Barramundi
Barramundi – Lates calcarifer – are large warm water perch that can grow up to 180cm in length. They are one of Queensland’s most important commercial species and are a favourite for recreational fishers – especially anglers as Barramundi are hard to catch and put up a good fight.
Barramundi is an Australian Aboriginal word ‘large-scaled river fish.’ Originally, the name Barramundi referred to Saratoga and Gulf Saratoga. The name was appropriated for to make it easier to market the Lates calcarifer in the 1980s and has significantly raised the profile of this fish significantly.
L. calcarifer is broadly referred to as Asian sea-bass by the international scientific community, but is also known as giant perch, giant sea-perch, Australian sea-bass, just to name a few. Barramundi occurs naturally throughout the South East Asian region, including northern Australia. In Queensland, wild populations are predominantly found in the central and northern parts of the state.
Barramundi inhabit coastal sea areas, estuaries and freshwater rivers and lagoons from the Maroochy and Mary river systems northward to Cape York and the Gulf.
They are reported to grow to 180cm and weighing 60kg, but are commonly captured between 45cm and 80cm. Legal Minimum size is 58cm and no maximum size limit applies in Lake Monduran.
Barramundi spawn in estuarine waters between November and March and are protected by a closed season from 12pm 1st of November to 12pm 1st of February. This is to prevent disturbance of spawning. For the Gulf Of Carpentaria the closure can vary, so contact QB&FP for details. For a number of dams in Queensland no closure applies.
Barramundi have been stocked into a number of dams and barrages of coastal Queensland, providing an enhanced recreational fishery. Fish hatcheries are now producing a reliable supply of Barramundi fingerling’s.
Stocked fingerling’s grow quite rapidly and known to reach a legal size of approximately 2.5kg within 15 months in an impoundment (dam) environment.
Barramundi are aggressive carnivores, feeding mainly on prawn, shrimp and smaller fish such as boney bream and mullet. Such an aggressive fish provide excellent sport fishing to anglers and will readily take surface and swimming lures, flies and live bait. They are renowned for leaping out of the water and shaking their head in order to dislodge the lure or hook.
Barramundi is regarded as the premium table fish of Queensland as the flesh is firm, white and has excellent flavour.
Monduran Anglers and Stocking Association (MASA) release over 50,000 Barramundi fingerling’s annually into Lake Monduran.