Australias Hardest Fighting Freshwater Fish?

[Fitzy]

What is, pound for pound, Australia's hardest fighting freshwater fish?

You will need to be registered & logged in to vote on a Poll. If not you will only see the results.

If there's a fish not listed here that you think qualifies, please feel free to put it in a response below.

Cheers,

Fitzy..

[team_mongo]

Hi Fitzy!

Australias Hardest fighting fish - EASY!

Tinaroo Barra - 50+lb, 125cm in 6 feet of water, submerged trees, snags and weed. They are pretty hard to land - not only because the sheer power, the how dirty they fight wrapping around trees, throwing and bending your hooks like paperclips. If you survive the first minute you're in with a chance!

Cant wait to get back there this coming season!

Cheers

George

[Fitzy]

Remember George, we're talkin pound for pound not biggest & best. If it comes to that, I recon a 200 pound Murray Cod would beat a 50 pound barra.

I recon if ya had a 50 pound sooty on you wouldn't know what hit ya. If only they grew that big?

Should rename them Black Jacks.

Cheers,

Fitz

[fishy_phil]

that ones easy Mangrove Jack ive never landed one but the two i have hooked have done me like nothing else! but i was only using 6lb line and they were about 2kg. they did me at my feet. i guess i havent learned the secret to these superb fish ??? ???

[Fitzy]

We're talking Freshwater fish here fishy_phil.
While jacks do live in the fresh they're not widely regarded as a freshwater species.
Barra, bass & EPs are borderline too, but these are not commonly in the habit of living their adult lives on off shore reefs. They can also be found in the fresh at all stages of their lives

Fitzy..

[lordy]

What about the humble mullet? Seem to pull hard than bass.

[Fitzy]

Lordy,
Good call. Unfortunately we're limited to 12 options on the polls. Also had eels in mind as a contender.


fitz

[krazyfisher]

Just thinking is there a spot up there for skiers that get hooked with a lure I was using 30lbs braid and a 10 -12 kg struddy I turned him but he did bust me off??
he he I love the thrill of the fight

[team_mongo]

Remember George, we're talkin pound for pound not biggest & best. If it comes to that, I recon a 200 pound Murray Cod would beat a 50 pound barra.

I recon if ya had a 50 pound sooty on you wouldn't know what hit ya. If only they grew that big?

Should rename them Black Jacks.

Cheers,

Fitz

OK point taken. Then it would have to be Sooties!

George

[Fitzy]

OK point taken. Then it would have to be Sooties!

George

I know where you coming from tho George, those big lake barra can leave you with shaking hands. How big are they going to get?? God only knows!

Cheers,

Fitzy..

[fatman]

I gotta agree with Lordy, the freshwater mullet pull long and hard. We catch em in the Nepean after the bass have gone down, and only landed 3 from over 30 hook-ups.
cheers
FATMAN

[dazza]

Krazyfisher,
that might be another poll. What pulls harder a waterskier or
on of those dickheads on a jet ski?
Cheers
Dazza

[brendan]

Hi Fitzy,
I would have to say that the hardest fighting pound for pound freshwater fish has to be sootys. They have to be the most underated freshy in aussie waters.
Chasing these fish on 3kg line in the rivers around cairns on poppers along with jungle perch has to be the best.
River lined snags, dirty sootys smashing poppers as they hit the water and dragging line that is being peeled from ya little baitcaster back towards the snag.
It doesn't get better than that. (Caught 25 in afternoon fishing yesterday)

[Fitzy]

Hi Brendan,
No arguments for me there mate. Some of my fondest fishing memories are of sooties on an intercept course for still airborne lures. The stike co-inciding with splash down & the fun n games then begin. Great fun them Black Tanks.
I voted for em!

Cheers Mate,


Fitzy..

[brendan]

Hey Fitzy,
I agree totally with you I am a keen Sooty angler up here in the tropics, casting poppers on 3Kg line and watching the lure get smashed next to razor sharp snags and then feel the line peeling as your tiny baitcaster tries to hold the brute strength of the steriod sooty.

BrendanCairns