The 2026 Vic Bream Classic Series hits Mallacoota this weekend, with a record-breaking 73 teams primed to battle it out for supremacy on the water.
The massive turnout sets a new benchmark for the event, eclipsing the previous entry record of 68 teams.
This weekend’s fixture serves as the third qualifying round of the highly popular catch-and-release tournament, which is now in its 21st year. The rich fisheries of East Gippsland continue to feature prominently in the event’s history, with Mallacoota taking centre stage following successful early-season rounds at Metung and Marlo.
The tournament will welcome an influx of passionate anglers from across Victoria and interstate. The Vic Bream Classic remains Australia’s largest teams-based bream tournament series, boasting a total season prize pool in excess of $180,000 in cash and prizes.
Competitors this weekend will be vying for a share of more than $26,000 in cash and prizes, alongside crucial qualifying points for the highly anticipated grand final. The season decider is scheduled to return to Marlo on November 21–22, where the top 50 teams from across the country will compete for the prestigious 2026 title.
Under the tournament rules, teams can use lure, fly, or soft plastic techniques to catch and weigh up to five live, legal-sized bream each day. The team with the heaviest combined two-day weight will be crowned the winner.
The strictly catch-and-release format reinforces a strong social appeal, allowing competitors to fish alongside a partner of their choice. All competitors must fish from a boat with a licensed operator on board.
