Visit our incredible fishing destination:
ARNHEMLAND BARRAMUNDI NATURE LODGE

I know that managers within our NT Fisheries Group are keen for anglers to maximise the survival chances of released barramundi, especially those bigger, metre-plus fish which basically are all breeding females.

Having witnessed the capture of some very big barra recently, and watched the sincere efforts taken by those in charge of the boat to revive the tired fish so that they swam away strongly, I thought I'd run through the recommended procedure for catch and release and perhaps make a suggestion or two.

Obviously, it's better to release a fish in the water without bringing it aboard the boat, but if you intend to boat it before release, always use a net and not a gaff.

All too often, a big fish in a knotted net will have its tail split and will lose scales.

Nowadays you can buy special-purpose Environets which eliminate damage to barra.

It's best to remove the hooks while the fish is still in the net, preferably held high enough so that it cannot hit anything hard if it thrashes.

Never hold a fish in or around the gills as this can damage vital blood vessels.

Hold your barramundi by a firm thumb grip on the bottom jaw, or with one of those increasingly popular mechanical fish grips that don't actually apply pressure to the inside of the fish's mouth.

Particularly in respect of big fish, don't ever hang them vertically from the jaw as the weight of the fish will stretch the membrane and vital blood vessels at what you might call the “neck” of the fish.

Just imagine someone lifting you off the ground by a grip around your jaw.

Big barra should be cradled horizontally – end of story.

I was amazed watching TV footage of the Barra Nationals the other night to see an angler with a near-metre-long barra actually holding it up by one hand thrust inside the gill cover.

The fish was lifted overboard and released but I reckon its survival chances were reduced considerably.

Similarly, if you would like to weigh your fish, do it in the net with the scales actually attached to the net and not to the fish.

Barbless hooks are a great idea for facilitating a speedier release of lure-caught barra, and they do less damage too, not only to the fish but also to any humans who get pinned by a hook.

Barbless hooks will land just as many fish as barbed hooks, just as long as you maintain a bend on the rod.

Now here's another one to consider if you're keen to do all you can to maximise a big barra's survival chances upon release.

The best way to understand it is to imagine that a rope has been attached to your body, and you are being pulled against your will by some relentless force at the other end.

You fight like mad, sometimes gaining some ground, but each time you get dragged back.

You are getting very tired – exhausted – and you finally have little fight left in you.

Your muscles have become as weak as jelly and you are gasping for air with hardly the energy left to get the amount of oxygen you need into your system.

With nothing left at all, you find you have been pulled to the edge of the water, and then suddenly a big net is whacked down over your head and you are whipped straight into the water so that your whole body is submerged.

I ask: in that situation, how long do you think you could hold your breath for?

So imagine the plight of a big barra, which initially has had the size and strength to fight against standard barra tackle.

It gives its all until it surfaces beside the boat, utterly exhausted and sapped of strength.

Netting it straight into the boat takes it away from the oxygen source it needs to get its strength back.

So that's why, when you net a big fish, it can only help to keep the net in the water so the fish can spend some time gulping in some air.

That also gives you time to get a camera ready, the scales out, the measuring tape in place, the pliers handy, the jaw grips accessible and so on.

Bet you increase the chances of your once-in-a-lifetime barra swimming away strongly many times over if you follow that advice.

==============================================================

The offshore bluewater scene continues to provide exciting fishing.

According to Matt West from Fishing and Outdoor World, his trip this week with Equinox Charters yielded coral trout, goldies, jew and heaps of GTs.

Most of the action was wide of Dundee .

Fenton Patches artificial reefs have also been crawling with quality giant trevally, readily taking metal jigs worked up from the bottom.

There've been big bait schools hanging around Mandorah, and both queenfish and GTs have been hammering them.

Hopefully the current strong winds will dissipate by the weekend, because there's plenty of great bluewater action on offer.