Species › Australia & New Zealand › Barramundi

Saltwater

Barramundi

Lates calcarifer · Barra, Asian sea bass, Giant perch

Water temp
79–90°F
Peak season
Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
Best light
Low light
IGFA record
98 lb 6 oz (44.64 kg)
Barramundi (Lates calcarifer 01.JPG)

Photo: Bjoertvedt · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Barramundi are deep-bodied, silver fish with a concave forehead, a huge mouth, a pointed head and red-glowing eyes at night; freshwater fish turn bronze. They range from the Persian Gulf through Southeast Asia to northern Australia, from the Kimberley across the Top End to central Queensland. Barra are catadromous, growing in freshwater rivers and billabongs and moving to estuaries to spawn around the wet season; stocked impoundments hold landlocked giants. They ambush mullet, prawns and small fish around snags, drains and rock bars, feeding hardest in low light and on moving tides. The combination of size, strikes and jumps makes barra the fish northern Australians plan their year around.

Typical size5–15 lb (2–7 kg); 20–32 in
Trophy1 m+ (39 in+), roughly 25 lb+; 50 lb+ in impoundments
Table fareExcellent — firm white flesh; saltwater fish taste best

Where & when

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The run-off after the wet (March–May) is the classic peak as fish feed at drains and creek mouths, with a second peak in the build-up (October–December); cool dry-season water (June–July) slows the bite.

Daly River, AustraliaNorthern Territory run-off barra legendLake Tinaroo, AustraliaStocked Queensland dam with metre-plus fishLake Monduran, AustraliaHome of the IGFA record; big impoundment barra

How to catch

Casting hardbodies to snagsCast shallow-diving minnows and suspending jerkbaits tight to fallen timber, rock bars and drain mouths, then twitch and pause them. Barra sit in ambush and hit on the pause, so let the lure hang in the strike zone.
Soft plastics and vibes in impoundmentsFind fish on the sounder along weed edges and timber, then cast 4–6 in paddletails or soft vibes and work them with slow rolls and hops. Night sessions around the full moon in warm months produce the biggest dam fish.

Gear

Rod6'6"–7' medium-heavy casting or spinning
Reel200–300 baitcaster or 4000 spinning
Line30–50 lb braid; 40–60 lb fluorocarbon or mono leader

Lures

Shallow-diving hardbody minnowSoft-plastic paddletailSoft vibe

Baits

Live mulletLive prawnLive cherabin (freshwater prawn)

Regulations

Barramundi are managed by slot size limits, low bag limits and closed seasons during the wet-season spawn in Queensland and the Northern Territory, with separate rules for stocked impoundments; a stocked impoundment permit is needed in Queensland. Rules differ between states.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: 98 lb 6 oz (44.64 kg) — Lake Monduran, Queensland, Australia, 2010 (Denis Harrold). State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

When is the best time of year to catch barramundi?

The run-off from March to May, when wet-season floodwater drains off the plains and barra stack up at creek mouths and drains to feed, is the best. The build-up in October–December, when humidity and water temperature climb before the rains, is a close second. Avoid the coolest dry-season weeks, when water below 72°F (22°C) shuts them down.

Bite forecast — Barramundi

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Barramundi.

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