Bream are abundant in all Geelong regional estuaries and bream fishing is very popular in the region, and the fish is a prized catch by anglers because of their tasty white delicate flesh and can be caught all year round. There are several varieties in our region but Black Bream are one of the more popular catches.
Bream have a fairly stout appearance, with a deep and moderately compressed body covered by large scales, and a small to moderate sized mouth. The upper body is generally silver, but can have a golden brown, bronze, greenish or blackish hue depending on habitat. The head of the fish can also have a purple or bluish tinge. The belly and chin are white. Black bream have been reported to reach up to 60 centimetres in length and some 3.5 kilograms in weight, but most fish caught are between 25 – 35 centimetres and 300 grams -1.5 kilogram.
The bream is very tolerant of a wide range of water and salinity levels, but usually found in brackish water. But can be found in 100% freshwater and 100% salt water. The Juvenile black bream feed on a wide range of small invertebrate species, and are dependant on sea grass beds. The larger adult bream feed on a variety of bottom-dwelling shellfish, worms, shrimps, prawns, crabs, other small crustaceans and small fish.
Bream like to live around rocky and rugged spots and are readily found around river mouths. They like the protection of jetties and piers or anything that gives them a place to hide.
The most popular baits used by anglers for black bream are sand worms, prawns, Bass yabbies, crabs, shellfish, whitebait, shrimp and mullet gut. Another popular bait is bread, the fish will have a go at just about anything. Once hooked the fish puts up a good fight for the angler, especially the larger ones.
At the time of writing a minimum legal total length of 26cm applies to recreational catches of bream in Victoria,The bag limit is 10 fish per person per day, of which only 2 fish may each measure or exceed 36cm. Please check with the local authorities before fishing as rules and regulations change including size, bag limits, where you can fish and what bait you can use.
Intown’s Bream in Coconut Sauce
This is a easy dish to prepare and should serve about four people and is delicious served with rice.
You will need about 400 grams of bream fillets (skinned) 3 small limes, 1 small lemon, 2 medium onions, 1/2 a red capsicum, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of coconut milk, 1 small red chilli, some fresh coriander, mint and some salt and pepper to taste.
Cut fish meat into cubes. Add coconut milk, lime juice, lemon juice, sugar, thinly sliced chilli and salt and pepper and marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Slice the onion and capsicum half cook in hot oil. Remove and add the fish, cook until the juice is dissolved, then return the onion and capsicum. Stir in until cooked, take off stove and stir coriander and mint. Serve at once on rice.
