Catching Bream on Flats

By Abz Meshlawi

Targeting bream on the flats is one of the most enjoyable ways to fish. The wide-open water might look featureless at first, but shallow sand, mud and weed flats can hold some quality fish. They provide an endless hunting ground where bream move up with the tide to feed and learning how to target them effectively has helped me put more quality fish in the net.

Flats fishing isn’t about sitting in one spot. It’s about working across a wide area, reading subtle changes in bottom structure, and making repeated casts until you find where the fish are sitting. A patch of broken weed, a small sand pocket or even a shallow channel can all concentrate bream. Stealth also plays a huge role. Long casts, light leaders, and a quiet approach will always improve your chances.

The Daiwa Infeet Rollin’ Crank MR is one of my go-to lures on the flats. On sand and mud, it really shines when you work it slowly enough that it occasionally bumps bottom. That little puff of stirred up sand is a natural trigger and often what draws a strike. Weed flats are also excellent, especially when there’s broken ground with a mix of sand and weed. Fouling up on weed is part of the game. In fact, you want the lure running close enough that it occasionally snags. A quick lift of the rod tip usually clears it and keeping the lure in that strike zone is worth it. I find that most bites come on the pause. Casting long, working the lure slowly, and giving it plenty of pauses has produced some of my best bream. My favourite colour is brown suji, which has accounted for plenty of fish across different flats.

Because the Rollin’ Crank is armed with small trebles, tackle choice matters. You don’t want to be ripping hooks free, so I use the Infeet Z 742 LRS. Its regular taper cushions the fight beautifully and the extra length helps with long casts, which are crucial when fishing shallow water where bream can spook easily. A light braid and leader setup completes the picture, giving you the distance and finesse needed to work big areas effectively.

Soft plastics are another deadly option when the fish are spread out. I often switch to the Bait Junkie 295 Flick on a light jighead, especially in the lemon grass colour. Cast it long, let it sink, and then work it back with subtle twitches and pauses. Bream can’t resist the natural darting action, and plastics often excel when the fish are less aggressive and hardbodies aren’t drawing a response.

Every session teaches you something new. Some days the fish want a crankbait grinding the bottom. Other days, they will only respond to a lightly worked plastic. Flats fishing keeps you on your toes, but that’s part of the fun. With the right approach, the right lures, and the right tackle, it’s one of the most rewarding ways to target bream.