IN its fifth year the Port Macquarie BREAM Classic goes from strength to strength. Its only just around the corner being held on the beautiful Hastings River on the 25th and 26th October.

This lure only event draws competitors from all over the nation to compete for the coveted title of “Port Macquarie BREAM Classic Champions”. Last year a record field of 83 teams converged on Port Macquarie to compete for the title.

Organiser David Poulton is expecting another strong field in 2008. With a good number of competitors already signing up for the biggest ABT BREAM Classic in the country.

Australian Bream Tournaments run bream events all over Australia and this year celebrates its 10th Anniversary. Promoting Catch and Release fishing ABT Tournaments are at the leading edge of environmental fishing tournaments. And the Port Macquarie BREAM Classic is the opportunity for professional anglers and newcomers to show their fishing talents and compete together in a truly marvellous arena.

“This type of tournament is a stepping stone for tournament anglers to hone their skills and have a crack at getting a spot on the coveted AFC Fishing Series”, says David Poulton. The AFC will air on Channel 10 in a month or so and showcases the country’s top BREAM, BASS and Barra anglers.

Local support for the event has been outstanding with the Sundowner Breakwall Tourist Park once again throwing their support behind the tournament, by taking on the accommodation and major sponsorships and the ‘Sundowner Big Bream’ prize of $500. Overall competitors will fight it out for around $8000 worth of cash and prizes. Made possible by the generous support of Port Macquarie Tackle, Mid Coast Marine, Koolabung Lures, Daiwa, Shimano, Berkley, Kipawa, Atomic, Gamakatsu, Port Macquarie Holidays and iMag.

“The crowd don’t go home empty handed either” says David Poulton, with lots of goodies and giveaways for the spectators to enjoy and win. The field gets underway each morning at 6.30am and then return at 1.30pm for a weigh in on the Town Green. Spectators should rock up around 1pm to get a good spot and enjoy a presentation and explanation of the event and bream fishing.

So get along to the biggest fishing tournament in the Hastings Region and see Australia’s top bream anglers battling it out for the top prize.