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.

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Barramundi in Florida? The fishing video to prove it.

When I first saw this I must admit I was a little (read a whole lot) surprised. Barramundi a native Aussie fish stocked in Florida? But I wasn't seeing things it seems as though the iconic Australian sportsfish has been stocked in Osceola County Florida and is thriving.

(You can read more about the barramundi from my barramundi sportsfish profile post)

The ones in the video seem to be very lean and are probably only a few months old at most. However, you can see the potential they have with some spectacular leaping and a fighting style that could pull most freshwater fish backwards. We stock barra in our dams and they achieve mammoth sizes very quickly (see below) and it wont be long before the ones in Florida are really worth catching.

Average Size Barra

Above average

Monster Barra

The Video Proof
I know some may not beleive me (I didn't beleive it myself at first) so here is the video. Enjoy the video and if you are in Florida get down to this lake and have a go at them - you wont be disappointed.

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Fly Fishing Tips - Fishing the Flats

I found this great article that I thought I would share it with my readers - If you are into fly fishing I recommend reading the complete article:

The flats are the shallow margins of the sea, fertile places where fish come in to feed, or cross over on their way to deeper water and other feeding grounds. The flats are significant for fly fishermen because much of the fishing involved on them is sight fishing and because of the tackle you can use on them. Fly fishing does have some limitations and the flats, apart from presenting you with many challenges, is the place where some of those limitations are the least apparent. Flats are found right around the country and can vary from offshore sandcays to gently sloping beaches. Flats species can be as varied as where we live - bream, and flathead are just two in the south and in the tropics they can range from longtail tuna to barra and permit. Where ever the flats you plan to fish are, there are some fundamental principle to successfully fishing them.

Most fish in shallow water are going to be shy and you have to see them before they see you- Polarised sunglasses are essential. Everyone has their favourite colour and brand and I prefer glasses in the red end of the spectrum - copper and tan are excellent. For me these provide the strongest contrast between the fish and the bottom and remove the blue light of the sky. Clear blue sunny days are obviously the best. I've used many different sunnies over the years, but the Aussie made Stalkers, are the best glasses I've ever used. A broad brimmed hat that shuts out most light is also important. I'm not at all a fan of baseball caps - some specially made peaked caps are good, and its important that the hat has a dark underside to the brim...

Read the complete fishing article

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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.

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Fishing video of the week

This little barramundi video is obviously a home made attempt, but it is still worth watching as the action is indicative of what can happen in the far north Queensland rivers and stocked dams. I rate the N.T and far north Western Australia as the best wild barra spots, but you can't beat Queensland for stocked barra.
Barramundi are what many people describe as the ultimate Aussie sportfish. A fish that lives in both fresh and salt water and fights until the very end often with spectacular results. No wonder thousands of visitors a year come from all over the world to catch these fish.
This video was shot from Tinaroo dam, near Cairns, QLD. Enjoy

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