Awoonga barra & Jack - confirmed

[Shooter]

Nice bit of info Andrew73. Sound like your pretty well connected. Do you have any photos of big jack or barra from the dam.

[barradise]

Alway's a good story to be told about Awoonga, be it the one that got away or C&R models.
As a local, I've heard them all from cricket score catches to the monsters that had have to been trapped before the age of time.
We have a lot to look forward to at Lake Awoonga in the comming years, but unless they hit the rangers scales or photographed on a bag mat, they are still unconfirmed as just another fisherpersons tail.
I agree with Andrews thoughts on barra predation but only to the point where Awoonga reaches critical mass, if such a stocking program at Awoonga could occur, IE; drought.
John.

[SeekingBarradise]

Hi here are the pics of a 52cm Jack from Awoonga kel caught at Xmas 2005 when we spent 2 weeks there. It was caught on an Eddy Lure at 10pm on a hot night.

It jumped like a barra and faught well.

We hope the pics load up for you to see.

Cheers SeekingBarradise[img][/img]

[SeekingBarradise]

Here is another pic of that nice 52cm Jack.

[Steve_Monckton]

Who would have thought that in Australia we would have beautiful big Barra of this size and quality on tap in this day and age. Don't kill em all, They are a national treasure. Congratulations to the restocking associations for having the foresight to achieve this. Cheers, steve.

[Steve_B]

well said Andrew23. You guys work hard to stock the dam with millions of fingerlings so we can have the pleasure and experience of catching BIG fish now, and in the future. I have caught as many 55-80cm barra as meter + which would suggest that many fingerlings ARE surviving. There are also massive amounts of boney's as an additional food source. If the ranger wants to get serious about saving fingerlings, shoot all those bloody shags!!! i'm sure they eat a heap. Also get the fisheries boys/girls out there and sort out the meat killing freezer brigade. Do they really think a photo of a dead fish hanging up from a caravan with its guts hanging out looks good? Looks as ridiculous as the person with the smug grin standing beside it!

Keep up the good work Awoonga fish stocking association!

Heres an Idea, Mabey you guys should put a donation box prominantly near the boat ramp or at the Kiosk (they might donate themselves, they seem to encourage killing) I'm sure the majority of genuine barra fishermen and women will donate more to help with the future restocking, I know I will.

[Sniper]

Wonder if these impoundment Barra will get the size of the Nile River Perch? Hold on boys and girls if they do. We'll be in for one hell of a fight. Can't wait to get up there in the next month or so.
Cheers
Billyboy

[barramad.]

[quote author=TinarooTriumph link=1160649592/0#12 date=1160978447
I have this picture on my computer, and have had it for quite some time, and is definetely a Tinaroo Barra. I found the pic on the net sometime ago, and If this isnt the heaviest Barra taken out of an Impoundment, then i'll eat my shirt. It could also be another pic of David Powell's fish, Im unsure. [/quote]
Hate to tell you the bad news Theo, Copperload was the home of that big Barra.
Jas

[TinarooTriumph]

Hey Jas - Do you happen to have the figures on that fish? Sure does look like an absolute whopper!

[Big_Ren]

Andrew73, thank you for sharing that comprehensive information. Without these vital stocking associations, places like Awoonga would be nothing more than a big waterski park or houseboat reserve. Keep up the great work mate.

Cheers
Paul

[Fitzy]

[quote author=TinarooTriumph link=1160649592/0#12 date=1160978447
I have this picture on my computer, and have had it for quite some time, and is definetely a Tinaroo Barra. I found the pic on the net sometime ago, and If this isnt the heaviest Barra taken out of an Impoundment, then i'll eat my shirt. It could also be another pic of David Powell's fish, Im unsure.

Hate to tell you the bad news Theo, Copperload was the home of that big Barra.
Jas[/quote]

SSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH

[andrew73]

Hi All

Thanks for your coments, i thought some of you might be intrested in a bit more background on both the gladstone fish hatchery and the lake awoonga restocking restocking program.

The current stocking program for Lake Awoonga and the hatchery, the recient stocking program (barramundi, sea mullet, MJ's and Saratoga) and by this i mean the last 10 or 11 yrs. As 15 - 20 yrs ago there was a previous previous DPI run stocking program (silvers, goldens, sooties, sleepy cod and toga). But the barra stocking program started around january 1991 with 200 25cm barra from the dpi's deception bay facliity with the first fish produced at our own hatchery the next summer season.

But the funding for the current restocking program for lake awoonga and the Gladstone Area Water Boards Marine Fish Hatchery has come almost entirily from both the Gladstone Area Water Board (GAWB) and the Gladstone Port Authority as it was known at the time now the Central Qld Ports Authority (CQPA) on a 50 /50 basis untill a few years ago where the CQPA decided that progressively their money could be better spent else where, tho they still provide a great deal of in kind support with the provision of the building and the land on/ in which the hatchery is located for which i am and in fact anyone that has experianced lake awoongas fishery should be eternally greatfull.

The hatchery and the stocking program has always been run by GAWB with all hatchery/ fishery staff employed by GAWB, with funding other than the previously mentioned in kind support now being solely provided by GAWB and comerical sales of fingerlings from the hatchery.

Other technical advise and support and also the some of the inital broodstock for the hatchery has also been provided by the QDPI ect. a big thanks to all, sorry there are too many to mention individually but i am sure you all know who you are, thank you.

Anyway if you are intrested in the stocking program for lake awoonga GAWB's web site is www.gawb.qld.gov.au or contact me here.

Tight Lines

Andrew