Barramundi Lates calcarifer

Australia’s most sort after estuary fish.

Barramundi

The Barramundi can grow up to 1.8 m and 60 Kg

The Barramundi would have to be one of this country's most iconic sports fish and can be caught in both fresh and salt water.

The freshwater fish are generally a lot bigger in girth than the salties as they don’t have to fight current or tide. But both can be caught using the same methods.

Habitat

Inhabits a wide variety of habitats in rivers creeks and mangrove estuaries in clear to turbid water.  Most common in rivers and creeks with large catchments with a slow continuous flow and water temperatures above 20°C.  Shows a distinct preference for submerged logs, rock ledges and other structure in the water.

Barramundi are a catadromous species, that is it grows to maturity in the upper reaches of freshwater rivers and streams and adults move downstream, especially during flooding, to estuaries and coastal waters for spawning.

Distribution

L.calcarifer has a very extensive range in tropical and semi-tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific.   Its distribution extends from the Persian Gulf to southern China and southwards to the northern Australia.  Within Australia its range extends from the Mary and Maroochy River systems in south-east Queensland northwards around the entire northern coast to Shark Bay in Western Australia.

Reproduction

Barramundi are protoandrous hermaphrodites: they start life as males, reaching maturity at around 3 to 4 years of age and later change gender and become females, usually at around age 5.  Small fish are almost exclusively male with the percentage of females increasing with overall length.

The female produce large numbers of small, non-adhesive, pelagic eggs between 0.6 mm and 0.9 mm in diameter (one 22 Kg female was recorded as having 17 million eggs).  The eggs appear pinkish when water hardened.  The eggs hatch within 15-20 hours at which time the larvae are around 1.5 mm in length and the mouth and eyes are well developed, although the yolk sac is large.  At 2.5 mm the mouth is large and open, the yolk sac is greatly reduced and the pectoral fins are beginning to develop.  Above this size the larvae begin to exhibit the characteristic colouration of juveniles of this species – overall brown mottled markings with a white stripes running lengthwise along the head.  At 3.5 mm the yolk sac is all but gone, fin rays are beginning to appear and the teeth are well developed.  By the fifth day the yolk sac has been completely absorbed and by 8.5 mm the fins are fully developed.

Growth rate is variable, but generally rapid.  Typical overall lengths at the end of each year are as follows:

Diet

A carnivore, feeding mainly on smaller fish as well as crustaceans.  Juveniles take smaller fish fry, smaller crustaceans and aquatic insects.

Angling

An exciting and popular target for anglers in northern Australia, Barramundi responds well to lures either cast or trolled.  Large minnow pattern lures are popular and productive when fished around snags, mangrove roots rocky outcrops, submerged timber and other heavy cover.  Bright metallic gold or bronze a particularly popular lure colours for these feisty fellows.  Often known for its spectacular leaps from the water during the fight, the Barramundi justifiably commands respect from those who seek it out.

Barramundi are also popular on heavier weight fly gear, and they will take live bait, especially mullet, prawns and macrobrachium (a giant freshwater shrimp).  Whilst some excellent specimens have been taken on dead baits, it is not generally a recommended option.

These days many Barramundi sports fishermen practice catch and release.  This practice is encouraged by NFA, although there is no reason not to take the occasional fish for the table.

Share this with your mates. We hope you start catching a few Barramundi!

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Where to fish for Barramundi

80 Mile BeachAlligator Creek FishingBalla BallaBarron RiverBlack RiverBohle RiverBroomeCape KeraudrenCattle CreekCleavervilleColosseum / Wild Cattle CreekCorio BayCrocodile CreekDampier PeninsulaDarwin Land BasedDerbyEco Beach and Jacks CreekFitzroy River Western AustraliaFortescue RiverGladstoneHaughton RiverHinchinbrook ChannelHull RiverJohnstone RiverKauri CreekMaryboroughMoresby RiverMossman RiverMurray RiverMyroodah CrossingOnslowPalm CreekPardoo StationPoint SamsonPoonaPort DouglasPort HedlandPort SmithRoss RiverRussell and Mulgrave RiverSaltwater CreekSeven Mile CreekThomatis CreekTrinity InletTully RiverTurkey BeachVictoria CreekWeipa

Rivers and Creeks Barramundi are found in Australia

Accident Inlet, Albert River, Alligator Creek, Barron River, Black River, Bohle River, Brannigan Creek, Cattle Creek, Cawarral Creek, Colosseum Inlet, Coorooman Creek, Corio Bay, Cotterell River, Crawford Creek, Crocodile Creek, Crystal Creek, Daintree River, Dampier Creek, Dickson Inlet, Doughboy River, Endeavour River, Escape River, Fitzroy River QLD, Fitzroy River WA, Fortescue River, Gladstone, Gladstone Harbour, Haughton River, Hinchinbrook Channel, Hull River, Jackey Jackey Creek, Jackson River, Jardine River, Johnstone River, Kauri Creek, Kirke River, Mary River, Middle River, Moresby River, Mossman River, Mourilyan Inlet, Mowbray River, Muddy Creek, Mulgrave River, Murray River, Mutchero Inlet, Nickol River, Norman River, Normanby River, Oaky Creek, Packers Creek, Palm Creek, Pancake Creek, Poona, Poona Creek, Port Alma, Pumicestone Passage, Ross River, Russell River, Saltwater Creek, Seven Mile Creek, Stanage Bay, Thomatis Creek, Tin Can Inlet, Trinity Inlet, Tully River, Turkey Beach, Victoria Creek, Water Park Creek, Watson River, Weipa, Willie Creek

Regions to fish for Barramundi

PilbaraCentral QueenslandCape York PeninsulaDarwin RegionKimberleyNorth QueenslandFar North QueenslandGulf Of QueenslandWide Bay Burnett

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Species list

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waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1-1) OR 16=(SELECT 16 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 262=(SELECT 262 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 29=(SELECT 29 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 385=(SELECT 385 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 419=(SELECT 419 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 477=(SELECT 477 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 496=(SELECT 496 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 545=(SELECT 545 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 621=(SELECT 621 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 651=(SELECT 651 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 739=(SELECT 739 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1) OR 748=(SELECT 748 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1); waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1-1)) OR 153=(SELECT 153 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 353=(SELECT 353 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 494=(SELECT 494 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 504=(SELECT 504 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 510=(SELECT 510 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 54=(SELECT 54 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 640=(SELECT 640 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 842=(SELECT 842 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 893=(SELECT 893 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 912=(SELECT 912 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 923=(SELECT 923 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1-1)) OR 98=(SELECT 98 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1'"1'||DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE(CHR(98)||CHR(98)||CHR(98)1*DBMS_PIPE.RECEIVE_MESSAGE(CHR(99)||CHR(99)||CHR(99)1*if(now()=sysdate()10hPoHr7i')) OR 627=(SELECT 627 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--10SrjDpWw') OR 848=(SELECT 848 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--11EIMM1AS'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --13L2Oa8bX' OR 364=(SELECT 364 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--13wH4Uz5N') OR 647=(SELECT 647 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1462ch1KC'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --15)15)||'15XivjThi' OR 292=(SELECT 292 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--17dOdW8rE'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1BP1Ot1Ac' OR 264=(SELECT 264 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1CVt3G2y0' OR 821=(SELECT 821 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1dPH4atPt') OR 298=(SELECT 298 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1DtSBygM4')) OR 628=(SELECT 628 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1F3FNbvl1')) OR 188=(SELECT 188 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1GmDnC5DX') OR 179=(SELECT 179 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1GtgEB0iw'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1hhbSPD3z' OR 451=(SELECT 451 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1HhPAfHHs' OR 876=(SELECT 876 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1iewlOhUI') OR 880=(SELECT 880 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1IWiRCk2W' OR 221=(SELECT 221 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1iYYnpJ5Y'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1jaMI6N8F'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1JMq46ZA0'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1jw10DYEP')) OR 860=(SELECT 860 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1KSnbxoIQ'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1mDSp57nc')) OR 424=(SELECT 424 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1MTHhKfGH' OR 82=(SELECT 82 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1mXxrAF1L'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1nfrtuMBj'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1PjWyOg4F')) OR 392=(SELECT 392 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1Px9eqD8Z'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1q8xeR0Vs') OR 179=(SELECT 179 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1RD67FPbX')) OR 678=(SELECT 678 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1RvaqdXsy') OR 522=(SELECT 522 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1Sg8y1UA0' OR 179=(SELECT 179 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1SkfFBkXe')) OR 556=(SELECT 556 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1snusbone')) OR 736=(SELECT 736 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1t1sU3hPe')) OR 205=(SELECT 205 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1tgxsRjkl'; waitfor delay '0:0:15' --1tL2msRzu') OR 667=(SELECT 667 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1TlMc0itf' OR 937=(SELECT 937 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1u7fD28AK') OR 965=(SELECT 965 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1wRXvuSTn' OR 307=(SELECT 307 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1wucW3Dru') OR 878=(SELECT 878 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1Xiv1dCvO' OR 59=(SELECT 59 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1y5hfY3ka') OR 75=(SELECT 75 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1y76GZjcA') OR 90=(SELECT 90 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1yb7g9TqZ')) OR 183=(SELECT 183 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--1zSu5t9wQ')) OR 296=(SELECT 296 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))--Australian BassAustralian SalmonBarracudaBarramundiBig Eye TunaBlack MarlinBlue BastardBlue GroperBlue Swimmer CrabBonefishBonitoAustralian BonitoLeaping BonitoBreamBlack BreamSea breamYellowfin BreamCarpCatfishCherabinChinaman FishCobiaCodBarramundi CodBlack Spotted RockcodFlowery CodGold spotted rockcodRankin CodCoral TroutDartDhufishDolphin FishDrummerEmperorsBlue Spotted EmperorGrass EmperorLong Nosed EmperorRed EmperorRed throat emperorSpangled EmperorEstuary PerchFlatheadBar-Tail FlatheadBlue-Spot FlatheadDusky FlatheadFlounderGiant HerringGolden Snapper / FingermarkGrunterHarlequinJavelJavelin FishJewfish - BlackJewfish / MullowayJobfishJungle PerchLeatherjacketLong-TomsLongfin TunaLuderickMackerelBroadbar MackerelSchool MackerelShark MackerelSlimy MackerelSpanish MackerelSpotted MackerelMangrove JackMarlin / SailfishBlue MarlinMary River CodMilk FishMoses PerchMud CrabsMurray River CodNannygaiNo FishingPaddletailPearl PerchPrawnsQueenfishQueensland GroperRed BassRedfin PerchSailfishSalmonBlue SalmonThreadfin SalmonSamson fishSaratogaSharkSilver Perchsleep(15)SnapperPink SnapperQueen SnapperRed SnapperSooty GrunterSpanish FlagSquidSquireTailorTarponTarwhineTrevallyDiamond TrevallyGiant TrevallyGolden TrevallyPermitSilver TrevallyTriggerfishTripletailTroutBrown TroutRainbow TroutTunaLongtail TunaSouthern Bluefin TunaYellowfin TunaWahooWhitingKing George WhitingSand WhitingTrumpeter WhitingYellowfin WhitingWrasseBaldchin GroperTuskfish - blackspotTuskfish - BlueTuskfish - VenusYabbiesYellow BellyYellowtail Kingfish

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