Australian Bream? Anyone.
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There is a thread on the fly tying section regarding Australian fly patterns (Fuzzel Flies). However, I wanted to ask this question in the main discussion forum.
For those of you in Australia, what exactly do you mean by Bream fish? As you know, Bream is a bit of a generic word to describe different classes of fish. When describing Australian fly patterns, I have noticed that many are touted as “Bream” patterns. I assume Bream also exist in Australia, are these members of the genus Acanthopagrus? Are they fished in estuaries and saltwater rivers? Are the Australian Bream good eating? Any pictures?
Neal,
I happened across an Aus. website yesterday that had an article posted on bream fishing there.
This is a Black Bream, they get the blue face as they get bigger/older. That is a Golden Olive BMS in the fishes mouth
Neal
They are of the genus Acanthopagrus (the same as your black porgy I think), check out fishbase that will tell you. They are very much a prized target on fly (or lure for that matter) here in Aust, particularly the southern black bream. A very picky, hard fighting fish that lives close to structure. They are not bad on the plate but as we now know they are very slow growing and long lived C&R is preferred.
Cheers
Alex
Andrew and Alex, thanks for the information on the Black Bream. Novocon, nice .pdf, thanks (photos in that article where by Peter Morse). Every since Morsie’s Podcast I have been reading more about Australian fly fishing (and dreaming of my next vacation, ha). In the Australian literature this Bream comes up often and now I have a better understanding. The phrase “prized target on fly” helps. I guess we write about the prized fish that are hard to catch. Andrew, thanks for the great picture! I note the reference to the BMS fly, nice.
Just for comparison, In Iowa where I grew up the Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is the standard little old lake Bream. Other Names: bluegill sunfish, bream, sun perch, blue perch, blue sunfish, copperbelly, red-breasted bream, copperhead bream, and blue bream. Average size: 12 oz-2 lbs, up to 2.5 lbs. Spring spawner. Bluegills have smaller mouths than either bass or crappies. They are deep of body like crappies, but fairly thick from side to side. Bluegills characteristically inhabit vegetated, quiet or slow-moving waters. We don’t tend to think much about these little guys but I have to be honest, I love fly fishing for them when I go home. My brother is a Bass fisherman and has a big old bass boat with lots of gear and the whole 9 yards. However, he gets a real smile on his face when I catch these little pan fish with a fly rod. There is a place in southern Georgia called Callaway Gardens where they have these huge monster bluegills that are a blast to catch on the fly.
Now I understand the Bream thing better. Here is a quote from the article Light Line Bream by Chris Dunham. See the .pdf attached above for the full article. With a quote like this it is no wonder you guys are always talking about the Bream on the fly.
“Bream being the moody, cunning brats that they
are can go from charging, if not actually eating,
almost anything thrown at them to running a
country mile at the suggestion of a shadow.
Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on how
you like a challenge), the latter is more often the
case. They are after all a long-lived species and the
older they get the more caution they display, which
is why in my book a large bream capture is a real
achievement and anything over forty centimetres is
worth crowing about.”Here is another great quote from the article. I am getting pretty interested in making a trip to fish for these guys 😉 I think that our fly fishing magazines need pros like this. 😀
“They also have some sort of attitude or identity problem that
means they’ll chase a fly in a pack like a school
of tailor. While this is good fun on a three or four
weight it doesn’t really make use of the light line
and can often be done better with a six weight,
especially when the wind kicks up. It’s further up
the estuary where the wee twigs and light lines do
their delicate, deceptive thing.”;D Chris lives on the other side of Australia from me its two zones away… What he says is true, the river that the picture was taken is fairly narrow another view (the picture was taken at the time for Steve Dalley’s sake)
Neal
I have heard all sorts of things about bluegill and crappie fishing, when I get over there I fully intend to give it a go.
That particular piece was one of several that Chris had published in Fly Angler, anyone who is considering chasing these things would do well to read them; and I would recommend anyone who has no experience of bream (especially if there is travel involved) should seriously consider a guide. Even though they can behave like hooligans when in a pack it does not necessarily convert to fish on.
Where I live I have access to some super size bream – but as you know a large fish is an educated fish (these fish are probably in the order of 30+ years and have had lots of education) and the biggest thing going against the angler – they are bream. They are a worthy adversary and have contributed to the high blood pressure of many fisher folk.
Nice fish Andrew.
Cheers
Alex
Its yer best angle Wet 😀
I remember a couple of those spots too Alex. Night fishing one night I had my line hand hit the stripping guide, it monstered me so fast
One in particular is close to some of my favorite watering holes LOl
Oh in case anyone accusses me of hot spotting, I drank in a lot of pubs 🙂 LOl
;D
Cheers all
SteveSteve
I know exactly where you mean. I don’t know when you were last there but there is now a wide selection of pubs, clubs and eateries to retire to when your gear is broken
Alex
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