Gold Coast Boat Show Bream Classic

The Gold Coast Boat Show Bream Classic was held on the Nerang River over three days Oct 26-28. The daily live weigh ins were performed in front of an inquisitive crowd hosted by Bill Corten, with all fish being released into the Reef Science tank.

Eight teams were competing for the $1000 first place cheque and $500 Big Bream provided by Marine QLD. It was Team Ecogear consisting of Gavin Dunne and Maurice Blackman that led from day one and although challenged, took out the major prize.

Dunne used a Nories Voice Finesse Sweeper rod matched to a Shimano Sephia 2500 reel spooled with 4lb Berkley Crystal Fireline and 4lb Yamatoyo flurocarbon.

For his surface work he used Yamatoyo Proline Floating leader. Using Ecogear pink grubs rigged on a single stinger hook during the early morning calm weather and changing to the new PX surface popper once the wind had picked up and caused a ripple on the water. The new prawn like popper due to be released in January was most effective with a walk the dog retrieve whilst the pink grub was a slow continuous twitch.

Fishing Miami Keys and the water behind the Casino, Dunne concentrated the team’s efforts on six canals, working the backs of bays, drains and flats between pontoons. The popular SX40 lure also securing a few bream on these open flats.

His partner Maurice Blackman scoring a big bream on the last day only to tie with Mick Horn and his 760gram specimen from day two.

Blackman used a 2 inch Shrimp in natural carefully lobbed into the shadow of a pontoon to intice his fish whilst Horn found his to take a shallow diving Jackall Chubby worked along the front edge of a pontoon in Benowa Waters.

Horn fishing with his father Will Horn jumped to second place using a G.Loomis SR842 rod matched to a Daiwa SOL spooled with 3lb Basic FC spooled straight through.

Throwing a variety of hard bodies and plastics including a Lucky Craft Crap-pea medium in ghost minnow colour, a Lucky Craft Bevy Shad 60mm, Jackall Chubbies, 3 inch Berkley Fry in lime tiger and 2 inch Berkley Minnow Grubs in pumpkinseed Horn spent his time in Benowa and Paradise Waters.

Targeting open water with the hard bodies Horn would cast close to the bank using a slow roll retrieve with the occasional twitch. Then switching to a hidden weight rigged plastic pitched under the numerous pontoons.

After the weigh ins the teams spent plenty of time talking with interested patrons about boats, tackle and tactics. The Show proved to be another successful event and for further information about ABT tournaments call the office on 07 3268 7958.