Barramundi Facts

The barramundi, or barra as it is affectionately known, is an iconic sport fish of Northern Australia. They are well known for their aerial fighting ability and exceptional eating qualities.

Barramundi Facts

• The barramundi can survive in both fresh and salt water, but require brackish water to breed. They are frequently encountered in rivers and estuaries and have been stocked into many still water lakes and dams (where they cannot breed).
• Barramundi undergo a change sex after at least one breeding cycle. Young fish are born male and become female. Therefore most of the larger fish are females.
• The scientific name for barramundi is Lates calcarifer and it belongs to the perch family of fishes.
• Barramundi can grow up to 300mm in one year. They can reach sizes of 2 meters and weigh up to 60kg (130lbs). The average fish encountered by anglers is about 70cm.
• Barramundi feed on smaller fish and crustaceans. They are cannibalistic and are capable of eating smaller barramundi up to half their own body length.

For more facts and information on this great fish you can check out my earlier post - barramundi sportfish profile.

Fishing Video of the week - Carp

In Australia these fish are an introduced pest. They have taking over the native waterways, muddying up the rivers and basically making it hard for the Australian freshwater sportsfish. They are causing so much trouble that it is illegal to return a carp to the water dead or alive. A carp fertilizer has now been developed called "Charlie carp" which puts the dead fish to good use. They were introduced originally to make Australia seem more European and they have also been introduced into our rivers by well meaning pet owners who could no longer care for their fish.

From what I understand the problem also exists in the United States and I would love to hear more about it.

However, after saying all that, carp are a popular angling target in Europe and they grow mighty big and put up a very strong fight. This great video is for all those people that like to catch carp.

Australian Sportfish Profile - Barramundi

Yesterday I posted a barramundi fishing video and so today I thought I would write a sportfish profile for this amazing fish.

The barramundi, or barra as it is referred to, is a special fish to Northern Australia. It is highly regarded as a strong fighting sportfish and combined with it's eating qualities makes it the most highly regarded catch in many northern regions.

Profile
Barramundi are a large growing estuary, river and billabong species that is often stocked in freshwater impoundments. They have an affinity for warm tropical water but can survive as far south as Brisbane. They have a large tail and thick shoulders, which means they put up a great fight often interspersed with the famous gill arching leaps into the air when hooked. An interesting fact about barramundi is that they change sex during their life. They are all born male and become females after spawning once of twice. Therefore Barramundi over 8kgs are almost certainly female.

Fishing
Barramundi are top predators and are taken in some of the most spectacular locations in Australia. They are ambush feeders and lurk in places where bait congregate. Most barra anglers fish snags, drop-offs and rock bars. Hard body minnow lures are the most popular barramundi lures altough soft plastics and spinnerbaits also have their place. Barramundi are tough on tackle and the angler must be prepared for this aspect otherwise you will end up losing more than you catch. Most people either buy lures with hooks and rings specifically made for the species or change the treble hooks on American made lures.
Barramundi are also taken on fly and many anglers use Dahlberg divers and Deceiver patterns and tease the barra into striking.
Live bait will also catch barra and this method is used in the colder months when the fish are less active. A live mullet, prawn or cherabin on the bottom of a hole or under a float is a popular method of catching a barra.

Protection
There are strict bag and size limits in every state to help protect this iconic fish. Check with the local authorities.

Fishing Video of the week

This great little video I found while searching youtube today is a very good example of some of the fishing action that can be had on jigs around Australia. We use very similar techniques here in South Australia for fish such as Samson fish and yellowtail kingfish as well as many other reef fish. In Northern Australia you can use the same fishing tackle and techniques for fish like trevally, queenfish and many of the tropical reef species.
If you haven't tried jigging yet then I suggest trying it out! If you don't have a boat then you could always go on a fishing charter. The bonus of fishing with a charter boat is that they often provide their own gear for you to use.