Barramundi is a popular freshwater fish found in northern Australia. Anglers love to fish for barramundi for sport because they put up a good fight in the water. Catching a barramundi fish is one of the best experiences an Australian fisherman could have.
Aside from the sporty aspect of barramundi fishing, they are also great to eat. Many Australian seafood restaurants always have barramundi on the menu because locals love it. But why ask for it on the menu when you can fish the fish yourself?
Conversion from male to female
Barramundi have long and narrow elongated bodies with huge obliquely shaped mouths. You will have no trouble recognizing barramundi fish because they have silver scales all over their bodies.
The longest barramundi has grown to 1.8 meters long (equivalent to 5.9 feet). Although, it would be rare to catch a barramundi of this size. The average angler will catch a barramundi between 0.6 and 1.2 meters long (2 to 4 feet). It’s still a sizable catch any way you look at it.
All newly hatched barramundi are male. No female barramundi is born to a mother fish. They are just male fish when they hatch. What happens is that male barramundi turn into female around 3 or 4 years.
Older female barramundi have no choice but to mate with younger male barramundi. If you were ever to witness the breeding process of the two, you would see a smaller barramundi with a larger barramundi.
Maximum weight
The maximum weight of a barramundi can reach up to 60 kilograms (130 pounds). Although, only an older barramundi could reach a weight of this amount. The huge female barramundi can create up to 32 million eggs. So if you catch a heavy barramundi, it will probably carry several eggs.
Most fishermen do not catch barramundi that weigh more than 45 kilograms (100 pounds). The average catch of barramundi weighs between 22 and 40 kilograms (50 to 90 pounds). If you fish barramundi to harvest your meat, you will have a lot of meat to cut and serve yourself, your friends and family.
Don’t let the barramundi weight fool you. These fish are fast swimmers and rarely stay in one place for long. Local wildlife officials have tagged certain barramundi fish at one location and then found the same fish more than 400 miles away. Their weight is sure not keeping them stagnant!
Fresh and salt water habitats
The barramundi likes to inhabit freshwater habitats, such as rivers and lakes. However, the barramundi can also survive in the salt water of the coastal areas of northern Australia. They use salt water for breeding purposes only.
Most barramundi are born in salt water because of all the reproduction that takes place in it. But they don’t stay in salt water for long. Barramundi swims from salt water to fresh water through estuaries, where the two bodies of water merge. Estuaries connect the salty water with the various lakes and rivers that exist inland.
The lakes are the best places to fish for barramundi. This is where you will find the longest and heaviest barramundi in Australia.
Rentals
Barramundi can be found in the Australian states of Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. If you are looking for barramundi in Western Australia, you will have to travel north to the Kimberley region. The north coast of the Kimberley region is adjacent to the Indian Ocean and the Timor Sea.
The locals of the Kimberley region are quite familiar with the barramundi. It has become an iconic fish in this region of Australia. Recreational anglers compete to see who can catch the biggest and biggest barramundi each season. There are even prizes awarded to the winners.
Commercial fishing for barramundi also occurs in the Kimberley region. Professional fishermen take their boats into tropical rivers and coastal salt waters to catch these fish and freeze them for food.
Barramundi is not only found in Australia. They have been seen in the coastal waters of southern Japan, Papua New Guinea, southern China, and the Persian Gulf. But if you want the most abundant source of barramundi, look for it in the Kimberley region and throughout northern Australia.
Wet season
Barramundi goes through several different phases within its life cycle. The reproductive phase begins in October and lasts until April. This period of time is called the rainy season.
Adult female barramundi travel across rivers and coastal estuaries to mate with their male counterparts. Most of this reproduction occurs in coastal salty waters when tidal waves are most intense.
An old trick is to wait for the full moon to pass. That is the moment when you will know that the barramundi has mated successfully. The female barramundi will begin to produce eggs at an accelerated rate, between 10 and 30 million eggs.
Unfortunately, more than 90% of the larvae and young barramundi will die after a couple of weeks or months. This is because most larvae do not have a chance to fully develop before the eggs hatch. They cannot even open their mouths or eyes.
There is no low season for barramundi fishing. The rainy season makes it better for fishing because the environmental conditions are dark and rainy.
Contrary to popular belief, the barramundi fish tend to be more active in the dark than in bright sunlight. The rain scares the fish and causes more activity in the water. Then it will be easier for you to catch the fish.
Australians like to start barramundi fishing in August and continue until April of the following year.