Barramundi are one of the most popular sport fishing targets in Australia. If you're looking to find out how to lure them, this is what you ought to know! The best type of lures for catching these majestic aquatic creatures are hard-body lures, 10-14cm in length. The Koala Outdoor tackle store preference are the Bridgeman Live-Action Lures. Fishing with live bait is also another way that can bring success, but it's not as effective as using a quality hard-body lure.Barramundi are attracted to bright colours - white, yellow, orange and red. So make sure your lure matches the water environment.What is a Barramundi?What does a Barramundi taste like?Why are Barramundi such popular in fishing in Australia?What're the best lures to target big Barra?How do you get Barramundi with Lures?Where is the best Barra fishing in Australia?Can you get Barramundi with Soft-Plastics?What live tackle should you use to target Barramundi?What are Barramundi?Barramundi are a type of fish that can be found in many parts of the world. They're popular for their flavor and their fight, and they make a great sport fish. The Barramundi is a catadromous fish, that means that spend the majority of their lives in freshwater but will migrate to the sea to begin breeding. These fish typically grow to an average between 60 cm and 1.2 m. They can be found in both saltwater and freshwater, and they prefer to live in areas with a lot of cover-such as streams, lakes, billabongs and estuaries.What does Barramundi taste like?Barramundi is a popular freshwater and saltwater fish found in many parts of the oceania corner. It has a mild fish flavour, a delicate texture and is a white meat fish. Ocean-farmed Barramundi will typically have a clean and buttery flavour which has a fulfilling and great tasting meaty texture. Barramundi skin will sear very nicely when cooked properly.Why are Barramundi so popular for fishing in AustraliaBarra fishing in Australia is incredibly popular especially in Northern Australia because they are one of the largest and most popular freshwater and saltwater sport fish in the country.You can even find this type of fish in Western Australia if you keep north from Exmouth and upwards.These fish can reach up to a whopping 1.2 meters in length and weigh up to 60 kilograms. They are attracted to a wide variety of lures, making them a popular target for anglers. Barramundi are also a good eating fish, so many anglers pursue them for the thrill of the game and the delicious reward at the end!What are the best lures for Barramundi?When it comes to catching barramundi, there are a few things you need to know. Firstly, barramundi are attracted to bright colours, so make sure your lure is brightly coloured. Secondly, they prefer plastic fishing lures over live bait or a surface lure. Thirdly, they like to hang out in deep water, so make sure you're fishing in a spot where the water is at least 3 metres deep. Finally, use a lure that's the right size and shape for the environment you're fishing in-if you're in a murky river, use a smaller, more compact lure; if you're fishing in open water, use a bigger lure. Now that you know the basics, let's see how to actually use these fishing lures to get this majestic aquatic creature.First off, decide on the size of lure you'd like to use-it can be anything from 8 cm right up to 14 cm. Next, attach a line to your fishing rod and feed it through the lure. Finally, choose your target spot and cast away! When throwing your lure out into deep water, make sure you slowly bring your live-action lure back to the surface. Not only do barra typically avoid fast moving tackle but the realistic movement of the Lure will get bites even in the toughest conditions. Which is a large part on why these are great lures for barramundi.Fishing Lures that also work well include soft plastic lures. Some of the most effective colours are yellow, orange, red and green. While using live fishing bait is another way to catch these majestic aquatic creatures , it's not as effective as using plastics.How do you catch Barramundi with Lures?Barramundi are popular sport fish in Northern Australia and can be caught using a variety of methods; the most popular of which is bait fishing. When catching Barramundi, it is important to use a light line and tackle as these will test your gear to the limit. You should terminate your line with a proper length of heavy mono or even steel trace. This will give you the best possible chance of the line not breaking. However I have heard that steel traces may not be the best option as it is rumoured that Barramundi can sense these and will lead to fewer hook-ups. For Fishing lures, I like to use the Koala Outdoor Live-Action Lures as they are very effective at tempting these fish.Be sure to use a stretchy not when attaching your lure to the hook. This will allow for maximum abrasion resistance and will increase your chances of catching this fish.The best type of Barramundi Lure which is also soft plastic lures are 'shad' shaped fishing lures as they closely mimic the natural prey barramundi feed on in most waterways in Australia. Make sure not to bring in your Lure quickly as Barramundi are known to be lazy who prefer to prey on easy catches for food and sustenance.Where is the best Barramundi fishing in Australia?There are many great fishing destinations around Australia, but some waterways and coastal waters are more consistent than others when it comes to producing trophy-sized fish. Here's a rundown on some of the best barramundi fisheries in the country:1. The Daly River system in the Northern Territory is one of the most popular fishing destinations in Australia for barra. The Daly River itself is a massive system that contains dozens of smaller rivers and creeks, all of which have great fishing.2. The Pumicestone Passage at Golden Back in Queensland is another fishing hotspot. The Pumicestone Passage is just south of Caloundra. There are an incredible amount of passages to choose from here. With multiple freshwater inlets there is no need for a boat to get some awesome fish. All contain very healthy populations of both barramundi and other species like redclaw or crayfish. Big catches are not uncommon on this system.3. The Burnett River in Bundaberg, far North Queensland is an excellent spot for catching barramundi, especially around upstream tidal reaches where there's plenty of structure like snags, logs and mangroves to provide cover. Barra can also be caught around downstream tidal areas, but it's best to use lighter gear and smaller lures in these areas due to the strong currents.4. The Finniss River in South Australia is a big river system with a long-running estuary that produces some quality fishing for boaters who prefer to use a spinning reel from their boat on calm weekdays or weekends. When using live fishing bait, always remember that you need the size and bag limits to catch any of the various bream species found in this river system.5. The Endeavor River in the northern reaches of Australia is another popular barra destination that's currently producing trophy catches. This river contains a number of great fishing spots that contain good numbers of barra.6. The Mary River in Queensland is another great spot for catching the iconic fish - barra. Located about 70km south-west of Brisbane, the lower reaches contain plenty of cover and structure to provide feeding opportunities at both the top and bottom ends of tidal movements. While live fishing baits or lures can be used to target these fish, it's best to use a combination of both-a live fishing bait will result in more hookups because these are very heavy feeders, but using a plastic lure will tend to induce more strikes as well as increase your barra catch rate . Make sure you don't cast directly into mangrove or weed bed areas, as the risk of snagging your line increases.7. The Fitzroy River in Queensland is another excellent option for chasing barra on a boat. While there are some good spots upriver, most anglers tend to choose downstream options because these areas have more gentle currents compared to upstream reaches. Some great lures that work well on this system include topwater hardbodies and shallow-diving minnow plastics .8. The Burnett River in Bundaberg, Queensland is another popular surface fishing destination for locals and visitors alike along the east coast of Queensland. Fishing from a boat can be quite productive with live fishing baits being used at low tide around structures such as river mouths, mangroves and creek banks. However it's the snags that are best targeted using hardbody lures tied with a dropper loop to increase your chances of hooking into one of these fish .Can you catch Barramundi with Soft-Plastics?Barramundi can be caught with a variety of lures, including soft plastic. Soft plastic lures are a great option for targeting, because they can be rigged to look like a number of different prey items that these fish are likely to eat. They're also very effective at triggering strikes, especially when fished in areas where barramundi are known to hang out.When rigging a soft plastic for catching barramundi, it's important to use a jighead that will get the lure down deep enough so that it is in the strike zone. A good weight range for jigheads used when targeting barra is 7 to 14 grams. The most popular type of jigheads for this species are those with a trailer keeper, which helps to ensure the soft plastic doesn't slide down the barb of the jighead. Jigheads can also be slanted or offset-rigged so that the hook is pointing upwards away from the body of the soft plastic lure. This style of rigging reduces snags and increases your catch rate by allowing you to swim your best lures through snaggy areas without getting hung up as often.What live-bait should you use to catch Barramundi?When surface fishing for barramundi with live fishing or surface lures, there are a few different options that you can use. The most common live tackle that is used to catch these fish is prawns, but other options like mullet, herring or cod can also be successful. If you're using prawns as bait, make sure you use fresh ones that are still alive-this will increase your chances of getting a bite.ConclusionBarramundi are a popular sport fish in Australia that can be caught with a variety of different lures. The most effective type of lure to use when targeting barramundi is a plastic or glass lure, as they are attracted to bright colours. Fishing with live fishing tackle is also another way that can bring success, but it's not as effective as using plastics or glass. Barramundi are known to feed on a variety of prey items, so rigging a soft plastic for catching barramundi can be quite successful. When fishing for barramundi with live fishing bait, the most common option is prawns.
