The Bream Fishing Project

• 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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• Hobie 2026: New Owners, New Energy + Full Series 17 Calendar Reveal

  Today’s a special one: Chris Purnell joins me to wrap Series 16, explain the big Hobie ownership change, and reveal the 2025 Hobie Kayak Fishing Series (Series 17) calendar — including a mid-week Bemm River opener, a Tassie double-header, and Mallacoota in October leading into a Victorian AC. What we cover Hobie ownership update: context on the restructure and the brand’s move under Bass Pro’s White River Marine Group, and what that means for AU/NZ dealers, parts, and anglers. Series 16 takeaways: tough late-season fishing (e.g., Wallaga Lake), standout bags, and why some arenas deserve a second look. Series 17 (2025) calendar & key notes (dates/locations below). Shout-outs to anglers (the heart of the series) and sponsors (incl. naming-rights partner Daiwa). 2025 Hobie Kayak Fishing Series (Series 17) – Dates & Locations (AC = Australian Championship; pre-Fish and lay day marked where relevant) Early Feb — AC (Australia): exact dates/location TBA (announcement ASAP). Feb 17–18 (Tue–Wed) — Bemm River, VIC (mid-week) Feb 16 (Mon) — pre-Fish Feb 19 (Thu) — lay day Feb 21–22 (Sat–Sun) — Marlo, VIC Feb 20 (Fri) — pre-Fish Mar 20–21 — Wallaga Lake, NSW Apr 8–9 (mid-week) — Little Swanport, TAS Apr 10 — pre-Fish Apr 11–12 — Swan River, TAS Tassie travel option: indicative Spirit of Tasmania sailings discussed (in via Geelong→Devonport ~Mon Apr 6, out Sun Apr 13). Most anglers base in Swansea. Local partners: Tasmanian Kayak Fishing Series & Launceston Angling Club (local bump tubs/scales). Limited loan kayaks likely; details to be confirmed via Hobie AU. May 2–3 — Forster, NSW Jun 20–21 — Georges River, NSW Jul 18–19— Lake Macquarie, NSW Aug 15–16 — Gold Coast, QLD (Broadwater Tourist Park launch as per usual setup) September — No round (spring transition month) Oct 10–11 — Mallacoota, VIC November — AC (Victoria) TBA (southern venue; details to follow) Start / Briefing times: Events typically run a briefing ~6:30am with start ~7:00am — please confirm each round’s official times on the event listing. Why these dates? Targeting better tides/moons than Series 16’s back-half. Tassie double-header to make travel worthwhile (Little Swanport → Swan River). Forster in early May (historically strong window). Gold Coast mid-August to avoid clashes and school-holiday pressure. Mallacoota in October to set up a Victorian AC in November. Quick acknowledgements (from Chris) Anglers: there’s no series without you. Sponsors: especially Daiwa (naming rights) and the many family-run partners backing the tour. Hobie AU team behind the scenes: Brad, Darryl, Zoe, Tamika, Scotty, Mick, Shane, and more. If you’re looking at Tassie, start scoping accommodation around Swansea and keep an eye out for the Spirit of Tasmania details mentioned in the episode. For loan-kayak availability and local logistics, contact the Hobie AU media team via the email referenced in the show. — Guest: Chris Purnell Host: Andrew De (2019 Hobie Kayak Fishing World Champion) Show: The Bream Fishing Project

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• 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.      

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• 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

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• 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  

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