123cm Barra

[Mozza]

I just had a spiritual experience.

I caught an approximately 123cm barramundi.

On a 5-8kg PENN Powerstick rod, Powerspin 4000 PENN reel loaded with about 15m of 6kg braid with 6kg mono backing and a short 40cm 30lb mono leader with a ?? wide gape hook.

Those are the stats.

I had three rods out, all with livebait. A mullet on the Abu6500 8kilo outfit close to the bank on a running sinker, a large herring on the Shimano 12kg outfit out in the middle of the river and a small herring unweighted on the rig above, bailing arm open.

Had a hit on the little rig so I pulled her in and replaced with a fresh herring and chucked it out unweighted. There is a shallow area that drops off a little further out and with the south-easterlies blowing up the river, I knew this little fella would get slowly dragged along the edge. It was starting to get dark so I attached a dead leaf on the loose line hanging down from the tip of the rod, figuring I should see it move before I lost all my line on free-spool.

‘Bout 5 min later and the leaf jumps at the same time that I see a huge boil ‘round where my livie should be. So I jump to the rod and pick it up carefully still in free-spool until I’m sure nothing’s happening. I flick over the bailing arm and start slowly winding in all the while I’m wading across the shallow bank.

I’m still fairly certain something’s on the other end but I have to be very careful because the predators here cop a fair hiding from us and they’re fairly suspicious of free meals. As I wind I notice that the ‘thing’ on the other end has swum sideways so there’s no knowing when to strike, but I keep on winding in until I start to feel a little resistance. Wham! I go for the big hook-up only to find there’s still a few more metres of line to pull in. Fortunately the beast has swallowed the herring and the hook slides into the fleshy part of her throat.

SPA-LASH! I know straight away it’s my biggest barra yet. She goes for some short runs and thumping head-shakes. And I’m thinking about my old knots and my too-short leader and praying because I know I don’t really have a chance of getting it in. I can actually feel the line flicking across her face when she changes direction. And I’m shaking.

Suddenly its like I’ve gotta ring someone, if only to see her jump once. Trying to dial numbers without glasses and a flippin’ 20kg barra on the end of the line is nearly impossible. The kids are sitting down to dinner but they scramble to the car – we live less than a km away. “Don’t forget the camera and a tape measure” I yell as I nearly drop the phone.

The fight has turned into a dogged sideways stalemate. My gear isn’t strong enough to put some extra grunt into the fight and I can tell she’s tiring – using her lateral bulk to counter the effect of my pulling. Each time she turns she gets a little closer and I’m starting to think, maybe I’ve got a chance. Just as the family turns up, I manage to pull her up onto the bank. I’m buggered.

The tape measure’s been left behind. No problem, I’ll measure her on the cast net rope, tie a knot and measure when I get home. For 15 minutes, it’s been just me and her. After taking a couple of shots with the old camera I remember that I neglected to replace the spool so once again, no pictures but a another huge milestone for my memories.

Aren’t barra majestic? What is it that makes them special? I catch other fish – like my first big fingermark, the 17kg cobia I caught last year. Those were huge rushes yes but not the same depth of respect or humility. It’s weird whatever it is and I always feel a pang of guilt when I keep a large barra (anything over 90cm).

I was really worried that she might not survive because the fight against the lighter gear meant that I had to take more out of her to get her in. So there I was after promising not to come home wet and muddy, wet and muddy walking up and down the bank of the Ross river holding her by the bottom lip waiting for that tell-tale ‘bite’ to let you know that she’ll be okay. After a while I detected a few motions of her tail and not long after a bit of a nod of the head. So I pointed her out holding on lightly to her tale and with barely a movement she glided away slowly into the inky dark water.

Mozza

[Az]

great story mate, would have loved to see a pic but I know what you mean about big barra, they take your breath away

[power_shad]

Congratulations Mozza! Big barra always get the heart pumping. Doesn't matter how many you've caught, you still forget how hard they hit a lure or a livie until it happens again.
And there's something extra special about landing fish when there's a question mark over the gear - I've had to change my pants on a couple of occasions after watching a big barra's fake gills test out my undersized trace. You win some and lose some - congratulations on winning this one!
Andrew

[Mozza]

Thanks guys,

I'm still coming down from the high.

power_shad I think its also because I've always chased barra here, as well as in the NT. I grew up catching yank bass in South Africa and I've found the fresh water barra to be almost exactly the same in their feeding and territorial habits as well. So there's a childhood connection thing.

I checked the mono trace this morning and found a patch just below the braid to mono knot that was rubbed to hell. Fate was kind to me, that's for sure

While I was reviving her, my oldest son (8yr) was jumping up and down yelling "LETS KEEP IT, LETS KEEP IT" so hopefully he's learnt a bit about the release and why. I was pretty sure it was over the 120cm limit anyway but you can never be too sure - we have a way of exaggerating the size don't we?

[Craigus]

Absolutely Amazing Mozza!
What a great fish and a great story to go with it.
That was a great effort to get that fish in on you light gear mate. . . .Well done.
I'm sure the memory of that fish will stay with you for a while.

Cheers
Craig

[Mozza]

Came straight home and wrote it up before some of the details were lost.

And posting it here means I get to relive it every time someone replies.

Thanks again guys.

Mozza

[gogecko]

Great catch. You write very well, I enjoyed the read. Felt like I was there.

Andrew

[Slient]

Excellent barra you landed & I'm sure you still on high for awhile
After read your report and I'm exciting cos next month I'll fly to TSV for few days.
Hopefully barra's still bite next cool month.

Cheers
Silent

[power_shad]

Mozza,

I'm heading over to South Africa for a few weeks in January with my brother, and my housemate (who also grew up in South Africa and is going to be our guide) - hopefully to target a few of the fish you caught when you were younger.

Hoping that a tiger fish and bass will test my gear out over there so I can make comparisons between them, barra, jack etc over here. I can't wait!

Andrew

P.S. Then sometime after that - would like to compare all of the above mentioned species against New Guinea Black Bass.

[Mozza]

Tiger fish are allegedly HUGE fighters although I never had a chance to lock horns with them. I imagine they might be a bit like catching big fingermark. Their dentures are remarkable. "Yank" bass or large-mouth bass I guess must have been introduced into S.Af. way back but they don't get much past 3-4kg I guess. My biggest was 9lb in the old lingo. The best part was I grew up in the country and every dam was stocked with bass. So with a quick phone call I could be drpped off near the targetted dam and walk down thru the fields to the dam. And I usually would return via the homestead where I'd leave a couple for the owners.

There are other beasties north of the border especially in the lakes of the Rift Valley. Up there you're in Nile Perch territory as well as monster catties to +200kg as well as some others I don't remenber the names of. I stayed with a mate at Lake Malawi for a couple of weeks over Xmas and he was an avid spearo and came up with some creatures not unlike barra. I also recall some fish they speared that looked like an eel on the top half and scaly fish down the bottom half - amberjack??. Weird.

The New Guinea bass are up there with my dream list - have you ever caught any?

Mozza

[power_shad]

Never caught New Guinea bass - haven't been to PNG - maybe one day. Only seen Alex Julius try to catch them and get snapped over and over in seconds. Eventually catches what I think is a smaller one and he's almost crying with relief. Awesome footage... have dreamt of them ever since.

Have heard stories about those cat fish and seen pictures of the massive nile perch - won't complain if one of them comes along!!!
Andrew

[Mozza]

Cornish Jack - thats the name I was trying to remember. Look 'em up on google - you'll see what I mean.

Mozza

[White_Steenbras]

I miss catching Galjoen off the rocks in Fish Hoek, plus the mighty Red Roman and Kingfish and, and and and lots of the species back home were great I agree with you Mozza, awesome story on that big Barra and a great lesson you taught your son.

Cheers Steve

[charleville]

A wonderfully descriptive story about a great event!. Really enjoyable to share the experience with you.

Well done and thanks!

[Mozza]

Thanks guys, the comments are really appreciated.

Bloody camera.

Reckon I might buy one of those ones the mastiff slobbering all over on the TV and stash it quietly in the boat.

Andrew, I've seen that footage as well. Some of those bass would have to be taller that Alex Julius.

Cheers
Doug