Omar Khalid
Bream fishing is a favourite among anglers due to the fish's significant presence in almost every body of saltwater and the variety of fishing techniques available. Soft plastics are the lure of choice for many anglers, and they have been responsible for more bream tournament wins than any other lure. When fishing for bream with soft plastics, it is important to use a light leader, a light jighead, and go slow and subtle with your lure. The most popular retrieve technique is the double hop, which involves letting the plastic sink to the bottom and then pulling it upwards in a two-hop motion with the rod.
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right soft plastics
Bream fishing is a favourite among anglers due to their significant presence in almost every body of saltwater. Soft plastics are the lure of choice for many anglers chasing bream.
When choosing the right soft plastics for bream, there are a few key factors to consider. Firstly, it is important to select a plastic that is properly presented and looks realistic to the fish. This includes considering the colour, shape, and size of the plastic to match the type of prey fish you are targeting. Prawn-style plastics, for example, are usually sold as prawns or shrimp and are effective when fished very lightly or without weight. Curly-tailed plastics are also mentioned by several anglers as a good choice for bream.
Secondly, the weight of the soft plastic jighead is crucial. Bream are often caught when they hit a plastic as it is falling or sitting on the bottom. Using a lighter jighead allows the plastic to sink slowly, giving bream more time to see and hit the lure. It is recommended to use the lightest jighead possible, with weights ranging from no weight to 1/12th of an ounce depending on the depth of the water.
Thirdly, the choice between braided line and fluorocarbon leader depends on personal preference. Braided lines in the 4 to 8-pound range are recommended by some anglers as they allow you to "see" a bite on the line, but others prefer fluorocarbon leaders in the same weight range as they are less visible to the fish.
Lastly, the double hop retrieve technique is popular for soft plastics. This involves letting the plastic sink to the bottom, then pulling it upwards in a two-hop motion with the rod while winding up the slack line. The timing, size, and intensity of the hops can be varied to keep the bream interested.
While these guidelines can improve your chances of catching bream, it is also important to remain flexible and observe what works best on the day. Bream can be very cautious and particular about their prey, so a subtle and slow presentation is often more effective than aggressive techniques.
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Using braided line
Braided line is almost a necessity when fishing for bream with soft plastics. Opt for a braid in the 4 to 8-pound range. A bright-coloured line is recommended, as you will be tying a leader to it, and being able to see a bite on the line is almost as important as feeling it. Braid has minimal stretch, so even a small tap will be telegraphed straight to the rod.
When fishing with braided line, a light leader will always get you more bites than a heavy one. A 4-pound fluorocarbon leader is a good standard choice and will work well in nearly all situations. If you are fishing in racks, it is recommended to avoid using braided line.
Regarding leader length, a span and a half of about 9 feet is generally effective. Trout leaders are typically this length, and it works just as well for bream. Lighter jigheads are also recommended. The depth and current will determine the weight, but for anything less than 3 to 4 feet, no weight or a very light "hidden weight" jig head can be used. From 4 to 10 feet, a 1/20th to 1/16th ounce should suffice. For deeper water, a 1/12th ounce head or less is recommended. Bream typically strike when the plastic is falling or off the bottom, so a slower presentation can be more effective.
The most popular retrieve technique is the "double hop", which involves letting the plastic sink to the bottom, pausing, then pulling it upwards in a two-hop motion with the rod before winding up the slack and letting it sink again. The timing, size, and intensity of the hops can vary, and sometimes leaving the plastic on the bottom for a longer period (a technique called "dead-sticking") can be effective. It is important to change up the retrieve until you find what works for the fish on that particular day.
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Light leaders and jigheads
When fishing soft plastics for bream, it is important to use light leaders and jigheads. A light leader will always get you more bites than a heavy leader. A 4-pound fluorocarbon leader is standard and will work in most situations. For the length of the leader, an arm span and a half, or about 9 feet, is recommended.
Jigheads should also be as light as possible. The weight of the jighead depends on the depth and current of the water. For depths of less than 3 to 4 feet, no weight or very light "hidden weight" jig heads can be used. From 4 to 10 feet, a 1/20th to 1/16th ounce jighead is sufficient. For deeper water, a 1/12th ounce jighead can be used.
Using light jigheads allows the plastic to slowly waft, which is more effective in attracting bream. Additionally, light jigheads can be worked super slowly while still achieving a lot of action, making them ideal when bream are less active.
The ST GrubZ range by ZMan is specifically designed to be rigged on the lightest jigheads. The plastic has a soft feel and increased surface area, allowing it to hold plenty of scent and create a strong scent trail. The split-tail design produces a fluttering action, making it irresistible to bream, even at slow retrieve speeds.
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Casting and retrieving techniques
Casting Techniques:
- Accuracy and distance in casting depend on a smooth and well-timed forearm/wrist action rather than excessive shoulder and body movement.
- Practice casting into a bucket or washing basket to refine your technique. This will enable you to land your lure softly and accurately, increasing your chances of catching more bream.
- Cast against structure, allowing your lure to slowly sink by using a light jighead.
- Bream are often found in the top 2 meters of the water column, so consider this when casting.
Retrieving Techniques:
- The "`double hop` retrieve" is a popular technique. Let the plastic sink to the bottom, then pull it upwards in a two-hop motion with the rod, winding up the slack before letting it sink again. Vary the timing, size, and intensity of the hops, and don't be afraid to experiment with different pauses.
- Try the "dead-sticking" technique by leaving the plastic on the bottom for up to 30 seconds, then giving it a few hops before letting it sit again.
- Experiment with different retrieval speeds and styles, such as slow and steady, fast and steady, or erratic retrieves. Strikes often occur when the lure falls or when you start cranking it back in.
- Go light and slow, and be patient. Work the lure with subtlety, as bream can be very cautious.
- Bream often hit plastics as they are falling or off the bottom, so a slow presentation can be more effective than a fast-sinking lure.
- Use the lightest jig heads possible, considering the depth and current.
- Some soft plastics, like the ST GrubZ, are designed for slow retrieves, allowing you to work the lure super slowly while still achieving a lot of action.
Remember, the key to success is often in the subtlety and patience of your presentation. Take the time to experiment with different techniques and retrieves to find what works best on the day and for the behavior of the bream you're targeting.
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Locations and conditions
Bream fishing is a favourite among anglers on the coast, thanks to their significant presence in almost every body of saltwater. Tasmania has some of the best trophy bream waters in Australia. The Gold Coast, despite being busy, offers over 400km of canal systems for anglers to explore.
When fishing with soft plastics for bream, it's important to consider the location and conditions. Look for specific structures like pontoons, docks, shallow moored boats, and marinas. Bream can often be found in the top 2 meters of the water column. They are very fussy about presentation, so it's important to go light with your leader and jighead, and work the lure slowly and subtly. If you can see them, they can see you, so move on.
Bream can be found in a variety of depths and environments, and they are known for heading for the closest snag when hooked. They are often found in saltwater canals, rivers, and drains. They can be caught with a variety of lures and techniques, but it's important to match your lure to the conditions and the behaviour of the fish.
One effective technique is to cast your lure against a structure, let it slowly sink, and then slowly twitch it back. The "double hop" retrieve is also popular, which involves letting the plastic sink to the bottom, pausing, and then pulling it upwards in a two-hop motion with the rod before letting it sink again. The timing, size, and intensity of the hops can vary, and sometimes leaving the plastic on the bottom for a longer period (a technique called "dead-sticking") can be effective.
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Frequently asked questions
Bream fishing is a favourite among anglers on the coast, and soft plastics are the lure of choice for many. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Go light on the leader and jighead.
- Use a light braided line in the 4 to 8-pound range.
- Use subtle and slow retrieves.
- Try the \"double hop\" retrieve technique.
- Focus on where the fish are rather than the type of plastic.
There are many different types of soft plastics that can be effective for catching bream. Here are a few:
- Curly tail lures.
- Prawn or shrimp lures.
- The ZMan Micro Finesse BaitZ range.
- The ST GrubZ lure.
- The PrawnZ lure.
A light braided line in the 4 to 8-pound range is recommended for fishing soft plastics for bream. A bright-coloured line can also help you see bites on the line.
A light leader in the 4 to 6-pound range is recommended for fishing soft plastics for bream. Fluorocarbon leaders are a good option and will work in most situations.
The \"double hop\" retrieve technique is a popular and effective method for catching bream with soft plastics. This involves letting the plastic sink to the bottom, then pulling it upwards in a two-hop motion with the rod while winding up the slack before letting it sink back down. You can vary the timing, size, and intensity of the hops to find what works best.
