Small Skeeter big fish . Part 2 Answers.

Ok Guys.
Thanks for the interest ,here are a few answers.
Barramundi grow a heck of lot bigger than our Bass and yes they eat Bass and anything that will fit in their mouth. They can eat a fish half there own size, but will also eat land Animals that venture into the water Lizards, Birds, Rodents , Frogs you name it.
They feed by vacuum. The fish flares its gills and opens its massive mouth. Prey can be feet in front of it and is sucked so fast you can hardly see it happen.
This action makes a loud Boof booming sound especially when taking prey off the surface or subsurface. We call this Boofing. You can hear it from long distances.
Surface fishing is awesome, the strike is explosive and the fish leave the water in kartwheels, even big fish, up to 60lb do this. Surface fishing at night is truly awesome ,you need to wear brown underwear.....
They grow we believe to about 140 cm , all fish below 60 cm are males and over are females.
They have awesome power ,and yes will swing you boat.
In a tournament all fish are measured on special mats (brag mats) and are photographed and released ( as no live wells hold these fish ). You are scored on the total length in cms for your 5 biggest fish.
For any one interested, the best time of the year to come to Australia to fish for them is September to Jan. American Bass anglers have come over to OZ and fished the Barra comps and won. Phil Strader did it and had a ball.
I got my P.B. Barramundi on Friday, it went 114 cm maybe 40 plus pounds ( we don,t weigh them ).It beats my wifes 15 month family record by 2 cm. She is not impressed and says game on.!!!!! Shame she needs me to drive the boat.
Enjoy the pic.
Thanks.
Stu.


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Boofing. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif That is awesome. Reminds me of snook here in Florida. Do you catch them on artificials, live bait, or both?

http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/eek.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/eek.gif Ok, it's time for a bigger boat. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif

Barra are caught on lures ,by casting , same rules as Bass comps.
Live baits get taken quikly by Catfish , yep some of them grow big down here to.
All of my fish lately have taken 4.5 inch Hollow Belly soft swim baits , the tackle and lures used is pretty much what you guys use for large mouth.
I think your Snook is a distant relative as is Africas Nile Perch.
Thanks.
Stu.

Is that a video camera on your head? I want to see some video of that topwater action you are talking about!

Holy crap, Stu. There is no way I could do that. I would never enjoy smallmouth fishing again. And right now I'm addicted to it. That thing would eat my P.B. smalley of 5#. I also would have to buy all new gear. That fish would break every G.Loomis rod I own. Enjoy them for me. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif

Hi Kevin.
The Small Mouth have got me interested since I watched a Hobbie Kyak DVD , the guys were fish for them in small river the same way we fish for wild Bass here.
The Bass in our Lakes are stocked, as our Bass spawn in saltwater and the move up into fresh water
Looked great , dont worry I love fishing for anything , a 6lb Bass here is a big fish.

Thanks .
Stu. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif

That thing is huge http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif

Hi Mike.
Yes it is a video cam on my head , it is a Go Pro Hero cam.
Have not had it long ( few days ) just started useing it.
Not real impressed by it. Clarity is not great , or not as good as adertising demo videos ??????
Will try to post some footage at a later stage.
Thanks.
Stu.


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Thanks for sharing, cool pic!! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif

just wondering what kind of line you use? I'm thinking 60 lb braid at least! great pic!! it must take some time to land a fish that big


I'd assume there is no toddler swimming in that lake!

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Hi Jeff.
I and most other anglers use 30lb braid on spin reels and 50lb on baitcasters , this is mainly for insurance against rubb offs on tree trunks as the lake is full of standing dead trees and a fish will go around several during a fight , its not on purpose , but trees just get in the way.
A 60 to 80lb mono leader is used , about one and half rod lengths , this for rubb offs and Barramundi have razor sharp gill cover edges that cut through the mono like a knife , so if you are unlucky during a fight , the fish flares it gills and instantly cuts the mono .
Of coures wire leaders are the answer here , but are seldom used ,due reduced lure action and visability.
Also 50lb helps putting the brakes on them in heavy cover , but this bends out hooks ,opens split rings and breaks lures.
Rods are rated from 12 to 20lb ,normaly what you guys call a crank bait action.
Fight times range from 2 seconds to ( L.O.L ) to 45 minutes , 20 to 30 mins average , a lot of time is taken up steering around trees with the electric, the first few mins are explosive and savage.
In open water you could go down to 10lb braid.
Thanks.
Stu.

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Awesome fish and it does look very similar to a Nile Perch.

Nile Perch and Barramundi are related , very close , the Nile Perch grows bigger and has smaller scales , have been told by people who have fished for both that Barra fight harder.
Your Snook is also a distant relative , so Im told.

STu, just wanted to let you know that the link in your posts does not work. I think it's missing the domain. I've tried to figure it out, but no luck yet. I tried .com, .net, and .au but no good.

oy mate!

Thanks.
My Web site is playing up , needs to be re done , will get onto it.
Thank You.
Stu.

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