Bream fishing in Australia is one of the most popular and rewarding experiences for both beginners and seasoned anglers. With their cunning nature and aggressive strikes, bream provide a fun challenge, requiring the right combination of technique, gear, and strategy.
In this guide, we’ll cover the best tackle setups, fishing techniques, and top locations for targeting bream in Australian waters. Plus, we’ll highlight why Favorite X1 and U1 spinning rods are the ultimate choice for bream anglers.
1. Understanding Bream Behavior
Bream are opportunistic feeders that thrive in estuaries, rivers, and coastal reefs across Australia. The most common species targeted by anglers include:
•Yellowfin Bream (Acanthopagrus australis) – Found along the east coast from Queensland to Victoria.
•Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) – Primarily in southern estuaries and inland waters.
•Pikey Bream – Common in the tropical waters of northern Australia.
Best Conditions for Bream Fishing
✅ Time of Day: Early morning and late afternoon provide the best bite times.
✅ Tides: Moving tides (incoming and outgoing) help stir up food, triggering feeding activity.
✅ Seasons: Summer and autumn are peak times, but bream can be caught year-round.
2. Best Fishing Gear for Bream
Choosing the Right Rod
For bream fishing, you need a lightweight rod with fast to moderate action that allows for accurate casting and sensitivity to detect bites.
🎣 Top Picks for Bream Fishing Rods:
✅ Favorite X1 7’0” 1-3kg – Ideal for finesse techniques like light soft plastics and bait fishing.
✅ Favorite U1 7’2” 2-4kg – Perfect for all-around bream fishing with soft plastics, hardbodies, and blades.
🔗 Check out these rods: Favorite X1 | Favorite U1
Reels & Line Setup
A 1000-2500 size spinning reel is ideal for bream fishing, providing the right balance of power and finesse.
Recommended Line Setup:
•Mainline: 4-8lb braided line for better casting distance and sensitivity.
•Leader: 6-10lb fluorocarbon for abrasion resistance and stealth.
3. Best Lures & Baits for Bream
Soft Plastics (Highly Effective!)
Soft plastics are a go-to option for bream fishing, allowing for a natural presentation. The best choices include:
✅ Paddle-tail Minnows – Mimic small baitfish and work great on a slow retrieve.
✅ Curl-tail Grubs – Effective for subtle movements along the bottom.
✅ Creature Baits – Resemble prawns and crustaceans, a staple food source for bream.
🎣 Best soft plastics for bream:
•Z-Man Slim SwimZ
•Gulp! Minnow Grub
•Berkley PowerBait Shrimp
Hardbody Lures
✅ Crankbaits – Shallow-diving lures that trigger aggressive strikes.
✅ Surface Poppers – Perfect for topwater fishing in summer.
✅ Blades & Vibes – Excellent for deeper water and winter fishing.
Natural Bait Options
If you prefer bait fishing, go for:
🐟 Live & Fresh Baits: Prawns, bloodworms, and small crabs.
🌱 Bait Alternatives: Bread, chicken strips, and squid.
4. Top Locations for Bream Fishing in Australia
📍 Sydney Harbour, NSW – A year-round hotspot with plenty of structure.
📍 Gold Coast Canals, QLD – Excellent for both lure and bait fishing.
📍 Swan River, WA – Great for black bream using soft plastics and crankbaits.
📍 Port Phillip Bay, VIC – One of the best bream fisheries in southern Australia.
📍 Tweed River, NSW/QLD – Offers amazing action for topwater and soft plastic fishing.
5. Best Techniques for Catching More Bream
1. Slow Rolling Soft Plastics
•Cast near structures and retrieve slowly with small twitches.
•Use a 1/16oz to 1/8oz jighead for a natural sink rate.
2. Crankbaiting for Bream
•Use a slow, steady retrieve.
•Focus on areas with weed beds, rock walls, and bridge pylons.
3. Topwater Fishing (Best for Summer)
•Work small poppers across the surface in the early morning.
•Pause often to let the lure sit – bream often strike during the pause.
6. Pro Tips for Success
✔️ Use Light Leaders – Bream are line-shy, so keep your fluorocarbon leader light.
✔️ Fish the Tides – Incoming tides push baitfish into estuaries, making bream more active.
✔️ Stay Stealthy – Avoid making too much noise in shallow waters.
✔️ Match the Hatch – Use lures that mimic local baitfish and crustaceans.
Conclusion
Bream fishing in Australia is an exciting challenge that requires the right techniques and gear. Whether you’re fishing with soft plastics, crankbaits, or natural bait, using a high-quality rod like the Favorite X1 or U1 will maximize your success.
🔥 Upgrade your bream fishing game today! Check out our range of high-performance rods at favorite24.au
👉 What’s your favorite bream fishing technique? Let us know in the comments! 🎣⬇️