Bream

[Scottie]

Please excuse the ignorance of this Yankee, but what exactly is a Bream? Freshwater, saltwater, both? Toothy critter or not? Big, medium, or small? Good fighter or so-so? Good eating or not?

Thanks, Scottie Chicago, Illinois

[The_Walrus]

Hi Scottie,

This is some basic info about one of our bream species. There are two others that are of interest to amateur anglrer in Qld.

If you access the following site, you can get more info on a variety of our fish species.

Luc ;D

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/thematiclists/1033.html


Yellowfin bream (silver bream)
Acanthopagrus australis

Legal size: 23cm
In-possession limit: N/A
Closed season: N/A

Description: Yellowfin bream are one of Queensland’s most popular estuarine angling species. They are also one of the most common of our commercial estuarine fishes and account for a significant proportion of the fresh fish marketed in southern Queensland. These fish vary in colour depending on their habitat. Those found in the surf are usually bright silver, while those living in rivers tend to be greyish green. In all habitats yellowfin bream have yellow pelvic and anal fins. They can be distinguished from the pikey bream by a conspicuous black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Yellowfin bream can grow to more than 45cm or 4kg. They live for 5 to 6 years and reach sexual maturity at about 1.4 years. Bream can be notoriously timid, sensitive to noise and lights, and have set feeding patterns.

Habitat/distribution: This species inhabits coastal and estuarine waters of eastern Australia from the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland to Gippsland in Victoria. They are most abundant in estuaries, but also inhabit inshore reefs to a depth of about 35m and waters adjacent to ocean beaches and rocky headlands. They can be found in rivers, upstream to the limit of brackish waters but rarely enter fresh water. Bream form into shoals of several hundred fish, and during spawning season (winter) the larger fish tend to group in schools of similar sized fish. Yellowfin bream associate with a variety of substrates from sand and mud to rocky sections of river bed.

Catching yellowfin bream: In Queensland the recreational catch of yellowfin bream exceeds that of the commercial catch. They are caught commercially mainly using nets and recreationally by rod and line. Popular baits include pipis, flesh baits and saltwater yabbies, although they can be caught on small lures and flies. Bait should be as fresh as possible and burley is often used to attract fish. A high percentage are caught between April and September around coastal bars.

Cooking yellowfin bream: The flesh is moderately firm, delicately flavoured and cooks to white flakes. It is best suited to grilling or baking whole. It is best served with contrasting flavours that aren’t too overpowering. Flavours such as citrus, ginger and chilli should be considered when preparing bream. A fruity wine is an excellent accompaniment for bream.

Notes: Yellowfin bream are commonly marketed at 0.5kg as fresh whole ‘bream’, or gilled and gutted, with large fish attracting a premium price. It is also commonly retailed as fillets. If a bream is undersized and swallows the fish hook, carefully cut the line at the mouth of the fish. Return the fish to the water immediately and it will have a fair chance of survival after eventually discarding the hook.

[Scottie]

Thanks Walrus, I bookmarked that site.

Scottie

[The_Walrus]

Glad you found the site usefull.

At present, in southern Queensland the bream are entering our estuaries in large numbers to breed.

Good time of the year to catch them but boy does it get cold !!

Luc