P22 - FISH & BOAT, February 2019 Junior Fisho Masters of the Mangroves By Nick Thompson A 20-pound leader Bream are an iconic Australian fish that are a works well because it’s Nick with a good sized yellow fin bream. master of the mangroves. Bream are a large light enough to feel the and strong fish with large spikes on their dorsalbites, but at the same and anal fin. Hunting for crabs, mullet, herring and time, it is strong enough prawns, they swim in schools along the rock walls and to keep the fish out of the mangrove shorelines throughout Australian coastal structure. Cast your bait rivers and creeks. or lure hard up on the With hard hits and fast runs, a school of bream willstructure and wait for the hold tiny babies all the way up to the monster bream bite. Sometimes the fish that will annihilate anything that can be potential prey.may not be biting so in Bream are a great species of fish to target on a lure,this case, move your bait so I will talk about that first. My favourite bream lureto a nearby snag. Be ready is a small hard body or small twitch blade with lit-because these fish are fast tle trebles because, although they fight hard they do and can quickly run you have a small mouth. Bream often are not too fussy in the snag. When fish- about lure colour, but I would choose a colour that ing for bream look for matches the water colour EG in murky or dark water, overhanging trees, man- use a lure that has a dark colour. If fishing with a hard grove shores or rock walls. body, do a slow roll then a pause and let it sink, but Bream hunt here because be ready, because this is when bream often strike. My these areas provide shel- second favourite lure is the Cranka Crab. When fish-ter and a lot of food for ing with a Cranka Crab, do an extremely slow wind. the bream. Even one sin- The reason for this is so the lure stays on the bottom gle tree or snag sitting and looks like a crab running away from the predatorin the water will hold an that may be chasing. Soft plastics are also in my top entire school of bream, as three favourite fishing lures for bream. If fishing with under the water, the root one of these lures, cast it hard up on the structure and system is much bigger... let it sink and then do two flicks of the rod and let the You will find when fishing in these areas you might lure sink. Again, be ready because often this is when snag a bycatch like a Moses perch or even the al- the fish strikes. When fishing with plastics, its bestmighty mangrove jack. I have caught some really nice to use a 50-60mm lure. Vibes can be effective, but Ibream off the beaches of coastal Queensland, but would choose other lures before using this lure. beaches are not my preference area for bream fishing If you are going to give vibes a shot, use the same There are many species of bream and some that look action as plastic. If you Prawnsare my favourite bait for bream, like bream. Black bream is find the bite is slow, try fisheddead or alive, these baits will providelike add-other actionst common species of bream.the largest and the most ingan extra flick or o be one of the best you can get, which leads You can tell the difference windslower, and change to quality fish. from these bream to the it up a bit. This may change your luck a bit. other species of bream as this bream have a black anal Bait fishing for bream fishing is quite successful, sofin. There is also the yellow fin bream which has a yel- I will talk about bait fishing now.Prawns are my low or clear anal fin. There is also a species of fish called favourite bait for bream, fished dead or alive, thesethe tarwhine that looks very similar to a bream, but baits will provide to be one of the best you can get,the main difference is they have a lot more rounded which leads to quality fish. This is because prawns body, and they also have more visible stripes. are one of the breams’ main food sources. Prawns Bream are truly the master of the mangroves, normally also provide a nice bycatch also. Yabbies they are one of the top predators in the man- are my second-choice bait when fishing for bream. groves. Bream have a lot of spikes, so it is Yabbies will often catch the smaller fish, but the big best to handle these fish carefully under fish will still nail a yabby. If you are looking for a realtheir belly as it is best for the fish and for monster bream, small fish baits such small mullet you. Bream are extremely slow growing so and herring will get the big fish you are looking for.only take a small amount for a feed. If you I like to keep it simple when fishing for bream, so Iare going to keep one of these beautiful fish for a feed recommend a running sinker with a long shank hook always check the local laws for size and take limits be- tied up with 20-pound leader. fore you take one of these fish home. The Author’s top three bream lures. Keep it simple when bait fishing for bream. Long shank hook and running sinker is all I use. Bream off the beach are always good fun. OCEAN CRAFTNavico Appoints Knut Frostad Executive Vice President of Digital Business and Marketing Extreme Reef Fisher Navico, parent companyto the Lowrance®, Sim-rad®, B&G® and C- wealth of knowledge to therace. Having competed in foureditions of the event, as helms-Navico since 2005 as a boardmember as well as an active userof Navico’s equipment both as CARTOPPA CRUISER CABINMAP® brands announced re-man, watch leader and skipper,a professional sailor and while cently Knut Frostad has joined as well as raising full sponsor- cruising recreationally, this op- Choice of the management team as ex- ship of all his campaigns, he is portunity combines several of 2.6m, 2.9m, 3.3m, 3.8m, 4.3m, 4.6m,ecutive vice president of digitalalso recognized for helping themy great passions — boating, 5.2m, 6m, 6.7m, 7.2m and 7.6m business and marketing. Frostad Race achieve true globalization digital business and commu- brings extensive industry ex- through the use of a compre- nication,” said Frostad. “I am Volvo Ocean Race’s Jordi perience, most recently serv- hensive digital media platform, excited to join Navico’s incred-Neves will also join Navico on ing as chief executive officer ofonboard reporters and a sophis- ible team and contribute to the January 28th as Chief Market- Volvo Ocean Race. Furthering ticated race control center in future growth of the company.” ing Officer and Senior Vice Inflatable style allNavico’s commitment to lead- Spain to bring high-quality con- “Knut is a legend in the off- President. Highly technical and aluminum plate alloy,ing the industry in providing a tent to a worldwide audience. shore racing community and an analytical with a strong focus on lightweight, airtightfully connected and integrated Born in Harstad, Norway, Fros- accomplished executive as well,”marketing, digital transforma- and watertight. vessel, which opens the boating tad has mirrored his successful said Leif Ottosson, CEO, Navi- tion, and sustainable business Smooth and soft riding Utra Deep Vee Hull QUADRUPLE eco-system, Frostad will be re- sailing career in the boardroom. co. “Not only does he have an growth, Neves has a proven WARRANTY: sponsible for enabling a large setHe has a business background intimate hands-on understand- record of delivering consumer 1. Value Trade-in of new services for a full end- in management, has held a ing of marine electronics, he hasproducts, omnichannel custom- 2. Overtake any boat 3. Five-year warrantyto-end experience and creating number of director and advisor the ability to manage the ever- er experiences and digital solu- 4. Safest boat on the waternew business models that willpositions within international increasing responsibilities of ourtions. Neves will lead Navico’s PH: 07 5499 6937 | Email: sales@oceancraft.com.au drive more valuable interactionscompanies, and has been an ac- worldwide digital and market- brand management and digital Ph: 0416 293 686with consumers. A former pro-tive Navico board member sinceing efforts. We look forwardmarketing, as well as regional fessional offshore and Olympic 2005 and a driving force in the to working with him as Navico sales and trade marketing. www.oceancraft.com.au sailor, Frostad assumed the rolecompany. He is also a renowned continues innovating to meet Both Frostad and Neves will of CEO of the Volvo Ocean motivational speaker. “Having the needs of boaters at all levelsbe based in Navico’s London of- 19 BIRTHDAY $HOW SPECIALTH Race in 2008 and brought a been so closely involved with from beginner to professional.” fice.