Hi

So what's the good info about water temperatures and success with barra?

Ronj

the way I look at it is there is only 52 possible weekends to go fishing on during a year.
I wouldn't let water temp stop me from enjoying one of those 52 sessions.

IMO it doesn't change how many you catch, it does change where you fish and how big the fish are ... perhaps those two criteria aren't mutually exclusive either?

what are your thoughts Ronj?

Anything above 28 deg is my understanding. At the moment I would be chasing them on the flats at low tide.

Ben Jam

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Hi

Average water temp in winter here on the Tropic is much lower than up there.

Usually it's around 19 degrees in mornings and rises a degree or two during the day particularly in the shallower ends of the freshwater lagoons.

Our winter air temperatures range from an average 14 low to 26-27 high. Some winter mornings get to 5-7 degrees.

Measuring the water temp by sticking a thermometer in the shallow water at the edge, I've found that barra will still be on the chew as the temperature is dropping over a few days. They'll still bite down to about 19 degrees. Then they'll stop.

As the temperature comes back up they won't start biting again until it reaches 24 - 25 degrees. That may take 2 weeks in winter to warm a large body of water like a lagoon.

Logic suggests that the temp gets less as the measuring point is deeper. I don't have any way of measuring that. A boat sounder can probably get 600mm deeper. That may account for sounder temps in the salt water river being 2 degrees or so colder on average than the lagoons (a deeper measuring point). Water temp was 17 degrees in the estuary the other day and 19.1 degrees yesterday in a lagoon I went to (unsuccessfully).

We're close to the southern most point to find barra so operate more on the temperature margins in winter. Summer isn't a problem.

Was wondering what practical effect water temp has up there with higher av winter readings.

In the impoundments down here u look for shallower bays downwind for barra lurking in slightly warmer water. Ditto with the lagoons.

So, do your tactics change between winter and summer? How much difference do u have in water temps?

You're right about not letting it stop u going though.

regards
Ronj

I know they do go off more in higher temps but thye still have to eat no matter what the temp. they move to where they are more comfy

Thanks Nomad.

Are we sure that they do need to eat? Less energy used, less need for food perhaps?

Maybe the food goes to ground in lower temps?

What's the main factor/s in a barra getting comfy that I may be able to identify and how can I/we apply it?

Mate, I just don't know as in winter I deal with temps in the margins. Maybe a warmer clime for more of the year can give some clues.

Got anybody to ask?

regards
Ronj

water temp, moon cycle, tides. all just excusses for inexperined anglers.
you can go out on any tide any day of the week and brain the barra up here.
number 1 tip for catiching barra. (nothing beats time on the water. wont catch fa sitting at home.)
once you have done 50 + trips to the same river / same aera you will have it sussed.
just need to build your local knowlege

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I'm with you BM, but I'm one of those useless fakers with 9 thumbs who needs a hell of a lot of coaching

Good question Ron and it got my massive brain working (for the 2nd time this year) so I rang fisheries research unit up here.
turns out that they need water temp to be around 19 or they cant metabolise their food and it rots in their guts and they die.
so they look for warmer water and thats why they head for the flats this time of year.
the consistent barra fishing on the daly this year during the coldish snaps cant be explained and they are doing more research

it turns out that i have a similar sized brain to a barra but my guts is very different - the colder it gets the more i need to eat.

Thanks for that Nomad. Digesting the food! That explains the 19 degree lower limit I found.

I'll have a look at the food clue 'cause I can't do anything about the temperature. Mebbe they can digest different food easier at lower temps.

Presumably the flats are shallower and therefore warmer?

U fellas are spoiled rotten up there with temperatures ideal (even in winter) and structure everywhere.

I'd kill to have just a kilometre or two of the Roper and Daly Rivers on the Fitzroy.

Do u know what happened to the water temp during those cold snaps? Were the fish on the chew further down the river or upstream?

What I've found is that 2-3 days of cold snaps don't do much unless the water temp is pretty low before hand from consistently lower temps of 10 -12 minimums for a couple of weeks.

In June 2006 we had a couple of weeks of lower than normal min temps followed by 2 days of 12 degree maximums. Water temp dropped to 10-12 degrees in the impoundments.

Dead barra everywhere. Thousands of them. Biggest found dead was 1.36m in a little known dam called Callide near Bilioela. All the Qld impoundments suffered. There are a couple of Big Barra dams that aren't welll known. Monduran used to be one but not now.

Callide is one and Maraboon at Emerald is another. Some monsters in those two. A;lso some very big murray cod in Maraboon. A 1.4 metre one found there. Cold shouldn't worry them

None reported lost in the estuaries etc.

Like a game of twenty questions isn't it? Thanks for perservering.

Ronj

fair go. i can only anwswer one a day. youll have to wait til tomorrow