All roads will lead to Metung on the weekend for the opening round of the 2024 edition of the Vic Bream Classic.
A huge field of 57 teams of two anglers will descend on the Gippsland Lakes for two days of competitive fishing action.
The Gippsland Lakes is considered by many to be the undisputed best big bream fishery in Australia.
Crews will take to the water between 7am and 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday in search of the heaviest combined bag of five bream on each day.
Anglers are able to launch their boats at Shaving Point, Lakes Entrance, Tambo River, Nicholson River, Mitchell River, Paynesville and Hollands Landing.
The classic is a lure and fly, tag and release tournament, with some of Australia’s best anglers taking to the picturesque water in search of glory and bragging rights.
A number of local teams will participate headed up high profile local female team, Ruth Beeby and Caitlin Berecry.
Beeby is an experienced competition angler – last year competing in the Hobie kayak fishing national championships, and has been honing her craft in Hobie and Vic Bream Classic events for the past six years.
Berecry is a local fishing enthusiast and promoter of everything fishing, with an immense passion for fishing.
Beeby can’t wait to hit the water with her young team mate.
“It’s going to fun and hopefully we land some good size fish,” Beeby said.
They will face stiff opposition from former Hobie Angler of Year, Steven Pryke who teams up with his father Lindsay, a gun fisherman in his own right.
They regularly land the big fish and seemed to know all the good spots in the region.
Other local competitors include Harry and Brad Young, Peter Stephens, Bradley Baade, Stephen and Brett Campisi, Paul and Justin Conn, while Blair and Nikki Byrant spend plenty of time fishing the Lakes and know how to land a big bream.
Paul and Justin Conn landed the biggest bream in last years event, weighing in at an impressive, 1.84 kilograms.
Last years Metung winners, Owen Pierce and Max Mackney are returning hoping to emulate last year when they put together two great days of fishing and took out the victory with 10 with a combined weight of 12.85 kilograms.
Other Vicbream events will be held this year at Nelson (April 27-28), Warrnambool (June 17-18), Mallacoota (August 17-18), Marlo (October 12-13), culminating with the 2024 grand final at Nelson on November 23-24.
