The decline of WA's bream anglers

[Dowelly]

Hey guys,

Have been reflecting on names that once held great stature in WA's breaming scene. It really does feel as though some of these names have literally fell off the map, not a peep, their boats haven't been listed for sale anywhere, what are they doing now?
Once prolific posters, its felt as though overnight their opinions are gone with the speed of my internet.

I have came up with a couple of possible answers but would love to hear a few words from some of the oldies.

Possibly the more the pressured years went by the harder the swan started to fish which threw people off

We in metro WA are not gifted with the fishing system variety that the east coast has, so things could get boring fishing the same venues

Perth's traffic has got so crazy that its too difficult to just go out for a quick flick

These guys possibly got into the family life and therefore no time could be allocated for fishing

Different species are on the menu

The scene has got too large (although it really has not) possibly not as social as it once was

There is too much politics these days which damages the scene for the more relaxed guys

No money to buy tackle, lets face it we get reemed as the consumer..

People don't want to log onto here and ferret through all the 'buying and selling posts' to find a post with actual fishing photo's and a write up (rare)

maybe these guys still fish however keep a low profile, which is explainable as its somewhat therapeutic

I served a once legend jeff murray (2004 WABT grand final winner) at work the other month who has just sold his nitro after it being parked up for 3 years.. This guy was a freak with a bass minnow, i asked him why he gave up and couldn't really tell me, although he did have a child i can't see why you can't sneak out once in a while.

It just confuses me because its an activity that is so addictive i can see myself doing it for my existence.

Anyway would love to hear some opinions!

[vegasbreamman]

Breaming does get boring at some stages but when the little buggers get tough to catch it actually fires me up more trying to figure them out! Dowelly it's like everything people do get bored and life poses it's on issues

[Dowelly]

Yeah true Alex, just looked at a few bream comps from 2006-8, every 4 out of 5 anglers i have not heard a peep from in years!

[Brad Y]

For me...
Fishing for bream is never as good as it used to be.
Fishing comps started getting to the point where it got that serious that it cut into the social side of it. The death of WABT and it's two day comps was hard because we lost a lot of the social side to it.
Had people fish with me that valued the fish more so than they did the opportunity to fish.
Family life became more attractive than breaming
Got sick of all the money tied up with competing and breaming in general when at the end of the day I didn't even get a decent eating fish to feed the family.
Bream fishing in WA hit it's limit a while ago and has nowhere to expand so it all became a bit stale to me.
Found another hobby that challenges me more in a mental capacity and has much more potential to achieve greater success both individually and in a team.

I now enjoy any time I get on the water more, even if it is a trip to the Blackwood to fish for bream. Fly fishing up north and in tassie I have found very enjoyable as well as demersal jigging offshore from home.

[deacon]

I know for me one of the biggest things is how ridiculous the whole seen has got now all you have to do is log on to wa bream anglers Facebook to see it every ones arguing about who copyed who and why some one does not have a brag mat in there pics it's utter crap, the respect for fellow anglers has gone and with it some of the best guys!

[Brad Y]

Originally Posted by deacon

I know for me one of the biggest things is how ridiculous the whole seen has got now all you have to do is log on to wa bream anglers Facebook to see it every ones arguing about who copyed who and why some one does not have a brag mat in there pics it's utter crap, the respect for fellow anglers has gone and with it some of the best guys!

That too. Way too many idiots who take it too seriously.

Plus deacs got bored of it coz shooting bream with a speargun wasn't in the rules lol

[bender]

I am enjoying the yak scene which is growing fast ...

And seeing some of the original breamers in the comps is great

Sewelly
Spads
Nic C
Among a few others ....

I think the breaming just wasnt fun anymore but it is in a hobie because its slowed down and there aint no huge motor to get you to 20 different spots .

It makes you think more and fish spots you would usually go past.

The prizes are small but the hot coffees at the start and the barbie when you come back just makes it bloody awsom.

[cowancreekdave]

I think a lot of people will adapt their focus onto what is most relevant to themselves or their goals at the time
I still fish occasionally but put 90% of my spare focus into other pursuits

[Nick Cuccovia]

I think you will find most guys still fish they just don't attend the comps.

[Eastbrimin]

Originally Posted by bender

I am enjoying the yak scene which is growing fast ...

And seeing some of the original breamers in the comps is great

Sewelly
Spads
Nic C
Among a few others ....

I think the breaming just wasnt fun anymore but it is in a hobie because its slowed down and there aint no huge motor to get you to 20 different spots .

It makes you think more and fish spots you would usually go past.

The prizes are small but the hot coffees at the start and the barbie when you come back just makes it bloody awsom.

Not from WA but i know that here in Vic a lot of boaters are turning to the Yak comps. The yak guys seem to be there for a good time and just enjoy their fishing, not for the prizes and glory

[sexton]

It's not all about the comps!!

The whole comp scene can be bit of a joke...The whole "got to win at any cost" mentality and the seriousness that goes with it, just gets to much for some to handle at times and I guess it's just a lot easier to go for a social fish with a mate and have a really good time then what it is to do comps!
Just my opinion, so please don't shoot me.

Fishing is about having fun and enjoying oneself, it's a way of life.
No point taking it to serious as it's only fishing.

I fish for bream because I really enjoy doing so, it's a passion and it's a hobby that I love!! I enjoy fishing for other species as well but the bream just seem to always draw me back.

[bamm]

For the older blokes I know that don't fish comps over the east side

It's family work time money and they get over the w##k factor chest beating crap that follows it and the fun has gone out of it they say

It maybe the same over west

Me personally I fish for fun and a bit of rivalry between breamville and I but too pay too 250 to enter and then stress when Ur not catching fish ;( is not for me I fish too let my stress go

[Richo]

For me family committments have taken a lot of time up, and any spare time gets banked up for as trip North once or twice a year, and its easier to slip out for 9 holes than 1/2 a day of fishing.

But the passion is still there, just time restraints have had an impact on what I can get away with, when I was younger with less committments it was easier to find time to get out for a fish and also time for weekends away. Im still keen to get out though.

cheers

[n-fish]

I would love to do a comp again but cant justify the large costs involved

Bring back the Summer Night comps/social gathering

They would have to be the best comp I have ever been to.

[Yardi]

As previously mentioned there are many reasons why people drop off the Tournie scene.
I guess the main one for a lot of folks is settling down having kindly winks and then priorities change a lot. Wifey wants you to spend more time at home, children command more attention I.e. sports etc. and one of the biggest factors MONEY. It's easy when you are single or maybe just boyfriend girlfriend to get away with spending dollars to enter comps, boat fuel, lures etc. etc.
I was lucky to enter the scene when I was pretty financially going ok ( kids lot older) and I have always been allowed to have my time as my wifey was used to it, because I was a Surfer when we first met so she was acceptent of me being away.
I personally still love Tournies and love breaming even though I have just invested In an ocean going boat, but I miss the WABT and ABT 2 day comps. Had some awesome times both socially and competively in those comps.
The Kayak comps are progressing well, as they seem to be affordable for most, that's a good thing.
For me personally to be competitive in the comps it's all about time on water, getting out there as much as possible and finding the fish, working out their feeding habits , what lures work well and just generally getting your hand in. That becomes difficult when work, family and maybe an over obsesive girlfriend / boyfriend demand your time.
I have met a lot of great friends competing in comps and sincerely hope I meet lot more, just remember not to take yourself to seriously, be courteous to others and stick to the mantra he who shares wins and maybe we can keep the comp scene in WA going. One final thing don't winge about how Tournies are here in WA unless you ate ready to take it up yourself I can telll you Craig runs the classics here for little or no financial renumeration and sometimes for no praise. If you want things to change, or make things better put your hand up and talk to Craig as he needs all the help he can get..
Yardi