Barramundi

Biology: Barramundi size, diet & habitat

Habitat

Estuary, Freshwater, Impoundment, River

Typical size

50–100 cm (max 200 cm)

Weight

2–12 kg (max 60 kg)

Depth range

0–15 m

Diet

prawns, mullet, garfish, small reef fish

Most active

crepuscular

Global range

Indo-West Pacific tropics

How to target: Barramundi angling strategies

Generally fished with medium tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.

• soft plastics worked slowly along snag edges and rock bars on the run-out tide
• live mullet or prawns under a bobby cork in tidal creeks
• shallow-diving hardbodies twitched along snag lines on falling tides
• trolling deep-diving lures along dam timber and points in impoundments
• surface fizzers and walkers over flooded weed flats at dawn

Best season: when to catch barramundi in Australia

QLD

Feb-Oct (tidal); year-round (impoundments)

WA

Feb-Sep (Kimberley)

NT

Feb-May (run-off); Aug-Oct (build-up)

Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.

Where to catch: barramundi fishing spots in Australia

127 mapped fishing spots, marks and waypoints for barramundi across Australia, covering land-based fishing, rock fishing, beach fishing, surf fishing, estuary fishing, jetty and wharf fishing, offshore and bluewater fishing, freshwater fishing and impoundment fishing. Each location below links through to access notes and coordinates.

More information: barramundi references & sources

• Atlas of Living Australia↗
• Fishes of Australia↗
• Wikipedia↗
• iNaturalist↗