▲TopFishing the Barrages

In the last article we had a look at fishing for Barramundi in gutters. This time we will concentrate on fishing the barrages.

Land holders of the Mary River floodplains built earth walls, (barrages), across creeks in the 80’s to hold the fresh water in and reduce the intrusion of saltwater over the floodplains. Massive Melaleuca forests have died from salt water intrusion. These man made walls have created huge debate between fishermen, environmentalist and farmers over the years. Some unforeseen mistakes were made on where and how they were built, but like many new initiatives trial and error is sometimes the only test. For me the building of the walls has created a whole new place to fish. I’ve experienced what was like to fish there before they were made, to the present day. And each year is like Christmas, I can’t wait to see what new things have been done.

Barramundi fishing has improved with each passing year, even with the increase of fishermen on the water. The bottom line in the debate is the building of the walls has reduced erosion of the floodplains and saltwater intrusion. I have no doubt that some billabongs could become tidal without them.

There are lots of barrages in the Shady Camp and Tommy Cut area but we need to find the barrage that has Barramundi. I spend a lot of time looking for two things, one is a burst barrage, and the other is lots of tannin fresh water flowing out. Some of the barrages have small weirs made of rock and mesh so the fresh water can flow over, these fish well. As the tide comes in it slows the fresh water from running out, this allows Barramundi to move up and feed. As you look into the water you will see lots of rainbow fish and mullet. When the tide turns to run out the small fish wash down through the barrage and the Barramundi are there ready to feed. The water rushing out creates an eddy on each side of the barrage, this is your best chance for a Barramundi, also look for Egrets they are the smartest fishermen you will see all day. Always cast lures where you see Egrets.

Now for an interesting twist, some barrages fish best on the last of the run-in tide, others fish best on the low run-out tide. This takes some more of that trial and error stuff again. As a rule the fish move up with the tide then out with the tide. When the fishing slows move down river with the fish casting at every stick and snag in the river, no matter how small you think it is. Some of the smallest sticks have produced the most Barra. As your moving down, the other place you will find Barra is in eddy’s, (small whirlpools), which are created by the flow of water and parts of the river bank sticking out or by corners in the river.

The next step is to select a lure. For around the barrages I like to use Reidy‘s soft plastic 4”shad. With all the mesh and matting on the bottom at barrages your lure loss can be high so a single hook soft plastic is a must. Casting at eddy’s soft plastics are o’k but I prefer Gadens Classic Barra in 10 foot or Reidy’s b52, cast them as close to the bank or snag as you can and retrieve with a slow jerking motion like a wooded fish. Keep the boat a comfortable cast from the edge, nothing worse than trying to cast too far.

Barra Base (www.barrabase.com.au)