Eric, I'm sorry you feel like the bait above looks like a Shell Cracker (SC). But you know how I know it's not a copy?? Because I DESIGNED IT!!

Let me tell you about the differences.
1. Bull Bream (BB) has 2 joints. SC has 1
2. BB has a plastic tail and a spring to hold it in place, SC has a lexan tail and held in place by a nail
3. BB has an action similiar to a Triple Trout while I don't know what the action is of a SC is like.
4. BB sinks alot faster than the SC where I read here on www.calfishing
5. BB is 6 inches long SC is 5.5 inches (calfishing.com review)
6. BB is SIGNIFICANTLY skinnier than the SC which allows it to work at slower speeds.Here is a picture showing the thickness of the SC from the review on this website which clearly shows the SC as a significantly thicker bait.

http://www.calfishing.com/reviews/bluegill/black_dog_baits_shellcracker/index.html

Here is a picture showing the thickness of the BB. Also shown is part of the mold that I made to make the prototype bait shown below this picture. I caught a bream and cut the fins off and froze it. I made a FULL body mold of this frozen bream. When I got the frozen bream I cut the bream in 3 pieces with a saw. I sanded the edges smooth, countersunk the eyes and cut the notches out to accept the screw eyelets. I then made a mold of all 3 pieces.

<img src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o314/TritonMike/bullbream.jpg">

Here is a pic of the very first prototype I made of the BB. Notice how there is only one screw in the back. I later made changes to add a second screw for added durability to the bait.

<img
src="http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o314/TritonMike/bullbream-1.jpg">

FINALLY, The reason you see similiarities in facial pieces as well as paint scheme is because the BB and the SC is made by the same mfg'er. I was NOT aware that a CNC milling machine couldn't cut out exact fin and scale details so obviously those details were omitted but show up in the original prototype. Futhermore the paint job you see above WILL NOT BE USED as stated above!! I am submitting my own personal paint schemes for this bait!

Now tell me something if I wanted to copy the SC why would I have gone through all this trouble???

For those that know me, know that I am an ethical and honest person and I have a GREAT respect for Grant and Jeremy. I have conversed with Grant on a few occasions via email previously. If I thought this bait was a direct copy of the SC I wouldn't have made it to begin with.

Respectfully

Mike Bucca
aka Triton Mike Bucca