Tristan Taylor secured victory at the 2010 Ecogear Bribie Island BREAM Qualifier on August 7-8 with a 5.39kg bag and 10 bream.

In fifth place after day one, Taylor launched an assault on day two securing the tournament’s big bag of 3kg, which rocketed him to the top of the leader board.

“The pattern that worked over the two days was fishing shallow reef areas, between 2-3’ deep, at Scarborough and Margate,” said Taylor.

“I used an Atomic Hardz deep diver in a new muddy prawn colour. I slow rolled the lure through these areas looking to attract bream feeding in the area. I alternated this presentation with a plastic rigged on a TT 1/20oz jighead.

“Sections of reef with water breaking near or over them were key areas. The bites came throughout the session with no upgrades either day,” he said.

“The key was persistence. I knew the fish were in the areas, but that the bite would be slow. With conditions becoming more difficult throughout the tournament, getting my limit each day was the goal. In the end sticking to the plan and using the available time fishing made the difference.”

Taylor’s outfit consisted of a 201 Samurai reaction rod teamed with a Megabass Luvito 256 reel spooled with 8lb Unitika braid and 2lb Unitika Silver Thread FC leader.

Coming second in the boaters division was Nitro jighead designer Matt Fraser, 10/10, 5.08kg. Fishing the flats of Pumicestone Passage, Fraser managed to put together two solid bags and took away $1000 for his efforts.

“The tides really were perfect for the flats this weekend. With high tides early I was able to get up on top of the flats first thing and work a 2” Berkley Gulp Shimp in banana prawn colour, rigged on 1/20oz and 1/30oz Nitro jigheads, over the weedbeds,” said Fraser.

“As the tide dropped and the flats began to drain, I focused my attention on the edges of small channels in the flats, particularly areas where the current was concentrated.

Fraser’s outfits consisted of Berkley Pro tactics rods teamed with ABU Soron STX20 reels, rigged with 2lb Trilene flurocarbon straight through.

Taking out the non-boater category was Nabeel Issa, 5/10, 2.72kg. Fishing with Andrew Schrodter on day one and Darryn Love on day two, Issa had to come from well back in the field to secure the win.

“On day one I fished flats and canals. The canals yielded a single fish to a 2” Berkley Gulp shrimp in pepper prawn rigged on a 1/28th TT jighead. Unfortunately that was it for the day, so I knew I had it all in front of me,” said Issa.

“Day two, teamed with Darryn Love, we fished the flats areas just past the Bribie Bridge and around Ningi Creek. My first fish came on the same 2” Berkley Gulp Shrimp from day one. We then moved to Ningi Creek, where I caught the rest of my limit. I downsized my leader to 2lb Sunline basic FC and used a Kranka Shad lure in colour SD’GBG,” he said.

Issa alternated his lures on two outfits including a 6’10” Duffrods rod teamed with a Daiwa Emereldas 2506 spooled with 6lb Sunline Super PE and 3lb Sunline Rock FC and a Loomis TSR 862 GLX rod teamed with a Daiwa Certate 2000 spooled with 6lb Sunline Super PE and 3lb Sunline Rock FC.

Taking out the events Big Bream was Anthony Wishey with his day one effort of 1.1kg, and he walked away with the $500 prize for the event. Caught from the Donnybrook flats area, the fish came from the edge of a weedbed in 3-4ft

The sponsor’s bonus program was in full swing over the weekend with prizes from Mercury, Motorguide, Atomic and TT all going to those anglers utilising ABT sponsors product.

Ecogear, the naming sponsor of the Bribie event, supplied all anglers with a goodie bag at the event briefing. Including an Ecogear t-shirt, lures, stickers and all the latest information on Ecogear lures. Anglers weighing in each day wearing the Ecogear T-shirt were eligible for six mystery weight prizes awarded over the two sessions, making all competitors winners courtesy of the sponsor’s generosity.

For information regarding this event check out www.bream.com.au or contact ABT on 07 3387 0888(B/H). –ABT

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