A Guide to Outsmarting Bream with the Right Fishing Lure
Success with bream comes down to subtlety. They can be aggressive, but are often cautious, inspecting a lure closely before deciding to eat. Matching your lure to their mood and the environment you're fishing is critical.
A Note From Our Local Experts
"Our team lives and breathes estuary fishing. We've spent countless hours on the water refining finesse techniques for bream in environments from southern NSW estuaries to Northern river systems. The bream lures in our range are the ones we trust for our own fishing, including in tournament competition in circumstances where some of our current and/or former staff members were involved. We stock what works."
- The Team at Fishing Tackle Shop (Ocean Storm)
The Core Bream Lure Arsenal
- Small Hardbodies (Cranks & Minnows): The top choice for fishing around hard structure like rock walls, bridge pylons, boat hulls, and oyster racks. Suspending minnows are perfect for a 'twitch-pause' retrieve.
- Soft Plastics: The most versatile option. Grub, shrimp, and minnow profiles are all essential. The key is pairing them with the correct jighead weight (from 1/24oz to 1/16oz) to achieve the right presentation.
- Vibes & Blades: When bream are holding in deeper water, the tight vibration of a metal blade or a small hard vibe can be the only way to trigger a bite. They are excellent for covering ground quickly and fishing vertically.
- Surface Lures: For the most exciting form of bream fishing. Small poppers and 'walk-the-dog' style lures worked over shallow flats can produce explosive strikes, especially in calm conditions.
Shop by Lure Type
Find exactly what you need by browsing our main Bream lure categories:
Top Bream Lure Brands We Stock
We stock a diverse range of lures from some of the most reputable and effective brands for targeting Australian Bream, including Berkley, Cranka, Daiwa, Keitech, Jackall, Rapala, and Squidgies.
Expert Tips for Australian Bream
- The Leader is Critical: Bream are notoriously "leader shy." It's standard practice to use a high-quality, thin-diameter fluorocarbon leader in the 4lb to 6lb breaking strain. This is often the single most important factor in getting more bites.
- Fishing Estuary Structure: When targeting boat hulls and oyster racks, the key is an accurate cast and a natural sink. Let your lightly weighted plastic or suspending hardbody sink right beside the structure, as this is where the fish will be holding.
- Working the Flats: This is prime territory for surface lures and very lightly weighted plastics. A slow, steady retrieve ("slow roll") is often the key. Keep your rod tip high to keep the lure in the strike zone and watch for the tell-tale 'boof' of a surface strike.
Why Buy from Fishing Tackle Shop (Ocean Storm)?
With a business history dating back to 2001 and our online store operating since 2005, our expertise is built on a deep passion for Australian sportfishing. We meticulously select our range of Bream lures based on what we know works. We focus on lures with proven actions, natural profiles, and high-quality, fine-gauge hardware that is essential for a solid hook-up on a Bream's tough mouth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best all-round lure for someone starting out bream fishing?
A 2 to 2.5-inch grub-tail soft plastic in a 'motor oil' or 'bloodworm' colour, rigged on a 1/24oz jighead, is the most versatile and effective starting point. It can be used in almost any bream habitat, from shallow flats to deep pylons, and catches fish consistently across the country.
What jighead weight should I use for bream plastics?
Use the lightest jighead you can get away with for the depth and current. In shallow, still water (1-2m), a 1/24oz provides a very natural sink rate. For general estuary work (2-4m) where you need a bit more casting distance or a faster sink, a 1/16oz is a good all-rounder.
What colour lure works best in dirty water for bream?
In dirty or tannin-stained water, solid, dark colours like black and dark brown provide the strongest silhouette for bream to locate. Alternatively, bright colours with a lot of UV, such as pink or chartreuse, can also be effective at grabbing their attention in low visibility.
How do I stop bream just nipping the tail of my plastic?
This usually means the fish are tentative or you are using a lure that is slightly too big. Switch to a smaller plastic profile or drop your jighead weight to give the lure a slower, more enticing fall. Applying a scent attractant can also encourage them to commit.
Are surface lures effective for bream during the day?
Yes, particularly on overcast days or when fishing over shallow flats where bream are actively feeding on prawns and baitfish. While dawn and dusk are prime times, don't hesitate to use a small surface lure during the day, especially in summer months.
