Barramundi

The Top End has some incredible fishing, but whenever people go out to fish the barramundi is always on their mind. Barra are fast, yummy and when they get up to the 1m it is an amazing feeling.

With its big silver scales, golden tail and big bucket mouth, the barramundi is one of the best known fish in the NT. Barra have no teeth but they have very sharp gill plates. Its elongated body and big dorsal and pectoral fins help it with its speed and makes it look bigger. Although barra start life as males, they become females at around 70-75cm. While they are under 15-20cm they are called fingerlings, they also grow up to 150cm in size.

Here in the Top End some fishermen find it hard to catch a barra so here are some tips and tricks for how to catch them. One of the most important tip to have, if you're not flicking always use live mullet and nothing dead. When the water is dirty use a brighter lure and when its clear use a much darker lure that way you the barra can see the lure better.

In my days of fishing I have learned that barra hate loud noises, if you don't have a Minn Kota always tie to a tree or drift, never start the motor. I have learnt when I use an egg beater I seem to cast much too far or too short. In my experience I like to use bait casters that way you cast more accurately, Diawa will last longer.

The best locations for barra in the NT is Shady Camp, Tiwi Islands, Arnhem Land and the South Alligator River. The barra like big runoff so when it is big run off barra like to sit in the fresh water. They also like when the tides change because it makes a big eddie where barra like waiting for their pray. Occasionally in the Top End creeks close to the bank you'll find deep holes (around 3-6m deep), most likely barra will be lurking in these holes.

If you're coming up to the nt to catch a barramundi, you're in the right place. I hope these tips and tricks help you.