The Barramundi is Australia's most iconic sports fish and can be caught in both fresh and salt water. The freshwater fish are a lot chunkier than the salties as they don’t have to fight current or tide. But both can be caught using the same methods and both fight hard.
They can be found in rivers creeks and mangrove estuaries in clear to dirty water. Most common in rivers and creeks with large catchments with a slow continuous flow and water temperatures above 20°C. They love to hold up near submerged logs, rock ledges and other structure in the water.
Barramundi 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.
Barramundi are not fussy when it comes to bait but as always, fresh is better. This can be baitfish like perch or poddy mullet; both are golden Barramundi baits. If you are unable to access fresh bait, all good tackle stores have frozen poddy mullet or mullet strips and these can get the job done.
Live baits are bets hooked through the shoulders or tail with a 3/0 to 6/0 circle hook connected to 20lb or higher mono leader. The frozen poddy mullet or mullet strips can be hooked using a 3/0 suicide out of the side and a half hitch around the tail, this method is great for lobbing into snags.
You'll need a strong rod to cast these big baits baits and to land the big ones (3-6kg 6ft rod at least).