Other Names: "Barra", Silver Barramundi, Giant Perch, Palmer Perch

Habitat

In Australian waters you can fly fish for Barramundi on the north coast from the Pilbara through the Kimberley and the Top End, the Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York and down the Queensland coast as far south as Fraser Island. It is also found in south East Asia, China and the Persian Gulf. The Barramundi can be found in creeks, rivers and estuaries in clear or turbid waters. It is listed as a freshwater fish but can commonly be found in estuarine waters.

Size

Barramundi have been known to grow in excess of 60kg or 1.8 m but is more commonly caught in the 10-20kg and up to 1.2m range. It is illegal to catch Barramundi under 55 cm in the NT and 58cm in QLD.

Feeding

Barramundi eat a range of food including fishes, shrimp, crayfish, crab and aquatic insects and they are mainly but not exclusively nocturnal feeders.

Seasons

Barramundi are easier to catch when the water is warmer in the north of Australia. From September to December the weather "builds up" when the air and water temperatures and humidity levels increase. The other best time of year is the "run off" when the wet season winds down from late March and the flooding is running off the flood plains. In some areas it is illegal to intentionally catch Barramundi over the wet season.

Breeding

Barramundi are born as males and then transform into female for breeding at around five years. They grow to maturity in the upper reaches of freshwater rivers then migrate downstream, often during flooding to estuaries and coastal waters for spawning.

Description

The Barramundi has a pointed head, concave forehead, a large jaw extending behind the eye and a rounded caudel fin. It has a first dorsal fin with seven or eight strong spines and a second soft-rayed dorsal fin with ten or eleven rays. Adult Barramundi are blue to green-grey dorsally, silvery on the sides and white below. Juveniles are mottled brown with a distinct white strip from the dorsal fin to the snout.

How to catch them

Barramundi are prized by recreational anglers as a strong and large fighting fish often known for its spectacular acrobatics and leaps when hooked.

They are also a splendid eating fish especially if they have spent the majority of their lives in flowing, clear waters.

A favorite haunt for "Barra" is amongst mangroves and around submerged logs and other overhangs where it waits to ambush it’s pray. It prefers larger waters with a slow continuous flow and water temperatures above 20 C.

They will hit the fly hard and run for the snags and the fly fisherman is usually the loser if the fish gets there.

Barramundi are nocturnal feeders, but like most fish they are usually active at change of light or tide. They can also often be caught during the day when they are opportunistic feeders.

Hot Spots

River estuaries in the Northern Territory and the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Equipment

Barramundi can be caught on fly, lure and by trolling. Fly fishing gear should include the following;

• 8/9 weight saltwater rod
• Appropriate reel with at least 200m of 15-20kg backing. Braid is best.
• Flyline- intermediate and/or floating weight forward.
• Class leader 1-1.5m of 6-10kg
• Shock tippet of .5 m of 20kg mono

Popular Flies

• Lefty’s Deceivers (white, green, yellow)
• Clouser minnow – white/red and black/gold
• Pink Things
• Poppers – frog imitations
• Polar Fiber Minnow
• Gold Bomber
• Crazy Charlie

If tying your own flies use saltwater hooks usually 1/0 to 4/0 size. Colours should include red/white, green/white, pink/white, and blue/white with generous flashing and some flies should be weighted.