specimen bream go on the munch in amazing week

A stringof specimen bream catches topped by an 18-pounder proves that now’s the time to smash your personal best. 

The giant fish fell to Angling Direct-backed specimen hunter Darryn Stolworthy, who fished a southern gravel pit. 

It was the biggest of six double-figure bream taken by Darryn in his 48-hour session. The other fish weighed in at 12lb 13oz, 14lb 14oz, 15lb 3oz, 16lb and 17lb 2oz. 

Darryn explained his session: “I got to the swim first thing on Saturday morning and I thought I could see tench and bream rolling on a spot around 80 yards from the bank,” he said. 

“I didn’t put any bait out there until Saturday tea time, and decided on a bait boat instead of a Spomb to avoid spooking the fish, which were very active. 

“For feed I introduced caster, chopped worm, maggot, corn, mini boilies and groundbait – but rather than fill it in I only put in three or four handfuls of bait. 

“I just wanted to fish for one bite at a time.”

It was a tactic that soon proved effective for the Norfolk angler, as by 6am the following morning one of his rods ripped off with an 8lb 6oz tench.

However, his next bite was from another species, and something altogether more special. 

“At 9.30am I received a single bleep followed by slack line… a few minutes later a new personal best bream of 18lb lay in my net. I was shaking, “Darryn added.

“By 3pm I’d caught five other big doubles as well as a 34lb 10oz carp – I just couldn’t believe it. 

“There wasn’t a cloud in the sky – you couldn’t have asked for worse conditions for bream!

“Owing to family commitments I had to shoot off, but I could easily have stayed. 

“It was a freak catch that I’ll never forget.” 

All Darryn’s fish fell to fake caster and maggot hookbaits fished helicopter-style in conjunction with a 2oz lead.