Tactics for Bridge-dwelling Bream
by Tony
The first Bream I caught on a lure came from beside a bridge support pile. I continued to target bridges from time to time, catching the occassional Bream, but generally had more success along rock walls, drop-offs, and rock outcrops.
Earlier this year my regular fishing partner, Ross C., spent several sessions working the bridge piles then invited me along for a session to test what he'd learnt.
First choose your bridge
Being Brisbane based, we have an ideal location for testing bridge-pile tactics. The Houghton Highway and adjacent Hornibrook Bridge both cross the Pine River as it flows into Bramble Bay between Brighton and Clontarf. A few minutes paddling from either Clontarf or Dohles Rocks will get you to the twin bridges.
All those bridge support piles, but where are the fish?
Anyone familiar with the Houghton Highway (particularly those forced to commute to work) will know it crosses a 2.5 kilometres of water. Those of you not familiar with this bridge can still imagine the number of piles needed to support such a structure.
At low tide the sides of the estuary are exposed sand/mud flats, and the Bream will be located somewhere in the deeper water nearer the central channel. As the tide rises, the fish will move closer to the banks. However, they will still be within the shelter of the bridge.
The similarity between fish and man is that we both want dinner on the table (a regular food supply) and a roof over our head (shelter). Given a choice, most of us don't want to work too hard for either food or shelter.
As the tide begins to flow the fish find shelter in the eddies behind the bridge piles, waiting for any passing morsels.
Paddle from pile to pile making several cast to each until the fish are located. Once found, you can work side to side over nearby piles as the fish will be around that depth. Once you've found the fish, move towards the channel as the tide falls, or towards the shore as the tide rises.
Get the lure in front of them
The Bream seem to sit in the eddies behind the piles, and we've found that the effective tactic is to do the same.
Approach the bridge piles from down-tide, and place a few casts either side of the nearest pile. If there is no "interest" shown then nose your kayak up into the eddy behind the pile.
The Bream sit in the eddies behind the piles, conserving energy and waiting for any passing food. They don't want to expend energy by chasing prey outside their "comfort zone", so the key is to get the lure in close.
Don't be concerned if you can't cast with pinpoint accuracy. Cast beyond the furthest pile then use either your rod, the breeze, the current, or a combination, to bring your line close to the piles before starting your retrieve.
The lure needs to be within a hand-span of the piles to induce a strike - any further and the lure will remain unmolested.
What lures work?
We've been using small hard-bodied lures. RMG 35mm Scorpions in both standard and "sneaky" models, Ecogear SX40's, Micro Mullets, Predatek Micro Mins, and more. The lure colour doesn't seem to be important.
Being reluctant to throw expensive lures into hazardous environments, I've been using Kokoda "Sprog" lures. At less than $5 the lure are certainly affordable, although I'm not entirely impressed with the standard hooks - but what can you expect for the price. I've been changing the hooks for VMC #10 trebles (P8540BK) which are dangerously sharp. Being lighter than the original hooks, they change the lure from "slow sinking" to "suspending/slow rising" (the Sprogs seem to have some variability from lure-to-lure).
Each of these lure dive around 1 to 1.5 metres, and I particularly like using a suspending or very slow rising lure so that when a bump is felt, the retrieve can be stopped to leave the lure sitting in front of the fish to induce a strike.
Although I'm a keen user of soft-plastic lures, I'm yet to try them using these techniques. I'd be looking at using something like a Berkley 3" Power Minnow on a lightweight jig head.
Now that you've hooked up, you have to get them out
The fish are close to shell encrusted piles and immediately head back to the shelter after snatching their feed. This is no place for lightly set drags and ultra-fine leaders. I use 8lb fluorocarbon leader and find that it has enough abrasion resistance to withstand being dragged across the piles. After catching a fish, closely inspect your leader as more than likely it will need to be trimmed or retied otherwise you risk losing your next tussle.
A longer rod may also help to steer fish out from the piles, although anything longer than 1.98m can become cumbersome for casting under the bridge.
Respect the resource
As Autumn ends and Winter makes it's presence felt, the cooling water sends a message to the Bream that it's time to start congregating around the river mouths in preparation for spawning. Please keep this in mind, and limit your bag to, at most, one or two fish. Each Bream released at this time of year has the potential of producing thousands of fish for future anglers.