Bream

Question
QUESTION: When does bream go on their bed and how does this relate to the moon phase; full moon, new moon, etc... We fish Lake Harris, FL. This is new to me and I've been told both sides. Thanks!

ANSWER: Gary; Brim will start bedding sometime in March in your area most likely on the full moon.
That early they will likely not be in full spawn. From the first spawning they will gain momentum as the season goes on usually the full moon is considered the time they hit the high of their bedding.  You can likely find some bedding on into the summer.  When I say they bed on the full moon that isn't just for one day but for usually a couple of weeks then they sort of back off and go back on the beds at the next full moon.  We are about two weeks behind you up here in southwest Georgia.  It is usually around the first full moon in April when they really start bedding here.

I am sure you will have people tell you that the new moon is best but I have never seen that to be true here.  Of course if we have a cold late spring the timing will be set back a while and if we have an early warm spring it might be a week or two earlier than normal.

Thanks for calling on me to answer your question.  I hope you find lots of brim this spring.

Jack L. Gaither     (JackfromSeminole)
Lake Seminole, Georgia

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QUESTION: Are brim and shellcracker the same? Thanks again!

ANSWER: Gary; No bream and shellcracker are different species and have different patterns of life.  Both are members of the sunfish family as are bass.  Shellcrackers have a special design in their mouth and throat made to crack the shells of certain small shellfish while brim do not have this bony plate.  Shellcrackers are better caught on worms while brim prefer crickets, at least around here.  Actually brim or bream is not the correct name for these fish, Brim are a European fish but must be similar to the ones here so the settlers called them by the European name and it has stuck.  Try looking on the web for fish species in America and you should find a much better description than I can give.

I hope this is some help but for more information use the web.  If you would like I can look up some sites for you that might help but you can probably do it as well as I can.

Jack       (JackfromSeminole)
Lake Seminole, Georgia

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jack, with all of good new info I have received, when do shellcrackers spawn? That should have been my first question. Thanks again for all the great service you are providing.

Answer
Shellcracker usually spawn a little earlier than brim.  Here in south Georgia they start spawning in march if it is warm for a week or so.  They are harder to find then but when you find them you will have a great time.  They spawn again in April, May and even into June.
Try this, ride around in your lake slowly and sniff looking for a fishy smell.  When you smell it make a circle around the area trying to follow the smell.  With a little practice you can sniff them out.  I must admit that I am not too good at that as my smeller isn't what it used to be.

Thanks again for calling on me to answer your questions.  Hoping you find a bunch of beds this spring.

Jack          (JackfromSeiminole)