by Arthur Dobe
"Hi Arthur Carol Knight here." my days of Real Estate sales flashed before me, "I’m now working at the Independent News and have to get this fishing page started- will you do something on barramundi for me?" Unable to refuse and knowing Carol won’t leave you in peace unless you sign, eer I mean write this article, like every good Australian male knows you comply. Here goes these are the methods Joy and I have found to work best when targeting barramundi in the our estuaries north and south of Townsville.
First the bait, live bait increases the chance of catching barra by 70% Live mullet is the preferred warm weather bait. Live Prawn is best when fishing snags. Sardine or mud herring any where any time.
Areas to fish in Open Water
When we are sportfishing it is commonsense to fish open water so as to enable us to use light a line as possible, and hey, this is to our advantage and puts the odds on our side. You see, the majority of our barramundi are caught on 2 kilo class and no heavier breaking strain than 4 kilo when fishing club competition. Four to six kilo line is used for either fishing snags or large baits which attract the larger fish. With line class in mind a deep hole should be sought usually found on a bend of the estuary or where a feeder creek joins the main system and preferable holding an old submerged snag or two or three. Depth of the hole or depression is not important as long as the area has some significance and some difference to the general surroundings.
The important thing is do not sit out of the hole and fish to the deepest section, anchor in the hole and fish towards the taper side of the bottom (usually the run out side of the hole) or towards the taper side of the bank , on a corner this is toward the inside .
Snags are usually fished when tides are neap or when fish aren’t on the move (cool winter days). I have found the best snags to be fished are where they occur on deep bends of the estuary. Remember these are not always observed , so a sounder would be an advantage. Look for herring flicking the surface this can be a good sign of a fish holding snag below.
Some of the best fishing for barra is to be had where snags are on the deep side opposite massive sand bars, these sand bars are usually found in the upper reaches of the estuary and are best fished at night an hour or two before the top of tide. Fish beside the snag NOT TO IT , between the snag and the sand bar.The Rigs
Live Fish : The tackle used is a standard sportfishing rig of a short doubler no more than one quarter of the rod and half length using a spider hitch attached to a 45lb to 50lb breaking strain Proline or Jenki by means of a albright knot as leader. Attach a 3/0-4/0 wide gape or kale or river hook as some times known. Off set the hook at least 30 degrees to the vertical of the shank when viewed from the end. Sharpen, and test on finger nail, if the point holds on the nail it is sharp enough. Hook size dependent on the size of bait used. Pass the hook from one side of the mullet just under and to the rear the dorsal fin towards the head and exiting on the opposite side forward of the dorsal fin.
THE MINIUM OF LEAD SHOULD BE USED AND SHOULD BE DECREASED OR INCREASED WITH THE RUN OF THE TIDE . Twisty lead or removable split leads for convenience of adjusting to the tidal conditions are recommended. I personally do not use a running sinker. The sinker should be at least 800mm to 1000mm. from the hook.
SET THE REEL IN GEAR FOR SMALL LIVE MULLET and in FREE SPOOL with large mullet using a rubber band to hold the line with the bail open in the case of a spinning reel or egg beater type and in cooler weather when the fish are more finicky and lazy. DO NOT BE IMPATIENT, DO NOT STRIKE TO EARLY.
Small HERRING are best used with one hooked under the dorsal fin and a second bait one through the eye this may be dead or alive this I call the butterfly method after the appearance the bait has in the water . This method has proved irresistible to fish and has resulted in the catch of 4 barra in a one hour secession in the Ross River just before dusk on the first of a run in tide.
Live Prawn: Use a dropper or pad noster rig with the leader attached to the double and the dropper approx 600mm. with a ball sinker attached to the bottom and the side leader approx 250mm. long from the double with a 3/0 karle wide gape hook attached . The live prawn should be attached through the last link in the tail of the prawn.
When Should I Fish ?
(a) 2.5 hours before the bottom of tide and 1 hour of the first of the run in.
(b) 2 hours before the top of tide and 40 minutes of the run out.
Time of month, anytime but best 2 to 3 days after the full moon. Or when the run is 1 to 1.5 meters difference in the tide.
What time of day and time of tide ?
I prefer a tide bottoming out in the afternoon ie noon to dusk with the run in just before dark.
The sunny and hotter the day the better. Fishing is always best when conditions are calm,(confuses say when sandflies are on the chew so are the barra)
Remember if you are going to release your barra after the mandatory photo please hold the fish as if you are holding a new born baby like in the photo of Joy. Do not hold up by the head, mouth, or gills. net your fish do not gaff.
I hope these tips work for you as they have worked for us, happy barra hunting.
Arthur Dobe.