5 tips to lure in the bream

Master catching bream on a lure, and you'll be able to catch anything

They may not grow to the size of a tuna, jump like a barra, taste as delectable as whiting nor look as spectacularly striking as a freshly caught mahi-mahi, but there’s just something special about the “humble” bream.

Few other fish species have accounted for as much effort, inventiveness, innovation or sheer frustration on the part of keen anglers across the past couple of decades, more so since targeting these prolific fish with artificial lures became such a popular pursuit.

There are half a dozen different species of bream found in our waters, with the yellowfin, southern black and pikey being the most common and widespread varieties.

Between them, this trio occupies almost every kilometre of our coastline and near-shore waters, as well as extending well upstream into estuaries and coastal rivers, even entering freshwater at times.

Chasing them with lures has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of our sport, spawning vibrant tournament circuits and driving hot-house developments in tackle, techniques, boats and electronics.

Part of the reason for all this interest is the fact that bream are rarely push-overs. Catching them consistently on lures can be challenging, and demands the application of some artistry and cunning on the part of anglers.

Here are five key actions that are almost guaranteed to increase your strike rate on these wily fish.

1. Downsize

While everyone who’s ever wet a line has a story about a crazed zombie bream smacking a massive lure or bait intended for a big flathead or a jewfish, the simple fact is that you’ll catch a lot more bream on hardware over the long run if you’re “small-minded” about it!

Whether they’re hard or soft, lures that measure between about 40 and 60mm in overall length tend to have much more appeal to the average bream than even slightly bigger models… So, think small!

2. Use finesse

To effectively cast and work these small, lightweight lures, you’ll obviously need to use light, sensitive, “finesse” tackle.

Small spinning or threadline reels are the way to go, spooled with fine lines (braided or monofilament) that carry rated strengths of 1.0 to 3.0 kilograms.

Match these reels to light spin rods measuring between 2.0 and 2.2 metres in length.

If braided lines are chosen, leaders of fine, clear nylon or fluorocarbon at least as long as rod should be carefully knotted to the braid.

Remember, bream is a species that respond particularly well to the application of a little finesse.

3. Be sneaky

Few other fish are as flighty and “situation-aware” as bream, especially in shallow, clear water.

Bream can even put more hallowed species such as trout, bonefish and permit to shame in terms of their wariness and propensity to quickly flee in fear at any sudden movement, shadow or sound.

Minimise your presence, stay as far from the fish as possible and avoid excessive noise such as rattling anchor chains or tackle boxes dropped on boat floors.

4. Vary your retrieves

While bream (especially yellowfin and pikeys) will often hit a steadily retrieved lure moving at a medium pace, the black bream of southern waters are far more likely to respond to a slower, more erratic retrieve with lots of deliberate pauses.

Regardless of which species you target, mix up your presentations to find out what’s working best on the day.

5. Fish where they live

The best lures and finesse tackle and the most cautious and careful approaches won’t hook you any bream if they’re not there to be caught.

While prolific in many waters, these fish do move around quite a lot, and they have specific habitat preferences.

They love “structure” of almost any sort and have a particular penchant for oyster leases, pylons, breakwaters, wharves, jetties, boat moorings, fallen trees, boulders and rocky reefs.

Seek them in these locations, especially when these hard structures are licked by some current and have obvious concentrations of food nearby in the form of shellfish, crustaceans and small fish.

But always be prepared to move to find fish.

The late Vic McCristal — elder statesman and doyen of Australian fishing journalism — once wrote that an angler who could regularly score bream on lures wouldn’t have too much trouble working out any other species.

As is usual, Vic was right on the money. Catching bream on lures represents a masters’ degree from the university of ultra-finesse fishing.

Once you graduate with honours, everything else may seem almost too easy!

Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling is one of Australia’s best known and most respected fishing communicators.