I use bait such as prawn and pilchards for bream and whiting and even flathead but I only ever get small bream. I use soft plastics for flathead and whiting but never for bream, I use banana prawn 3 inches with 1/10 to 1/8 jig heads. I use an estuary rod and have a small 5-pound line with a 13 or 15-pound leader. to be honest, i haven't been out for a while as I've been disheartened from days of 4-5 hours plus of fishing and catching only small bream or occasional whiting.