The Bream Fishing Project

• Ep 163: ABT Grand Final 2025 – Winner’s Interview: Mark “Crommo” Crompton (Full Report)

  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)  

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• EP 162: 🎣 ABT 2025 Grand Final – Marlo & Bemm River | Non-Boater & Boater Podiums

  🎣 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.

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• EP 161: ABT Victorian Open - Gippsland Lakes October 11 - 12, 2025

  🎣 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  

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• EP 160 — Hobie Kayak (Round 4), Lake Macquarie — 24–25 May 2025

  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.  

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• Ep 159 — Angler Profile: Liam Carruthers — Crabs, Bridges & Big Bream Stories

  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.      

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