The Bream Fishing Project

• EPISODE 157: WATA KAYAK ROUND 3 HOBIE QUALIFYING ROUND, SWAN RIVER 26-27 JULY, 2025

  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.      

  --------  

  1:06:08

  --------

  1:06:08
• Episode 156: The Monthly Report, October, 2025

  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

  --------  

  1:09:20

  --------

  1:09:20
• Episode 155: Vic Bream Round 3, Nelson, 21 - 22, June 2025

  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 and Bill for running great events and varied venues. • Team mates, travel crews and fellow anglers for the laughs and friendly rivalry. • Nomad & BKK mentioned by winners. • Full results: https://vicbreamclassics.com.au Call to action: Enjoyed the episode or learned something? Please subscribe and rate on your favourite podcast app. Join the Collective for early access, private live streams, challenges and bonus content: https://breamfishingproject.supercast.com  

  --------  

  41:39

  --------

  41:39
• Episode 154: NSW Tournament Series, Round 4 , Lake Macquarie, June 15, 2025

  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!      

  --------  

  45:14

  --------

  45:14
• Episode 153: Hobie Fishing Series, Round 5, Georges River, NSW June 14-15, 2025

  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  

  --------  

  1:00:51

  --------

  1:00:51

More Leisure podcasts

Trending Leisure podcasts

About The Bream Fishing Project