The Bream Fishing Project

In this episode of The Bream Fishing Project, we head back to the Gippsland Lakes (Metung) for a full breakdown of the 2025 NS Rods Sunline Bream Classic Grand Final – the 20th anniversary event of the Vic Bream Classics.

Big bags, tough conditions, wind changes, and some outstanding fishing made for a cracking finale. We cover the tides, bite periods, weather, and all the major prizes before sitting down with the podium teams for their exact strategies.

3rd Place – Team Bluefin Plumbing (Tyler Breust & Ben Hanscombe) They share how lightly weighted Clone Prawns, SPRs, and the Hybrid Shrimp worked on the weed edges at Eagle Point, plus their smart decision to launch from Paynesville.

2nd Place – Team Just Winging It (Chris Allwood & Jack Allwood) The father-and-son duo turned a slow start into the Sunline Best Bag (6.965 kg on day one) using a mix of hard bodies and plastics around the Tambo snags.

1st Place – Team JML Ecogear / Samaki (Scott Scicluna & Mitchell Blomquist) The Grand Final winners explain their two-bank plan: filling the bag early on the Hurricane Sickle 85 plastic, then switching to hard bodies when the wind picked up. Scott details how the Samaki MS40 Pearl Shrimp produced his PB 1.82 kg big bream (and a 1.5 kg upgrade), while Mitch used the Ecogear SX 48.

We also cover the Team of the Year, Junior awards, Zip Baits Monster Movers, and more.

Whether you fish bream tournaments or just want practical tips for weed flats, wind-affected days, and upgrading bags in pressured systems, this episode is loaded with real-world techniques from the top anglers.

If you enjoyed the episode, head over to breamfishingproject.supercast.com and join The Collective for extra content, challenges, and more in-depth breakdowns.

Listen now and get smarter on the water!

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.

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