show with a mate who loves BREAM fishing

In this episode of The BREAM Fishing Project Podcast, we head to Action Fishing Tournaments Round 8, held at Berowra Waters on September 21, 2025, for a fascinating look at how this event unfolded and how a standout bag of fish separated one angler from the rest of the field. This was a cracking little tournament, with plenty of storylines right through the top placings. Ben Gillespie put together an incredible winning bag of 123.5cm, built around fish measuring 44cm, 42cm and 37.5cm, to take a commanding win by a huge margin. Warren Allen returned to the show after finishing second with 107.5cm, while James Tran continued his strong run of form with another podium finish, taking third with 106.5cm. The episode also rounds out the top five, with Jose Lopez on 105.5cm, including a 48cm Big BREAM, and Josh Richards on 101.5cm. As always, the episode opens with the key conditions for the day, including the bite periods, fish activity and tides. On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the fish activity wheel sat at 97, with a major bite period from 10:11am to 12:41pm. The tide information for the event saw a high at 7:53am (1.55m) and a low at 1:53pm (0.25m), helping paint the picture of how the day set up and why certain patterns came into play. The first interview is with James Tran, who backed up another strong result with a smart and disciplined performance to finish third. James talks through a valuable pre-fish session where he spent time sounding out fish and experimenting with deeper presentations, including blades and soft plastics, before ultimately trusting his instincts on tournament day. He explains how he found fish holding away from the edges during pre-fish, but then abandoned that plan once competition day began and instead committed to his confidence technique around hard structure. James goes deep into his use of the Cranka Crab, explaining how he cast tight to rocky edges, pontoons and gnarly structure, often placing the lure right into tight gaps and holes. He describes a day built on accurate casting, slow lure movement and confidence in fishing close to the bank. He also shares details of his gear, including his move to 4lb straight-through fluorocarbon, fishing with near locked drag, and using a Shimano Raider rod paired with a Vanford 2500. It’s a detailed discussion about commitment, accuracy, confidence in light line, and how a simple edge-fishing pattern can still produce under pressure. James also shares some entertaining stories from the day, including the chaos of the launch, some on-water banter with fellow competitors, and a frantic late rush back to the ramp to avoid another costly late check-in. It adds a lot of personality to the episode and shows just how much happens in a comp day beyond simply catching fish. Next up is Warren Allen, who finished second by fishing to his strengths. Warren explains how he skipped pre-fish and instead relied on past experience from fishing Berowra Waters in previous events. After trying a few different approaches early, including fishing boats, blades and other lure options, he eventually settled on one of his confidence techniques: a Hurricane Sprat on a hidden-weight 1/28 jighead. Warren breaks down a really interesting pattern, where he found fish set up not behind the rocks, but actually on the front of the rocks in the current pressure wave. He talks about visually spotting the structure, reading clearer water in the shallows, and making repeated casts to likely ambush points. He also explains how small details like current flow, rock positioning and bait movement influenced where the BREAM were sitting. For anglers who love finesse fishing, this section is full of practical insights, especially around lure weight, hook selection, leader choice and the importance of understanding where fish position themselves in current. To finish the interviews, Ben Gillespie joins the show after a dominant win. Ben did not pre-fish, but used a mix of past experience, map work and sounder research to develop a plan around likely productive edges and drop-offs. Once on the water, he stuck to that plan, eventually finding a section of rocky edge and broken structure that held multiple quality fish. Ben talks through how he cast his Cranka Crab hard against the bank, let it settle, and then worked it back slowly with tiny movements and occasional shakes. The fish were often hitting within the first few winds, and he was able to repeat the pattern again and again across the right type of structure. Ben’s interview is packed with detail on how that winning bag came together, including the type of banks he preferred, why steeper drop-offs were less effective than rocky edges with rubble and back eddies, and how critical confidence in the lure was on the day. He also explains his tackle setup, including 8lb braid and 8lb leader, and talks about the rod he trusts most for crab fishing. His winning fish did serious damage to his lures, flattening trebles and destroying

The BREAM Fishing Project – March 2026 Monthly Report March is here and the tournament scene is starting to fire back up around the country. In this Monthly Report episode of The BREAM Fishing Project, Andrew is joined by Brett Geddes to look ahead at what’s coming up in the next few weeks, reflect on the Marlo round, and dive deep into some technical discussions that will help you catch more and better BREAM. We kick things off by running through the March tournament calendar, including the BREAM Masters SA event on the Glenelg River, the Hobie round at Wallaga Lake (including the Saturday night talk session), WA boat rounds, the NSW Tournament Series event at Lake Macquarie, and Vic BREAM at Gippsland Lakes. There’s also a bit of exciting news around the first official BREAM Fishing Project Team heading to Vic BREAM — something we’ll be watching closely. From there we unpack the listener survey results, with over 140 responses from the community. We talk through what listeners are enjoying, what they want more of, and some of the feedback around species coverage and content direction moving forward. A big portion of this episode is dedicated to a full Marlo recap, including Brett’s last-minute trip down, pre-fish observations, the challenges of a boom-and-bust fishery, and some honest reflections on how quickly a session can unravel when you miss key details like hydration and preparation. There are some great takeaways here for anyone fishing systems that can turn on and off quickly. The second half of the episode shifts into a detailed soft plastics and rigging session. We explore: Using heavier jighead weights and a more aggressive retrieve to trigger bites How different jighead weights can completely change lure action and presentation Rigging a prawn-style soft plastic multiple ways (forward, backward, and mid-body hook placements) Weedless rigging options and when they’re most effective How subtle rigging adjustments can change your hook-up rate and presentation in pressured systems Brett also shares his flies eyes / dumbbell eyes concept, originally adapted from fly fishing, and how it can be used to control sink rate and lure orientation when targeting fish in shallow water. This leads into some really interesting discussion around sight fishing opportunities and how to present plastics in front of actively feeding BREAM. We also touch on Andrew's recent session at Towra Flats, a quick chat about Arc Genesis hooks (use code BFP to support the show and grab a discount), and finish up with a wrap on a sight fishing session at Lake Tyers and some gear insights including Hobie sunglasses. This episode is packed with practical takeaways, honest reflections from recent tournament experiences, and plenty of ideas you can apply on your next session. 🎣 Join The Collective If you want to take your fishing further, join The BREAM Fishing Project Collective — a growing community of anglers sharing ideas, techniques and experiences, with bonus content and regular live streams. 👉 Join here: breamfishingproject.supercast.com 🤝 Support the Podcast If you enjoy the show, the best way to support it is to: Share the episode with a mate Leave a rating or review Check out our partners and sponsors Thanks for listening to The BREAM Fishing Project — we’ll see you on the water.

🎣 Mallacoota ABT 2026 Wrap-Up | Mark Healey’s 3-Peat, Non-Boater Battles & Tactical Breakdowns In this episode of The BREAM Fishing Project, we head to one of Australia’s most iconic tournament arenas — Mallacoota, Victoria — to wrap up the Victorian leg of the ABT Road Show for 2026. Held across February 7–8, this round delivered classic Mallacoota conditions — glassed-out mornings, spooky fish, heavy prawn activity, and a brutal 40+ knot northeaster that turned the final session into survival mode. And at the top of it all… Mark Healey makes history with a three-peat at Mallacoota. This is a deep-dive tournament breakdown packed with real-world tactics, lure selection, decision-making under pressure, and the subtle details that separate top-10 finishes from the rest of the field. 🏆 EVENT RESULTS SNAPSHOT Non-Boater Division 🥇 1st – Robert Bluemink – 4.997kg 🥈 2nd – Michael Sammut – 4.601kg 🥉 3rd – Darcy Clifton – 4.524kg Boater Division 🥇 1st – Mark Healey – 10.131kg (Three-peat winner) 🥈 2nd – Mario Vukic – 9.707kg 🥉 3rd – Jarrod Healey – 9.372kg 🌊 CONDITIONS & KEY PATTERNS Glass-out mornings with highly visible fish on edges and flats Spooky fish behaviour – requiring finesse presentations Heavy prawn influence across both days Mid-water fish holding identified via live sonar Strong northeaster (up to 40 knots) impacting final-day strategy Tidal timing critical for access to larger yellowfin down the front 🧠 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE This episode is loaded with practical, tournament-level insights you can apply straight away: 🔹 Non-Boater Strategies Fishing deeper water behind boaters to find untouched fish Adjusting lure profiles when fish are present but not feeding Using LiveScope/sonar feedback to refine presentations Managing pressure and upgrades across two days 🔹 Boater Winning Tactics Mark Healey’s two-zone strategy (lake system + front system) Timing tide windows for big yellowfin BREAM bites Using topwater, twitch baits, and prawn imitations to match conditions Adapting to wind, current, and boat pressure 🔹 Key Lure Patterns SPRAT plastics on light jigheads (1/16–1/12) Hybrid prawn imitations for mid-water fish Bent minnows for early topwater fish Chubbies & twitch baits for structured edges Crabs and shallow minnows as upgrade tools 🧵 GEAR & TECHNIQUE INSIGHTS Light leaders: 3–6lb fluorocarbon for natural presentation Ultra-light rod setups for finesse lure control Adjusting jighead weight to match wind, depth, and current Watching fish behaviour on sonar to guide retrieve style The importance of slow presentations and patience in pressured systems 🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MALLOCOOTA 2026 You didn’t need numbers — you needed quality bites Prawn imitations were the dominant pattern across both divisions Sight-casting and subtle presentations were critical in clear water Mid-water fish played a bigger role than bottom-holding fish Timing the front system correctly was the difference maker 🔗 LINKS & COMMUNITY 👉 Join The BREAM Fishing Project Collective Early episode access, live streams, bonus content and challenges: https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com 📸 Follow along on Instagram @thebreamfishingproject 🌐 Website & community updates https://breamfishingproject.com 🙌 THANK YOU Massive thanks to all the anglers who took the time to jump on the mic after long tournament days — your willingness to share knowledge is what makes this project possible. And to everyone who filled out the recent listener survey — your feedback is helping shape the future of the show. 🎧 Subscribe, share and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode — it helps grow the BREAM community and keeps these stories coming. The BREAM Fishing Project Informing, inspiring, and entertaining Australia’s BREAM anglers every week.

ABT 2026 Season Opener – Gippsland Lakes | Winning Techniques, Gear, and Tournament Breakdown The 2026 ABT season is officially underway — and it starts with a cracker event at Gippsland Lakes. In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project Podcast, we break down the ABT Gippsland Lakes Round (February 3–4, 2026) with full tournament results, in-depth angler interviews, bite period analysis, and the exact techniques that produced winning bags. If you want to catch bigger BREAM in tournaments or recreationally, this episode is loaded with practical insights from anglers who were right at the top of the leaderboard. 📍 Event Overview – ABT Gippsland Lakes Dates: February 3–4, 2026 Location: Gippsland Lakes, Victoria Conditions: Tough bite periods, shifting wind, and subtle presentations required Winning weight (boaters): 12.81 kg Winning weight (non-boaters): 5.413 kg 🌊 Key Bite Windows & Conditions We break down the fish activity wheel, tides, and major/minor bite periods, including: Major bite windows late in both sessions Low tide early morning, rising into strong late-session periods Subtle bites and structure-oriented fish behaviour Understanding this pattern was critical to unlocking the better fish during both competition days. 🥇 Top Performances – Non Boater Division 🥇 Simon Krause – 1st Place (5.413 kg) Slim Swims rigged weedless on light jigheads River fish holding 1.5–1.8m off banks Slow bottom hops and subtle rod shakes Last-minute upgrade on a Jackall Chubby sealed the win 🥈 David Morris – 2nd Place (5.318 kg) Hardbody spike bite on shallow flats Hurricane Sprat upgrade fish Ultra-fine copolymer leader for extra bites 🥉 Allan Morrison – 3rd Place (5.187 kg) Heavy mussel patterns on jetties Slow bottom presentation with long pauses Over-1kg average fish across his bag 🥇 Top Performances – Boater Division 🥇 Steven Pryke – 1st Place (12.81 kg) Bloodworm grubs and dock fishing High water-column fish holding around pontoons Final-hour upgrade fish each day secured the win Strong hook-sets on heavier gear to control big fish 🥈 Mark Healey – 2nd Place (12.152 kg) Cranka Crabs all tournament Fishing deep structure and jetty bases Slow presentations — bites coming off the bottom Precision casting within inches of structure 🥉 Mario Vukic – 3rd Place (11.404 kg) Soft plastics (Wave Minnow, Bloodworm) Livescope + structure fishing in Mitchell River Tide-driven fish movement and schooling behaviour 🎣 Key Techniques Covered in This Episode ✔️ Fishing slim plastics weedless from the back of the boat ✔️ Using Cranka Crabs on structure for big BREAM ✔️ When to fish light leaders vs heavy leaders ✔️ How to adjust when fish are sitting high vs on the bottom ✔️ The importance of last-hour upgrades in tournaments ✔️ Using side imaging and Livescope to locate fish ✔️ Managing pressure, nerves, and decision-making across two days 🧰 Lures & Gear Mentioned Jackall Chubby Crankbaits Daiwa Spikes & Wise Minnow Hurricane Sprat Zman Slim Swim soft plastics Bloodworm grubs Cranka Crabs Atomic jigheads (weedless setups) Shimano Vanford Daiwa reels and Infeet rods 🧠 Big Takeaways from Gippsland Lakes 2026 Structure was key — jetties, docks, river edges Light lines = more bites, but heavier gear = better control in structure Fish often required slow, patient presentations The last hour of each day was critical for upgrades Anglers who adapted quickly to conditions finished at the top 🔥 Want More Like This? If you want to improve your BREAM fishing and learn directly from Australia’s top tournament anglers… 👉 Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective 🎣 Early access to podcast episodes 🎣 Monthly live streams & coaching sessions 🎣 Exclusive tutorials, challenges & bonus content Join here: 👉 https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com 🎙 About The Podcast The Bream Fishing Project Podcast is your weekly deep dive into Australian BREAM tournament fishing, featuring: Elite anglers Winning techniques Tackle breakdowns Tournament reports And everything you need to catch more and bigger BREAM Hosted by Andrew Death, 2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion. ⭐ Enjoying the show? If you enjoyed this episode: ✔️ Follow the podcast ✔️ Leave a rating/review ✔️ Share it with a mate who loves BREAM fishing It helps the show grow and allows us to keep bringing you more content like this. 🎧 Next Episode: We head to Mallacoota for the next ABT round — don’t miss it.

In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, we head to South Australia to review the BREAM Masters South Australia (BMSA) Tackle Tactics Championship Round 2025, held on the Port River on November 2nd, 2025. This was a strong finish to the season with good numbers of legal BREAM weighed in, and it also rounded out a standout year for Paul Cook, who capped things off with a huge result across the season. Results – Top 5 1st: Paul Cook – 2.17kg 2nd: Josh Bland – 2.09kg 3rd: Ben Harrison – 2.01kg =4th: Craig Richards – 1.81kg =4th: Ryan Ottens – 1.81kg What you’ll hear in this episode Ben Harrison (3rd – 2.01kg) breaks down a strong pre-fish session, how the day changed with tide movement, and how he mixed Crabbies, Hurricane Skimps and a late hardbody upgrade run — with lightning, rain, and a couple of painful late mistakes. Josh Bland (2nd – 2.09kg) talks through a no pre-fish approach, fishing a central Port River structure zone, and his lure rotation including the Spike 53 medium running, Bait Junkie Prawn 2.35” (Clear Gold) on a 1/30 jighead, and a bite window on mussel-style lures around pylons — plus his thoughts on the wider impacts of the toxic algal bloom in SA. Paul Cook (1st – 2.17kg) rounds out the show, reflecting on a rough pre-fish a month out, how conditions improved in the weeks leading in, and the “less is more” mindset that helped him lock in a tight gameplan — focusing on edges, small profiles, and maximising time fishing rather than travelling. He also covers the season wrap-up, prize packs, and what it means to take the championship and season achievements. The Collective (community + challenges) If you’re looking to connect with more anglers and get involved in challenges, Zoom sessions, and community chat, check out The Bream Fishing Project Collective (now running on Discord): breamfishingproject.supercast.com Big thanks to the volunteers behind BREAM Masters South Australia for putting in the work to run the series, and to the sponsors supporting the season.

I’ve put together a short listener survey to help guide the direction of the podcast — I’d really appreciate your input: https://forms.gle/QHoU9w6o4HZALKTAA Action Fishing Tournaments – Tunks Park (31 Aug 2025) | James Tran wins + Big BREAM (46.5cm), Trent Rogers 2nd, Claudio Araujo 3rd In this episode of The BREAM Fishing Project, Andrew breaks down the Action Fishing Tournaments round held Sunday 31st August 2025 at Tunks Park (Middle Harbour) — a tough day on the water where half the field didn’t land a fish, but a few anglers cracked the code. We cover the bite periods + tide info, then jump into the angler interviews with Claudio Arjo (3rd), Trent Rogers (2nd), and James Tran (1st + Big BREAM) — including the stories behind their key fish, the lures they used, and the moments that nearly cost them the result. Bite periods + tides (as mentioned in the episode) Fish Activity Wheel: 11 Major bite: 4:01am – 6:31am Minor bite: 9:25am – 10:55am Low tide: 6:49am (0.56m) High tide: 1:46pm (1.32m) Results (Top 3) 🥇 1st – James Tran: 113.5cm (46.5cm Big BREAM, plus 35cm & 32cm) Takes home $650 for 1st + $100 Big BREAM Lands a PB 46.5cm BREAM and wins by 20cm+ 🥈 2nd – Trent Rogers: 92cm Gets his bag fast (first fish around 7:33am), mostly on blades around boats Takes home $400 🥉 3rd – Claudio Arjo: 91cm (29.5, 29, 32.5) Finds a bite window early and puts fish together when most struggled Takes home $250 Lures, gear & patterns discussed (from the interviews) Deep boat/mooring bite with blades (including Eco Gear VX-35 in 439) Claudio’s run of fish around 10–12m on a small blade, plus testing a baby vibe (but too slow to sink in that depth) James mixing muss/crab style lures, Cranka Crab, and Berkley Gulp Crabby, plus the full “comp day chaos” story (bungs, bust-offs, getting snagged on a rope, and climbing onto a boat to free his line) Shout-outs mentioned Dane Tamagotchi / Zeus Tackle (Camden) Adam – fishing.com.au Steve – Tackle Addiction Craig + team for running AFT, plus the wider tournament community Find James Tran James’ YouTube channel: JG Kayak Fishing Join “The BREAM Fishing Project Collective” Early access, extra content, and the community challenges: https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com Follow the podcast Instagram: @thebreamfishingproject If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a rating/review on your favourite podcast platform — it helps more anglers find the show.

Welcome to the Monthly Report episode of The BREAM Fishing Project, hosted by Andrew Death, with regular contributor Brett Geddes, and special guest Steve Morgan. In this episode, Andrew and Brett are joined by Steve Morgan to cover a wide range of topics around tournament fishing, fishing education, and how anglers develop their skills over time. Steve reflects on his long involvement in fishing media and tournaments, including his approach to teaching anglers and the importance of sharing knowledge within the sport. The conversation explores how people learn to fish, the influence of magazines and media on modern lure fishing in Australia, and how those learning pathways have changed. Steve also shares insights from fishing and competing across different systems and conditions around the country. A key part of the episode focuses on tournament fishing, including a detailed discussion of the ABT 2026 season, with commentary on venues, timing, and how different fisheries tend to fish throughout the year. The discussion also touches on decision-making during competition days, fishing pressure, and adapting when conditions or plans change. Steve also outlines his upcoming Live Sonar course, explaining what it aims to teach, who it’s designed for, and how anglers can better interpret what they’re seeing on their screens when using modern sonar technology. As always, the episode includes the regular Monthly Report segments: Full Boof-Head, highlighting moments and behaviour that don’t help the fishing community What Cheeses Me Off, with reflections on online negativity, community discussion, and broader issues affecting anglers Other topics covered throughout the episode include: Learning through experience and observation Differences in fish behaviour across systems Shallow versus deep water approaches How sound, lure presentation, and pressure affect fish Tournament mindset and adapting throughout a session The episode wraps up with broader reflections on the fishing community and the importance of constructive conversation and shared learning.

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.

🎣 Warrnambool • Hopkins River • 2025 Shimano & Hobie Vic BREAM Classics (Final Round) We’re heading to Warrnambool on the Hopkins River to break down the 2025 Shimano & Hobie Vic BREAM Classics – CMA BREAM Classic, held Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October 2025. It’s the final round of the Vic BREAM Classics season before the Grand Final, and compared to last year’s tough event, this one produced far better fishing, bigger bags, and more full limits. To set the scene, I run through the fish activity wheel, major bite periods, and the tide timings for both days — then we dive into the results, the key awards, and what stood out compared to the same event last year. 🏆 Event Highlights & Awards Heaviest Bag Day 2 / Best Bag: Team JL Angling (Lewis & Jessica) – 5.505 kg Big BREAM (Ecogear Big BREAM): Team Rooworks (Greg Rooke & Gary Carruthers) – 1.51 kg Big Perch (Miller Rogue Big Perch): Team Hamilton Marine – 1.255 kg Monster Movers: Team JL Angling (moved up 14 spots into 3rd) 🎙️ Angler Interviews in This Episode ✅ 3rd Place – Team JL Angling (Lewis & Jessica) A huge story: 17th overnight → 3rd overall, including a Day 2 session where they describe a one-hour stretch producing constant upgrades, capped by a 1.3 kg kicker. They also cover an electric motor issue on Day 1, their lure mix (including Cranka Crab, Bait Junkie Wave Minnow, and nail bombs), and how they approached pressure and wind. ✅ 2nd Place – Boden Zisu (Wild Wings TXD) Boden talks about finally cracking the Hopkins after past struggles, how a pre-fish two weeks prior helped form a plan, and how they built their bags using grubs, plastics, and blades (including old-school gear like the TT Ghost Blade). Plus: the last-cast upgrade that helped lock in second. ✅ 1st Place – Michael Malone (Team Midfield) Michael breaks down a super consistent two-day performance (4.17 kg + 4.155 kg = 8.325 kg) and how freshwater flow and colour played a role. He shares how they got on fish early, what changed from pre-fish to comp days, and why the Bait Junkie Minnow in “Mud Blood” became a key player. 👥 Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective If you want more than just the weekly episodes, come and join The Bream Fishing Project Collective. We’ve recently moved our group chats across to Discord, and it’s been a great way to keep the community connected. Join here: breamfishingproject.supercast.com 🎧 New episodes every Tuesday — tips, tactics, and conversations with Australia’s best BREAM tournament anglers. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow/subscribe and leave a rating on your favourite podcast app — it helps more anglers find the show.

We’re off to a brand-new Hobie Fishing Series location for Round 7 at Wallaga Lake, on the NSW South Coast, held 13–14 September — and like most new venues, the hype was real. The setting? Almost perfect. Warm September weather, light winds, and what might be the best Hobie event launch I’ve ever seen: a sandy beach with a clean drop-off, a brilliant Big4 setup, and even a food truck doing coffees and bacon & egg rolls from early. The fishing though… totally different story. This round was tough — 55 donuts on Saturday — yet we still saw cracking fish come across the scales, including a phenomenal 6-fish bag over 6kg, which is massive for a NSW Hobie event. In this episode you’ll hear three different approaches that produced Top 3 results, with interviews from: Chris Byrne (3rd) — creek mission, slow snag fishing, weedless plastics and a Nomad shrimp bite Jamie Cole (2nd) — Cookie stealth blades early, then a late adjustment that delivered big upgrades Jason Marshall (1st) — no prefish, a dominant win, and the key adjustments that separated him from the field Key event notes & stats Fish Activity Wheel: 28 (Sat) → 13 (Sun) Tides: Low 5:54am (0.4m) / High 12:27pm (1.47m) Saturday; Low 6:49am / High 1:30pm (1.43m) Sunday Saturday donuts: 55 Big Bream: Jason Marshall — 1.33kg Monster Mover: Carl Dubois — 1.57kg Young Angler: Ethan Howard — 0.87kg Masters: Peter Nord — 4 fish for 2.16kg Plus, I share how my weekend played out — including finally jagging two fish late on Sunday after being part of the Saturday donut club — and what’s coming next in the Hobie season. Join The Collective Two of the Top 3 in this round are active members of The Bream Fishing Project Collective — if you want to learn faster and fish smarter with the crew, jump in here: breamfishingproject.supercast.com Support the show: buymeacoffee/andrewdeath Thanks for listening — and I’ll catch you next week on The Bream Fishing Project.

Welcome to Episode 172 of The BREAM Fishing Project, our first Monthly Fishing Report of the year, with Andrew and Brett Geddes covering a huge range of fishing, gear, community updates, and milestones from around the country. This episode blends real-world fishing sessions, lure tinkering, tournament updates, and the lighter side of the sport with plenty of Boofhead Moments — plus an important conversation around mental health and the Fly Program. In this episode we cover: January tournament updates with Action Fishing Tournaments (Raby Bay QLD, Parramatta River NSW, and Port Macquarie) A major milestone as The BREAM Fishing Project turns 3 years old Growing the YouTube channel and why listener comments and engagement matter Andrew’s recent sessions on the Cooks River, focusing on bridge fishing with forward-facing sonar Lure talk and experimentation, including Cranka Crabs, mussels, Baby Vibes, Squidgies grubs and bugs Tinkering with rigging ideas for surface and shallow applications Brett’s bass fishing update, including stocked fisheries, surface bites, and local sessions Flathead and BREAM sessions under pressure from holiday boat traffic What Cheeses Me Off and a stack of classic Bullhead Moments A wrap of sponsors and supporters who helped make the Collective challenges possible The Fly Program – More Than Fishing Andrew also shares his recent experience with The Fly Program, a men’s mental health retreat wrapped in fly fishing, connection, and time in nature. A fundraiser has been launched with a goal of $2,800 to help support two participants who may not otherwise be able to attend. 👉 Fly Program Fundraiser: https://flyprogram.org.au/campaigns/the-fly-program-more-than-fishing/?updated=1 Every contribution helps — big or small. Join The BREAM Fishing Project Collective The Collective gives you access to: Early and bonus podcast content Past and current challenge replays Member-only discussions and updates Join here: breamfishingproject.supercast.com Support the show Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee/andrewdeath If you enjoy the Monthly Reports, please consider subscribing, rating the show, and sharing it with a mate — it genuinely helps keep the project moving forward. Tight lines, Andrew

We’re heading to Western Australia for Western Australian Tournament Anglers (WATA) – Kayak Round 3 of 2025, held 7 September 2025 on the Moore River (Guilderton, WA). This round dished up some of the nastiest conditions you’d choose to fish in — heavy wind, driving rain, and a river mouth that’d been open for weeks, pushing current and foam through the system. Despite the grind, we still saw a standout winning bag and some really interesting insights into how the top anglers adjusted their approach to get bites when it counted. In this episode, you’ll hear from: ✅ Travis Newland (3rd) – talks through tough winter fishing on the Moore, working contours and drop-offs, and how the open mouth + dirty water changed everything. ✅ Joseph Gardner (2nd) – breaks down his competition plan, the reality of slow fishing in brutal weather, and exactly how he works a pygmy mussel in current. ✅ Matt DeBoer (1st) – a massive win with 2.52kg for three fish, including a 1.19kg big BREAM. Matt explains how he kept his lure presentation natural with wind/tide fighting each other — and how that big fish came unstuck on the day. You’ll also get the quick rundown of the Fish Activity Wheel and the key bite window for the session. Sponsor shout-out A big thanks to Getaway Outdoors for supporting the WATA kayak series — and for anglers travelling over, there are kayaks available for hire so you can jump into a WA round without dragging your whole setup across the country. Want more than the free show? Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective for extra content, challenges, replays, and more: 👉 https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com If you enjoy the episode, a follow/subscribe and a quick rating helps more than you’d think. 🤝

In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, we head to East Gippsland to review the 2025 Mega Bass East Gippsland Bream Classic, brought to you by Vic Bream Classics. This is one of Andrew’s favourite venues at Marlo, a system that can completely separate the field. Some teams grind for bites, while others put together standout bags, and this weekend delivered plenty of big fish stories. Andrew opens with a run-through of the bite periods and tides across both days, then breaks down the key divisional awards and major highlights from the weekend, including: Sunline Best Bag: Team Zero Technique Winners: Josh Jeffrey & Connor Jackson – 5.905kg Day 2 and 11.065kg total Big Bream: Brad & Harry Young – 1.755kg Monster Movers (ZipBaits): Team Hummingbird – a huge Day 2 climb Junior Angler Prize: Team Berkley (Scuba Hodges) Mulloway Road: Team Two Odd Legends – a 1.2kg perch From there, it’s straight into full interviews with the podium teams: 3rd Place – Team Prestige Worldwide (Steven Emerson & Damien Dwyer) A great breakdown of their weekend, including: How their prefish shaped (and didn’t shape) their comp decisions Finding quality fish in the slips and why the area stayed more consistent Fishing light leader (around 3lb) and grinding out bites through the day Their go-to plastics approach (including SPRs) and jighead weights A key upgrade fish around 1.29kg, and how it ate Their LiveScope/sonar setup and how they used it in shallow water 2nd Place – Team Samurai Rods (Dan & Declan) Dan and Declan return with plenty of banter and detail, covering: How they approached Marlo without a big lead-up prefish Working key areas with plastics, and how fish positioning changed from Day 1 to Day 2 Jighead choices and adjusting presentation for flow and boat traffic Managing crowded water and making the most of sporadic bites A few classic moments (including a very memorable fish that ended up hooked in a “creative” spot) Shoutouts to sponsors, boat setup, and the gear that helped them stay effective all weekend 1st Place – Team Zero Technique (Josh Jeffrey & Connor Jackson) The winners break down exactly how they did it, including: Their prefish approach: moving efficiently, confirming fish, and not overcomplicating it Why they leaned into plastics/creature baits over vibes Running 1/12oz jigheads even in shallow water to manage current and keep the bait in the zone Targeting edges early, then shifting to deeper schools using side scan / down scan Fishing 4–5lb leader, staying confident in their strengths, and landing nearly everything they hooked How they built a massive Day 2 bag (5.905kg) to secure the win This episode is stacked with tournament lessons: decision-making in a tough system, how to adjust with current and pressure, and what it looks like when teams execute cleanly across two days.

We’re off to South Australia for the BREAM Masters SA Onkaparinga Round, held 31 October 2025 — and it produced an absolute standout winning bag. In this episode, I’m joined by the Top 3: Ben Gibbs (3rd) breaks down a “slow roll” bite that surprised him — starting with motor oil Slim Swims, then upgrading with blades… and losing both of his best colours to snags on the way back. Josh Bland (2nd) shares a fascinating read on how rain and freshwater layering can change fish behaviour in the Onkaparinga, plus how he found consistent bites up river on motor oil 2.5” Bait Junkie minnows with a 1/20oz jighead and a slow roll approach. Paul Cook (1st + Big BREAM) talks through a day that started with gear failures (power pole + livewell issues) and long dry spells… before landing the goods on small profile hardbodies, including a critical bite on the Daiwa Rolling Crank (Blue Suji) and a 1.28kg Big BREAM, finishing with a massive 3.05kg winning total. If you want more structured learning and extra content, check out The Bream Fishing Project Collective: breamfishingproject.supercast.com

Action Fishing Tournaments – Brooklyn, Hawkesbury (20 July 2025) In this episode we head to Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury with the crew from Action Fishing Tournaments, for a memorable round held on 20 July 2025 and one that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. We break down three very different tournament journeys — each one packed with lessons, timing windows, missed opportunities, upgrades, and one of the most remarkable fish ever landed mid-competition: • Glenn Allen places 3rd with 39, 28.5 and 28.5 cm fish (96 cm total) after a hot early bite window around racks, poles and rock walls. • John Sharp secures 2nd with 30.5, 33 and an impressive 46 cm PB brim for a 109.5 cm bag — taking just three bites all day and converting every single one. • Joshua Richards takes the win with a jaw-dropping 34 / 46 / 51 — totalling 131 cm including a 51 cm yellowfin brim, hooked deep around bridge pylons and landed against all odds. A true unicorn fish. Andrew wraps up with a personal update on training for the Fly Program, discussing a week of walking, physical reset, momentum, and encouragement for anyone wanting to start moving again — even short efforts count and confidence builds quickly. 💛 Support the Show ☕ Buy Me a Coffee — support The Bream Fishing Project 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/AndrewDeath 🎣 ARK GENESIS – 15% OFF with code: BFP Australian-designed, eco-friendly lead-free jig heads & sinkers built for precision, performance & sustainability. Listeners get 15% off using code BFP at checkout. 👉 https://arkgenesis.com.au/ 🔗 Stay Connected 🌐 breamfishingproject.com 🎧 The Collective – bonus content & live sessions: breamfishingproject.supercast.com 📸 Instagram: @thebreamfishingproject 📩 Email: [email protected]

In this December Monthly Report, Andrew is joined once again by Brett Geddes for a full wrap-up of the month in bream fishing, tournament results, big fish stories, tackle talk, and a few trademark Boofhead moments. This episode covers the end-of-year comps, including the Vic Bream Classics Grand Final at Gippsland Lakes, the WA Boat Grand Final, and recent events at Brooklyn. Andrew and Brett break down why the fish behaved the way they did, how the lakes system is fishing late in the year, and what stood out about the Grand Final — including a number of big fish over 1.7 kg. There’s also plenty of discussion about giant bream, the 50 cm debate, measuring techniques, and fish movement in spawn-mode conditions. Andrew and Brett also talk through Andrew’s recent jewfish trolling efforts on the Georges River, including stories of metre-plus mulloway taken on light gear, rock-wall sessions, and how mapping, boat speed, and lure depth all play a role. The episode also includes: A bass session update A tailor with two lures in its mouth EcoGear Aqua catches SX-40 style crankbait fish ARK Genesis lead-free jigheads and sinkers Leader treatment, light-line finesse, and tackle tweaks “What Cheeses Me Off?” Boofhead stories and gear mishaps Info about Andrew’s upcoming trip with The Fly Program Details about the Daiwa Reel Connections Day A look back at one full year of Monthly Reports If you'd like to check out the ARK Genesis lead-free jigheads and sinkers, you can visit: https://arkgenesis.com.au Use the code BFP at checkout for a listener discount. If you enjoy these episodes and want to support the show, you can buy Andrew and Brett a coffee at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/andrewdeath

This week on The Bream Fishing Project we’re headed to the Gold Coast for TT Round 6 of the Hobie Kayak Fishing Series 16, held on the 9–10 August 2025. Normally this round is all sunshine and flat water… this year, the anglers got absolutely belted by wind and swell. Arena zones were cut, Sunday was shortened by an hour, and anyone heading wide had to really earn it. Even with the tough weather, the 47-angler field still turned on quality fish and a genuine shootout between the reef specialists and the canal and bridge guys. I kick things off with a look at the tides and bite periods for both days, including: Saturday fish activity score of 97, with a major bite mid-morning and a high tide around 7:49 am Sunday still at 94 on the activity wheel, with another strong late-morning major bite and low tide just after lines-out From there we run through the division results: Overall 1st: Simon Morley – 6/6 for 4.01 kg (1.80 kg + 2.21 kg) fishing the reef off Wavebreak Island 2nd: Andrew Krushka (TAS) – 6/6 for 3.40 kg (1.44 kg + 1.96 kg) out of the Nerang bridges and canals 3rd: Stephen Maas – 6/6 for 3.33 kg, just 10 grams ahead of 4th place Big Bream: Andrew Kraka with a 0.78 kg lump Monster Mover: Brack Guru with 1.72 kg on day two after a day-one donut Youth: Riley Whelan – 6 fish for 2.26 kg Masters: Greg Cooper (WA) First-Timers: Travis “Leg” with 6 fish for 2.02 kg We also keep score in the unofficial “Batman & Robin” Hurricane Lures rivalry. With Tony Pettie sitting this one out, Simon’s win on the reef firmly cements him as Batman for now. Then it’s into the angler interviews: 3rd – Stephen Maas: Stephen has barely sat in a kayak over the last two years, but turns up and finds a pattern the old-fashioned way – no sounder, just reading water, wind and structure. On day one he pedals up the Nerang River, abandons a dead bridge bite, then finds a sandy canal loaded with legal bream on unweighted Aquas and light plastics and crabs. He sneaks in behind pontoons in a foot of water, fishing 3–4 lb leaders, ripping fish out before they can bury him on the poles. On day two he commits to a massive 12 km pedal to Lake Intrepid behind the casino, gets his bag in three casts, then enjoys one of those magic sessions where almost every cast gets eaten. A phone call from his wife turns into back-to-back 37-fork upgrades as he leans on Hurricane crabs and Gulp Crabbies on light jigheads. 2nd – Andrew Krushka (Tasmania): Andrew flies up from Tassie, hires a Hobie Compass from Sunstate and has his “pre-fish” cut short when the wind pours waves over the bow and soaks him. With almost no practice, he leans on past knowledge, old Morgo highlights and this podcast to build a plan around bridges and pontoons. Day one, he fills a small bag on crabs and Aqua prawn plastics before slowly upgrading on Gold Coast pontoons. Day two starts brutally with no fish until mid-morning, when a key bridge bite turns on. An olive crank crab hopped across the bottom produces his Big Bream contender (just under a kilo), then a clever tweak – adding split shot to his unweighted Aqua rig – lets him punch under wind-blown pontoons for a crucial late upgrade. He runs Samurai Premium custom rods (built by BK Custom Rods) matched with Daiwa TD Black reels and 5 lb leader, and takes home 2nd place, Big Bream cash, prize packs and an invite to the Australian Championship. 1st – Simon Morley: Simon finally converts years of near-misses on the Gold Coast into a dominant win, finishing over 600 g clear of the field. After a wild pre-fish on the Wavebreak reef where he dodges standing waves and still finds a 37-fork model on a crab, he commits to the reef both days despite zone cuts and a nasty forecast. Day one, he rides out rising wind and tide on the 5–8 m reef, rotating between weighted Hurricane crabs and a Hurricane Sprat on a 1/6 oz jighead to post 1.80 kg. Day two, with glued-on weights, 7 lb X-link leader and super-sensitive St Croix Avid Panfish rods, he works a fresh line of untouched fish, putting three bream over 34 fork in the well for a 2.21 kg limit and the win. Along the way he dodges stonefish, deals with tarwine bycatch, and shows exactly how to manage boat position, line angle and safety in heavy wind and current. We wrap up with a quick reminder about The Bream Fishing Project Collective – the subscription community where we dive deeper into challenges, lures, techniques and on-water problem-solving through live streams, group chats and bonus episodes. If you’re time-poor but want to make your hours on the water count, it’s there to help you fast-track your bream fishing. Hit follow, leave a rating, and share this episode with a mate who loves Hobie bream comps on the Goldy.

In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, we head to one of Andrew’s favourite waterways — Forster — for the NSW Tournament Series, held July 12–13, 2025. This round had it all: clear weather, light winds, and a bite period that lined up perfectly with the fish catches. Andrew breaks down the tides and bite periods for both days, then dives straight into detailed angler interviews from the top of the leaderboard. You’ll hear how each team approached the racks, what lures worked, and how subtle changes in technique made all the difference. 🎣 Top 3 Teams 🥇 1st Place – Team Stratosphere: David Masters David backed up his Lake Mac win with another impressive result, going back-to-back with 7.46kg over two days. He fished solo and dominated the rock wall using small crabs on light braid-to-leader setups. 🥈 2nd Place – Team Tackle Addiction / Dizzy Scent: Rick King & Ryan Honeybrook. The pair christened their new Triton 165 bass boat in style, finishing with 6.08kg and landing the only kilo fish of the comp. Their key baits were Aqua and Gulp Crabby soft plastics, fished precisely through the racks. 🥉 3rd Place – Team Skeeter: Hayden Wadsworth & Chris Smith A consistent performance across both days with 5.71kg, working grubs and crankbaits through the racks. The duo capitalised on calmer conditions after recent floods, fine-tuning their approach with Bait Junkie 2.5” grubs in “Mud Blood”. 🌊 Bite Period Highlights Saturday: Minor 7:08–8:38 AM | Major 11:46 AM–2:16 PM Sunday: Minor 7:45–9:15 AM | Major 12:38–3:08 PM Fish activity aligned perfectly with these windows — worth noting for anyone fishing Foster in similar conditions. 🧠 Techniques & Tactics Grubs & Crabbies dominated across both days Rack edges and outer poles produced quality fish Key leaders: 8–12lb fluorocarbon Common thread: patience, precision, and timing around bite periods 🙌 Thanks & Shoutouts Big thanks to Grant Oliver and the NSW Tournament Series crew for running another great event. And congratulations to Collective members who made podiums across recent comps — including Rick King in this one! 🔗 Connect & Support Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective for live sessions, deep-dive challenges, and bonus content: breamfishingproject.supercast.com Follow on Instagram: @thebreamfishingproject #BreamFishing #Foster #BreamTournaments #LureFishing #TheBreamFishingProject #NSWTournamentSeries #BaitJunkie #CrabbyLures #FishingPodcast #KayakFishing #EstuaryFishing #RackFishing #FishingAustralia

EP164 — November Monthly Report w/ Brett Geddes: In this month’s report, Andrew is joined again by Brett Geddes to break down November across the bream fishing scene. They talk tournaments, upcoming finals, squid sessions, flathead on blades, old lures making a return, and what’s been happening around the traps. This one has plenty of laughs, stories and good info if you like your bream fishing news, reports and tackle chat. Episode Highlights ✅ Squid mission success ✅ Flathead talk ✅ Old-school lures making a comeback ✅ Tournament scene updates ✅ What’s been happening on the water ✅ A few tangents and the usual laughs Mentioned in the show: Tournaments and events Squid gear Flathead lures General conditions and reports If you enjoy the Monthly Report, hit like, subscribe, and drop a comment with what you’ve been catching or what you want covered next month. Join The Collective (early access, bonus shows, live streams): https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebreamfishingproject

Welcome back to The Bream Fishing Project—this is Part 2 of our ABT Grand Final 2025 wrap, the winner’s report with Mark “Crommo” Crompton. Across three days split between Marlo – Bemm River – Marlo, Crommo delivered a full 15-fish limit for 13.795 kg (as stated in the interview), with day bags called out in the chat including: Day 1 (Marlo): 5 for 4.430 kg Day 2 (Bemm River): 5 for 4.010 kg Day 3 (Marlo): 5 for 5.355 kg Inside this hour you’ll hear (all straight from the interview): Mindset & game plan: staying calm, backing a tight zone, and choosing bag first over hero hunting. Reading the system in spawn: why he targeted transition water and used schools of salmon/EPs as a clue, not a distraction. Slow-motion presentations: letting prawn imitations soak for minutes until the ‘tick’. Lures & weights mentioned: Smash Baits/Roz prawn shapes and Hurricane Sprat 75 fork tail, commonly on 1/40–1/20–1/12 heads, swapping by depth, wind and salmon pressure; colours called out included “beer bottle/duro” (Smash Bait) and Machete/Cleaver (Hurricane). Terminal choices: BKK hooks on Daiwa Covert or Bait Junkie jig heads. Leaders & main line: ~3 rod lengths of 3-lb J-Thread Finesse to a 12-carrier PE (diameter-first thinking). Electronics & boat control: dual-view ActiveTarget (forward + perspective), Power-Poles for shallow anchoring when spot-lock wasn’t viable. Rods & reels he loves: the ultra-light old 7’3” “Geck” sticks, and Daiwa Exist/Tatula 2500 shallow spools. Product talk: first impressions of ShyneAway line mattifier—how he applies it and the simple “didn’t hurt me” verdict. A moment that matters: celebrating with his wife Dani and Alvy (“There’s my daddy—he just won a boat!”). The prize pack (as described): Ally Craft Bass Pro Series 530 with Mercury 150 Pro XS Racing, full Garmin kit with Force electric and LiveScope, Green Marine lithiums, on a Redco trailer—quoted at ~$95k total. Big thanks in the ep to: Steve Morgan & Nicole at ABT, and to sponsors/support mentioned by Mark: Daiwa, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rise Above Plumbing. If you enjoyed this, please follow/subscribe and leave a rating—it really helps. — Join The Collective (early access + live sessions & extras): breamfishingproject.supercast.com Instagram: @thebreamfishingproject Host: Andrew Death (2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion) Bullet Highlights (for quick skim in apps) Winner’s mindset: calm, bag-first strategy Where/why: transition zones during spawn Lures: Smash Baits/ prawn shapes & Hurricane Sprat 75 FT Weights: 1/40–1/20–1/12 depending on wind/depth/salmon Leader: ~3 rod lengths of 3-lb J-Thread Finesse Live imaging: forward + perspective; how he avoided spooking Boat control: Power-Poles > spot-lock on skinny flats Gear chat: BKK hooks, Daiwa Exist/Tatula, the featherweight 7’3” “Geck” Product: ShineAway line mattifier—how he applies it Family moment + prize pack (~$95k)

🎣 ABT 2025 Grand Final – Marlo & Bemm River | Non-Boater & Boater Podiums In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project Podcast, host Andrew Death kicks things off with a quick look back at the standout ABT winners from throughout the 2025 season, before diving into the action from the Daiwa BREAM Series Grand Final, held across Marlo and Bemm River in Victoria from October 14–16. Anglers faced shifting tides, strong winds, and testing conditions — but the country’s best still found ways to make it happen. This episode features the top three non-boaters and the third-placed boater, followed by ABT’s Steve Morgan, who finished second overall. Each guest shares their lures, retrieves, and tactical decisions that defined their Grand Final results. 🏆 Non-Boater Division 🥇 Samuel Rako – Four fish for 3.34 kg while fishing with Ian Nielsen and Scott Sauna. Samuel explains how listening to past podcast episodes helped him prepare, and how crank crabs, plastics, and Clone Prawns produced when the bite was tough. 🥈 Lance Marsh – Five fish for 3.20 kg using Z-Man Prawns, brown Chubbies, and Hybrid Shrimps. He breaks down the lure tweaks and patient retrieves that delivered late-day upgrades. 🥉 Chris Hokin – Four fish for 3.155 kg, including a key 1.25 kg bream on a Gulp Baby Prawn at Marlo, then switching to the Daiwa Hybrid Shrimp with Steve Morgan at Bemm River to finish his limit. 🚤 Boater Division 🥉 Mario Vukic – 12.37 kg across three days using bloodworm Wrigglers, VX35/40 blades, and Z-Man Grubs. Mario shares how he worked the sand-edge drifts, downsized to 2 lb fluoro, and relied on proven soft plastics for consistency. 🥈 Steve Morgan – 12.775 kg total, combining Garmin Perspective Mode and Humminbird Mega Live 2 to find scattered fish and tempt them with the Daiwa Hybrid Shrimp. Steve talks through live-sonar strategy and pays tribute to Nicole Smith and the ABT team behind the scenes. 🎧 Episode Highlights ABT 2025 Grand Final – Marlo & Bemm River recap Podium interviews: Samuel Rako, Lance Marsh, Chris Hokin, Mario Vukic & Steve Morgan Lures: Daiwa Hybrid Shrimp, Z-Man Prawns & Grubs, VX Blades, Bloodworm Wriggler Live-sonar tactics & tide-driven bite patterns Behind-the-scenes ABT insights from Steve Morgan 🎙️ Hosted by: Andrew Death 📍 Event: ABT BREAM Series 2025 Grand Final – Marlo & Bemm River 📆 Recorded: October 2025 👉 Join The Bream Fishing Project Collective for bonus content, live-stream replays & monthly challenges: breamfishingproject.supercast.com 📢 Next episode: Don’t miss the winner’s interview with Mark “Crommo” Crompton, coming up next on The Bream Fishing Project Podcast.

🎣 ABT Victorian Open – Gippsland Lakes (Oct 11–12 2025) | Winner: Dan Kent (13.419 kg) Episode Summary A huge Victorian Open at Gippsland Lakes with monster bags and wall-to-wall action. Andrew recaps event stats (tides, bite periods, weather) and then dives straight into angler interviews: winner Dan Kent (13.419 kg for 9 fish), 2nd Mitchell Blomquist (13.020 kg for 10 fish), and 4th Peter Breukel (12.008 kg for 10 fish). Hear how they located fish, the lures that did damage, how live imaging and sight-casting came together, and why rock, weed edges, and timing made all the difference. Andrew also shares a quick note about new sponsors and encourages listeners to support the brands that support the show — and to check out The Collective for upcoming challenges. 🗓️ Event Overview Event: ABT Victorian Open Venue: Gippsland Lakes Dates: Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 October 2025 Saturday: Fish Activity Wheel 46 | Minor Bite 7:57 – 9:27 a.m. | Low 5:21 a.m. (0.55 m) | High 12:13 p.m. (1.11 m) Sunday: Fish Activity Wheel 33 | Minor Bite 8:52 – 10:22 a.m. | Low 4:40 a.m. (0.63 m) | High 1:07 p.m. (1.09 m) 🎣 Interview 1 – Peter Breukel (4th Place, 12.008 kg total) Bags: Day 1 – 7.005 kg | Day 2 – 5.003 kg | 10 fish total. Approach: Started in the Mitchell River, then moved to reef + weed-edge zones packed with fish on perspective mode. Lures: Sickle 85 Sprat (1/30 jighead), Spike 44, Slam deep hardbody, RBX 66, Fat 37 UV, Naughty’s vibes. Technique: Cast tight to the weed edge, fish on bottom, constant contact key. Tackle: 3–4 lb Yamatoyo Harris Fighter leader | PE 0.4 mainline. Notes: Dozens of 36–41 fork fish; defended productive spot once scores appeared. Payout: ≈ $2,000 + plaque + badge. Thanks: Nicole Smith & Steve Morgan (ABT), Hurricane Lures (“Naughto”), Kris Hickson, Manning River Marine, and Kath for her support. 🎣 Interview 2 – Mitchell Blomquist (2nd Place, 13.020 kg total) Bags: 6.565 kg + 6.455 kg = 13.020 kg (10 fish). Prefish: Checked Mitchell River / ILT jetties → moved to Eagle Bay (timber + rock wall, big tides holding water). Lure: Single SX-48 #390 (clear with green stripes) for the entire event. Method: Slow-rolling hardbody; “if you think you’re winding slow, wind slower.” Combined sight casting and perspective mode. Fish Size: Smallest ≈ 34 fork; many 37 fork fish. Gear: 6’9” Shimano rod | 2500 reel | PE 0.6 | Yamatoyo Harris Fighter 4 lb leader. Shoutouts: JML Angler’s Alliance (Tony), Shimano (event sponsor), Josh Carpenter & Starlo (event coverage), Dad (pre-fish partner), travel crew (Scott, Peter Breukel, Jamie McEwen), ABT (Steve Morgan & Nicole Smith), and Andrew’s podcast for the road trips. 🥇 Interview 3 – Dan Kent (Winner, 13.419 kg total) Bags: Day 1 – 6.792 kg (5) | Day 2 – 6.627 kg (4) = 9 fish @ ~1.49 kg average. Prefish: Hollands Landing (no fish) → Paynesville canals (back-up bag fish ≈ 32 fork). Day 1: Launched Paynesville → Mitchell Flats rock bar; deep-diving Chubby scratched through rocks in ~1–1.2 m; dirty water, heavy scent; steady upgrades all day. Hooks: Decoy Y25 Size 10. Rod/Line: Custom Miller Rod Control Freak (1–3 kg) | 9 lb Yamatoyo PE Resinate | 5 lb Yamatoyo leader. Day 2: Glassed-out start; moved back outside the Silt Jetties; side-scan lit up with fish in 2.2 m; switched to Hurricane Sprat 75 on 1/8 oz painted motor-oil TT jighead | 6 lb leader. Landed four fish over 40 fork (43 fork ≈ 1.8 kg) in one-hour window (12–1 p.m.). Payout: $7,000 cash + ABT trophy (Vic Open Champion) + exclusive patch. Business: Runs Apollo Bay Fishing Charters (31’ Noosa Cat – snapper, flatties, gummies, school sharks, tuna). Summer spots open now via website calendar. Thanks: Mates Alex, Fran, Matt, Kit & Declan, ABT (Steve Morgan & Nicole Smith), family for support, and the ABT community for a great event. 💡 Key Takeaways Dirty water + rock: A deep chubby crashed through rock was the bite trigger. Weed-edge precision: Bottom contact with plastics and hardbodies was critical. Fish movement: Shifting from rivers to lake edges to outer lines required timing with tides and wind. Light leaders, heavy confidence: 3–6 lb leaders handled serious blacks. Seeing is believing: Perspective / Live Scope and sight-casting produced massive bags. 🔗 Links & Mentions Coverage: Josh Carpenter & Starlo ABT Team: Steve Morgan & Nicole Smith Dan’s Charters: apollobayfishingcharters.com.au Join The Collective: breamfishingproject.supercast.com

In this episode, we return to Lake Macquarie for Hobie Kayak Round 4, held on 24–25 May 2025 — an event shaped by major flooding across the region in the lead-up. With the system running high, dirty, and cold, anglers were forced to adapt quickly, reading the salt wedge, adjusting lure weights, and finding cleaner water zones to stay in the game. Andrew kicks things off by breaking down the fish activity wheel, tide times, and key bite periods for both days. He also reflects on his own weekend — including the rare decision not to fish on Day 2 — and how misreading the system initially shaped his approach. From there, we dive into three full-length podium interviews packed with tactical gold: 🥉 Jared Hickman (4.01 kg total) — makes his first podium with a shallow crankbait bite on a wind-blown rock wall, using a Pro Lure F36 in matt black and carefully working rough water with 5 lb leaders and 0.6 PE braid. 🥈 Joseph Gardner (4.09 kg) — travelling from WA, Joseph adapts brilliantly to the salt wedge line, targeting fish in 2–3.5 m over reef edges with Bait Junkie Wave Minnows and grubs. His detailed insight into tracking the salt/fresh boundary is a masterclass in reading post-flood systems. 🥇 Greg Crebert (4.84 kg) — the local angler dominates Day 1 with a 2.73 kg bag on a Jackall Chubby Vibe fished deep in rough, dirty water. He locks into a handful of quality bites over a 50 m stretch, then switches gears on Day 2 to work Clone Prawns and Hurricane Fats along the drained edges to secure the win. This episode is loaded with tactical takeaways on cranking rock walls, deep-vibe presentations, salt wedge positioning, and adjusting to post-flood systems. Whether you fish Lake Macquarie regularly or just want to sharpen your tournament skills, this is a must-listen recap.

This is the first Angler Profile on The Bream Fishing Project—and it’s a cracker. Andrew sits down with Liam Carruthers (2015 ABT BREAM Grand Final champion; multiple AFC titles) to trace his lure-fishing journey and pull apart the techniques he’s best known for. Across the chat you’ll hear: Origin story: moving to Nowra, a fateful visit to the local tackle shop, and a first Yellowfin bream on a blade (36 fork) that lit the fire. Paying dues: the early Hawkesbury learning curve, soaking up weigh-in wisdom from the “OGs,” and three seasons of “don’t donut” before it all clicked. Opening up the playbook on Cranka Crabs: Bridge pylons, rock walls/reefs in heavy tide, shallow rock with oyster clusters, potholing on flats, and pitching under boats. Working with current (casting up-tide, feeling the “machine-gun” bite), managing snags, and why fast water does the work for you. Gear notes mentioned in the chat: Miller Rods Brawler, 2500-size spin, ~10 lb braid, Sunline V-Hard 6–8 lb leaders; plus a summer trick—3 lb straight fluoro and a heavy crab for marina/boat hulls. When and why Liam upsizes to the larger crab model around deep boulders in the Spencer/Middle Hawkesbury. Crankbaits for the mid-column fish: why he likes the Daiwa Spike MR on bridges (casting tight, letting it “tick” pylons), favourite colours called out (Matte Prawn, Suji tones), and a quick note on swapping to a stickier rear treble. Topwater windows: glass-outs and Victorian flats (e.g., Mallacoota), plus the adrenaline hit of running surface lures over racks. Formative detour: two years in the U.S. bass scene that forced lure/technique diversity—then returning home ready to read systems instead of locking into one approach. Big-fish memories: a giant Gippsland Lakes fish measured to the fork on a tournament ruler, and a late, heavy Sydney Harbour bridge-pylon bruiser that swam out from danger on a social day. Shout-outs as mentioned by Liam: Cranka, Mako Eyewear, Hot Tackle, On The Chew, and Miller Rods. If you’re keen to refine your bridge and current game—or finally make friends with crabs—this episode’s packed with practical detail straight from the conversation.

Today’s a special one: Chris Purnell joins me to wrap Series 16, explain the big Hobie ownership change, and reveal the 2025 Hobie Kayak Fishing Series (Series 17) calendar — including a mid-week Bemm River opener, a Tassie double-header, and Mallacoota in October leading into a Victorian AC. What we cover Hobie ownership update: context on the restructure and the brand’s move under Bass Pro’s White River Marine Group, and what that means for AU/NZ dealers, parts, and anglers. Series 16 takeaways: tough late-season fishing (e.g., Wallaga Lake), standout bags, and why some arenas deserve a second look. Series 17 (2025) calendar & key notes (dates/locations below). Shout-outs to anglers (the heart of the series) and sponsors (incl. naming-rights partner Daiwa). 2025 Hobie Kayak Fishing Series (Series 17) – Dates & Locations (AC = Australian Championship; pre-Fish and lay day marked where relevant) Early Feb — AC (Australia): exact dates/location TBA (announcement ASAP). Feb 17–18 (Tue–Wed) — Bemm River, VIC (mid-week) Feb 16 (Mon) — pre-Fish Feb 19 (Thu) — lay day Feb 21–22 (Sat–Sun) — Marlo, VIC Feb 20 (Fri) — pre-Fish Mar 20–21 — Wallaga Lake, NSW Apr 8–9 (mid-week) — Little Swanport, TAS Apr 10 — pre-Fish Apr 11–12 — Swan River, TAS Tassie travel option: indicative Spirit of Tasmania sailings discussed (in via Geelong→Devonport ~Mon Apr 6, out Sun Apr 13). Most anglers base in Swansea. Local partners: Tasmanian Kayak Fishing Series & Launceston Angling Club (local bump tubs/scales). Limited loan kayaks likely; details to be confirmed via Hobie AU. May 2–3 — Forster, NSW Jun 20–21 — Georges River, NSW Jul 18–19— Lake Macquarie, NSW Aug 15–16 — Gold Coast, QLD (Broadwater Tourist Park launch as per usual setup) September — No round (spring transition month) Oct 10–11 — Mallacoota, VIC November — AC (Victoria) TBA (southern venue; details to follow) Start / Briefing times: Events typically run a briefing ~6:30am with start ~7:00am — please confirm each round’s official times on the event listing. Why these dates? Targeting better tides/moons than Series 16’s back-half. Tassie double-header to make travel worthwhile (Little Swanport → Swan River). Forster in early May (historically strong window). Gold Coast mid-August to avoid clashes and school-holiday pressure. Mallacoota in October to set up a Victorian AC in November. Quick acknowledgements (from Chris) Anglers: there’s no series without you. Sponsors: especially Daiwa (naming rights) and the many family-run partners backing the tour. Hobie AU team behind the scenes: Brad, Darryl, Zoe, Tamika, Scotty, Mick, Shane, and more. If you’re looking at Tassie, start scoping accommodation around Swansea and keep an eye out for the Spirit of Tasmania details mentioned in the episode. For loan-kayak availability and local logistics, contact the Hobie AU media team via the email referenced in the show. — Guest: Chris Purnell Host: Andrew De (2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion) Show: The Bream Fishing Project

Swan River, WA — Kayak Round 2 Recap (26–27 July) | Hobie qualifier This episode returns to Western Australia for a deep dive on Kayak Round 2 on the Swan River, held 26–27 July in conjunction with Hobie Fishing (a qualifying round for the Hobie Kayak Fishing Series). Andrew opens with bite windows and tides, then steps through the podium interviews with Matt McCarthy (3rd), Joseph Gardner (2nd), and winner Travis Newland (1st)—including how they adapted to a brutal weather change on Day 2. Tides & bite periods mentioned Saturday: Minor bite: 7:35–9:05 AM Major bite: 12:33–3:03 PM High tide: 10:12 AM (~0.7 m) → Low tide: 7:27 PM (~0.3 m) Sunday: Minor bite: 8:06–9:36 AM Major bite: 1:19–3:49 PM High tide: 10:39 AM → Low tide: 7:39 PM (0.35 m) Big Bream & awards Day 1 Big Bream: Paul Siemaszko — 1.18 kg Day 2 & Overall Big Bream + Monster Mover: Rick Raynham — 1.27 kg Podium interviews 3rd — Matt McCarthy (6/6 for 3.970 kg; 2.26 kg then 1.71 kg) Approach: Started near Garrett Road Bridge, then worked down to the Belmont stretch. Found stacked fish on live/side scan but many were shut down. Key bites: Early flurry on an old jetty/marker line; upgraded along a two-metre contour where fish moved up and down “like a highway.” Tackle notes: Mixed confidence baits (including mussel/crab profiles and light plastics); went as light as 3 lb straight-through fluorocarbon when bites were subtle. Day 2: Weather made visual line control hard; persisted, left with a full bag late after grinding through rain and wind. Takeaway: Commit to zones holding life (even when fish are lock-jaw) and cycle proven confidence baits patiently. 2nd — Joseph Gardner (6/6 for 4.660 kg; 2.310 kg then 2.350 kg) Prefish: Four sessions with patchy results from upriver to downriver; no firm pattern before the event. Day 1 route: Tried Garrett Road Bridge (no eaters), then picked fish from Maylands Yacht Club/old jetty area and opposite banks; added reaction upgrades on small vibes when mussel bites were too slow. Day 2 pivot: In severe cold/rain, timed a window at Claisebrook Cove—casting a pygmy mussel to the waterfall/drain edge before the drain began pumping hard again—pulling three key legals in ~90 minutes. Tackle notes: Ran heavier leaders (6–8 lb) with prawn/mussel profiles; used a single rear hook on baby vibes to reduce weed/snags. Result: Another consistent runner-up finish, crediting patience, timing and a crucial drain bite window. 1st — Travis Newland (6/6 for 5.230 kg; 2.53 kg then 2.70 kg; kicker 1.14 kg) Game plan: No recent prefish; trusted a down-river milk run and slow, heavy bottom work with compact yabby/creature profiles. Day 1: Early fish from a creek mouth drop-off, then built a quality bag along the Belmont banks, working the drop-off methodically in current/wind. Day 2 (storm): Paddled straight to the key stretch; landed a “kegger” behind an overhanging tree, then another big fish later. Finished with a strong third fish (~33 fork) to seal it. Tackle notes: Predominantly a yabby/creature (“Bruce”) on a heavier jighead; 12 lb braid to 4 lb fluoro leader, light, soft-tipped rod to let big fish play out on clean ground. Outcome: Win by ~700 g, plus Hobie AC qualifying spot and $650. Emphasis on patience, line control and repeated passes over a short, productive 50 m lane. Episode themes you’ll hear Reading wind/current lanes and depth contours (2 m “highways”). When to stay ultra-finesse (straight-through light fluoro) vs. forcing a reaction with small vibes. Timing drain/flow windows (bite flurries before outflow surges). Managing mindset and decisions when it’s cold, wet, and slow—especially in kayaks. Hosted by: 2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion Andrew Death. If you enjoyed this recap, please subscribe and leave a rating. Andrew also mentions The Bream Fishing Project Collective for anglers who want extra tactics, live sessions and community chat.

Welcome to the Bream Fishing Project — October Monthly Report With Brett Geddes back on the mic, we cover a huge month: national comp calendar, honest session breakdowns (the good, the bad, and the donuts), tackle and tech that moved the needle, and bigger-picture news that matters to kayak lure anglers. Around the Grounds (October comps) Hobie — Burrill Lake (Thu 2 Oct, AOY points only, mid-week round) Hobie — BurleyPro Fish Tech, St Georges Basin (4–5 Oct) — Andrew will be there NSW Tournament Series — Grand Final, Botany Bay (25–26 Oct) ABT — Vic Open, Gippsland Lakes (11–12 Oct) ABT — Grand Final, Bemm & Marlo (14–16 Oct) Action Fishing Tournaments — Grand Final, Camden Haven (25–26 Oct) Vic Bream Classics — Round 5, Warrnambool (18–19 Oct) WATA — Boat Rd 3, Swan River (Perth, 5 Oct) ECBS — Grand Final, Sydney Harbour (19 Oct) Segments What Cheeses Me Off — New segment tease — “I think I did a dumb thing” Sessions, Tactics & Lessons Waller Lake — Stunning, but savage: 55 donuts Day 1 (of 75); Jason Marshall ~3.5 kg. Andrew scratched two late Day 2 near the launch — lesson: don’t overrun the obvious. Grubs Month (Collective focus) Georges River — ActiveTarget on boat-holes/mooring blocks; Squidgy Wrigglers on 1/16 oz & lighter in 2–3 m; watched fish rise to the drift. Standout fish 36 fork, 32, 30, plus a salmon called on sonar. Tunks Park — All-day grubs, great FFS interactions… and the missed photo that cost places. St Georges Basin prefish — Salmon schools “called” on FFS (cast-to-distance trick worked for Stewie Dunn). Only one legal bream for Andrew. Stewie tangles with a very big mulloway on 5 lb/light gauge — compelling FFS footage shows scale vs bream. Brett’s update — Windy spring, bream moody; perch to the rescue. From ~1400 to 1700 EPs, often 30–40/session on blades (Sprat/Tomahawk 85 style). Squid mission ongoing. Big Bite & Big Picture Yellowfin tuna (stickbaits) — Electric surface rushes, chaotic ramps; single stinger hook setups; airborne follows and missed bites provide insane visuals. South Australia fish kill — Coastal oxygen event; tough for communities and tourism. Nature will rebound, but it’ll take time. Community shout-outs Andrew “Andy” Kettle — Land-based, night-only EP specialist; surface walkers/high-stick retrieve; “EP ninja” dedication. Leon — Strong Hobie Day 1; three kayak rules: mussel, mussel, no flatties aboard. Gear we mentioned Jabbers travel rods (6-piece) & Upper Cut trebles (12/14/16; strong, sticky; 100-pack jars). BurleyPro HDS Pro visor (better screen & battery headroom); Connector Protectors (stop wet-plug corrosion). Braid 0.4 PE white (rated 8 lb; higher measured break); considering bite-marker dots for strike watching (inspired by Joseph Gardner using multi-colour jigging braid). Shyne Away leader treatment — Degloss + decontaminate to reduce visibility (most effective to up to 10–12 lb leaders). Lovig Bay Boots — Warm/dry, easy winter wear; trying full size run at St Georges Basin. Hobie news — Ownership update discussion; 180 drive aftermarket ceramic roller solution mentioned (alternative when out of warranty). K-spike kayak power pole (Greg Rook; with Tony “Batman” Petty); lightweight 6/8/10 ft; drift chute attachment idea is clever. Regional outlook (VIC/NSW) Early spring bream remain fickle (Aug–Oct lull). Expect ramp-up as temps lift; dusky flathead to become a major play. Daylight savings adds post-work windows. Timestamps / Chapters (Adjust once your final audio export sets exact times.) 00:00 Intro — why this month matters 02:10 Around the Grounds — October comp calendar 08:45 Segment: What Cheeses Me Off (the 10 mm spanner) 12:20 New segment tease: “I think I did a dumb thing” 16:00 Wallaga Lake wrap — donuts, context, and late salvage 20:05 Georges River — grubs + ActiveTarget (fish rising to the drift) 25:10 Tunks Park — the missed photo lesson 28:30 St Georges Basin prefish — calling salmon on FFS; Stewie’s big mulloway on 5 lb 34:40 Brett’s perch run — 1,700 EPs, blade patterns, squid pains 40:25 Yellowfin stickbait bite — why it’s so wild 45:15 South Australia fish kill — what’s happening and why it matters 50:00 Community — Andrew “EP ninja” Kettle; Leon’s kayak rules 53:10 Gear — Jabbers trebles & rods 56:20 BurleyPro visor + connector protectors 59:15 Braid & bite-markers; Joseph Gardner note 1:02:20 Shyne Away leader matte 1:05:10 Lovig Bay Boots — try-ons at Basin 1:08:40 Hobie ownership chat; 180 ceramic fix; name change note 1:14:30 K-Spike kayak power pole preview 1:18:00 October fishing outlook 1:21:30 Interview workload & what’s coming 1:24:30 Hosting change to Podbean & dynamic ads 1:28:45 Outro & subscribe CTA

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 2025 Location: 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

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!

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

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 🎣 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

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.

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.