We are coming into winter and that’s always a great time to target bream.
Understanding Yellowfin Bream
Yellowfin Bream are typically found in coastal waters, including estuaries, rocky reefs, and around structures like jetties and piers. They prefer areas with plenty of cover such as rocks, weed beds, and submerged structures where they can ambush prey and seek shelter from predators.
Habitat: Look for areas with rocky bottoms, submerged vegetation, or artificial structures such as jetties and docks. Bream often congregate around these structures, especially where there is tidal flow.
Behaviour: Bream are opportunistic feeders, preying on a variety of small crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. They are most active during low light periods such as dawn and dusk but can also be caught throughout the day.
Lures and Bait
Bream will take a variety of baits and lures, so it’s essential to experiment and see what works best in your fishing location.
Lures: Small soft plastics such as the Z-Man GrubZ, Berkley Gulp Shrimp or the Ecogear Aqua Bream Prawn can all entice Yellowfin Bream. Hardbody lures like Cranka Crab, Daiwa Infeet Spike and the Ecogear ZX30 blades are also a must have when bringing a variety of lures to target bream. Choose lures that mimic the natural prey of Yellowfin Bream and vary your retrieve speed and presentation until you find what triggers strikes.
Bait: Fresh or live baits such as prawns, sandworms, yabbies, and small pieces of fish are effective. If live bait is not an option, then frozen bait of the same variety is the next best thing. Shellfish like mussels and pipis can also work well.
Techniques
Bream fishing requires finesse and patience. Here are some effective techniques to try:
Bottom Fishing: Rig a paternoster or running sinker rig with a small hook and bait, and cast it near structure-rich areas where bream are likely to be hiding. Let the bait sink to the bottom and wait for bites.
Drifting and Casting: If fishing from a boat, drift along rocky outcrops or through estuaries while casting and retrieving lures or bait. Cast around structure and cover, varying your retrieves to find the most productive presentation.
Jigging: Use soft plastic lures or small jigs to jig vertically around structure or along the bottom. Bream are known to suspend near cover, so experiment with different depths until you locate the fish.
Surface Fishing: During low light periods or when Yellowfin Bream are actively feeding near the surface, try fishing with surface lures such as the MMD Splash Prawn or Berkley Pro-Tech Bender’s. This can be an exciting way to target aggressive fish in shallow water.