In search of Gilthead Bream...

Lads,

I was hoping someone might give me a few pointers on marks down West Cork direction for Giltheads. I've done the whole Cunnigar thing and want to focus around Clonakilty/Ring next weekend. I believe they've been featuring in cathces incl. competitions since June. PM's appreciated and any info will die with me I swear it!

Cheers,
Liam

Will send you a pm Liam.

what size hooks are required for bream from the shore? what type of rig also?

Thirty,

Managed to get 2 bream at the weekend. These were my first two so I'm no expert by any means! However after taking a good look at the fish here's my initial thoughts on rigs and baits.

They have pretty small mouths with one row of small prominent teeth hidden behind the lips, behind these are a series of flat hard pads presumabley for crushing shellfish/crabs etc. Think of the pads on a dogs feet and you get the idea. Stick a finger in if you're brave! I did, and jesus they have incredibly powerful jaws, they can really clamp down!!!

I'm sure hooks up to 1/0 would be fine but I reckon something around a sz 2 or 1 would get better hookup rates. Beacuse of the mouth I've described it would seem like these fish need to take a bait well down to ensure a good hook hold, I left them get a good hold of the bait and hooked both well down the throat.

Judging by the mouth again worms, shellfish and crabs would seem to be the staple diet. They're built for crushing stuff. It doesn't look like it was made for devouring and cutting fish flesh. I took one on lugworm and the other on maddies

20lb snoods minimum I'd say, those teeth at the front make short work of lighter snoods

Just some initial thoughts...

Liam

Thirty,

Managed to get 2 bream at the weekend. These were my first two so I'm no expert by any means! However after taking a good look at the fish here's my initial thoughts on rigs and baits.

They have pretty small mouths with one row of small prominent teeth hidden behind the lips, behind these are a series of flat hard pads presumabley for crushing shellfish/crabs etc. Think of the pads on a dogs feet and you get the idea. Mad looking things. Stick a finger in if you're brave! I did, and jesus they have incredibly powerful jaws, they can really clamp down!!!

I'm sure hooks up to 1/0 would be fine but I reckon something around a sz 2 or 1 would get better hookup rates. Beacuse of the mouth I've described it would seem like these fish need to take a bait well down to ensure a good hook hold, I left them get a good hold of the bait and hooked both well down the throat.

Judging by the mouth again worms, shellfish and crabs would seem to be the staple diet. They're built for crushing stuff. It doesn't look like it was made for devouring and cutting fish flesh. I took one fish on lugworm and the other on maddies.

In the end I just picked a likely looking spot and fished it. Estuary marks seem to attract them and fish next to some broken ground no matter how small, the likes of which would hold crab, mussles etc.

20lb snoods minimum I'd say, those teeth at the front make short work of lighter snoods

Just some initial thoughts... oh and they scrap like crazy - would put a similar sized bass to shame.

Liam

Never catch one here in ireland....but catch loads of them back home and in sudan before.Successfully catching them most of the time using prawn and shrimp bait.Theres a specially made hook for this species....chinu hook....more like a beak hook.Know that they re successfully can be catch using lure in OZ.....small plugs and softies.....never get them by lure tho...i dont think that u need certain kind of rig to catch them.....just use a suitable rig for the right place......this species mostly will stay close to structure ,rock....jetty....breakwater...estuary....bream angler in japan use ISO method(float) to fish for them.....also with shrimp and heavy burley of shrimp to attract them....for me they are one of the best light tackle/ultra light tackle sport species.....