Broadwater barra : Barramundi & Estuary Fishing Trip Reports

Dick · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:26 am Post subject: Broadwater barra

Got a query regarding barra in harbours, rivermouths etc. Some times of the year they congregate in specific locations for various reasons in the open water.

What I'm interested in is what people think they might do once they've dispersed. Do they stay in the harbours, if so do they maintain a schooling pattern or go off on their own, coming back as a group next time.

Thinking more about large barra here, over the metre, not the little tackers.

No so much interested in specific locations, more what people think the pattern is if there is one?

Bracey · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:53 am Post subject:

G'day Dick.

I'm probably not the best bloke to answer that question, but for what it's worth I believe that the bigger girls after spawning disapate in all directions along our eastern coastline. My reasoning behind this is that the lowest populating Barramundi recorded is in the Mary River at Maryborough. Now as you know I reside about 150km south on the Sunshine Coast and during the warmer months from December onwards each year there has been reports of Barramundi caught as far south from the Mary River during these months. Maybe 5 or so each season in all different locations and times along the Sunshine Coast. All of the Barra caught have been of a substantial size.

Just my thoughts from what I have observed over time!

Cheers Dave

zulks · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:41 am Post subject:

hey dick.. think its got to do with bait cycles too. What i mean is bait breeding/spawning/feeding. Certain times bait seems spread out over a wider area so fish seem to be spread out, otherwise bait seems to condense in greater numbers and so do the fish feeding on them. Just my therory. Cheers

Dick · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:48 pm Post subject:

No evidence but I feel they end up widely dispersed rather than maintaining some sort of schooling pattern, just interested in other's views

fff1964 · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:37 pm Post subject: I think they school up

I think if there is an area big enough the majority school may not be a social behavior but nessesity depending om the area. Cover, food, water temp, ?????? Where do we head when we are thirsty to the pub and where do we go when where hungry Macca's and head for the dog house when we get home. Not saying all of em do it.

Anyway just my opinion.

Good topic Dick

Dick · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:39 pm Post subject:

You get a large fish congregating for spawning and following that, major feeding opportunities as rivers flood. Then they bugger off as a group it would seem, like someone threw a switch. I've heard of divers spotting the odd loner fish mixed in with other large beasties like cod etc. Or is there a dry season barra eldorado (no locations please :wink:

) where they hole up together, like outer reefs or deep gutters etc?

Matt Flynn · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:53 am Post subject:

Great question :mrgreen:

I was told of a group of large fish in Darwin Harbour swimming in a heavily fished area where you rarely hear of big ones caught. If the FFFer in question who saw them wants to comment he can.

I read an account of people watching a single female barra spawning with males in attendance at a Queensland creek mouth, so maybe spawning is not always in groups of big female fish.

Maybe netters are the ones to ask: When do groups of big fish hit the nets through the year, and when are they singles?

The comment about bait and circumstances probably holds true - big barra cruising together sometimes, singling out at other times.

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