Overview
Iconic fish of Australia and Southeast Asia, exceptional fighter.
Identification
Arched backWide mouthLarge scalesSeparated dorsal finsVisible lateral lineProtrusible mouthLarge eyesRobust pectoral fins
- Body
- Robust and elongated body with an arched dorsal profile.
- Colouration
- Silver color with greenish or brownish reflections, darker on the back.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Not very evident
- Growth
- Rapid, especially in the early years of life.
Taxonomy
- Family
- Latidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Lates angustifronsLates niloticusLates macrophthalmusPsammoperca waigiensisCentropomus undecimalis
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, estuaries, brackish
- Preferred bottom
- sand, mud, seagrass, estuaries
- Geographic distribution
- Found in the coastal waters of Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
- Micro-habitat
- Often shelters among the roots of mangroves and weeds in shallow waters.
Prefers sandy and muddy bottoms with vegetation; tolerates wide salinity variations.
Presence by sea area
As Golfo BengalaPeak
As Mar Cinese SudPeak
Au Nw ShelfPeak
Au Nt TropicalePeak
Au Gbr NordPeak
Oc PapuaPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- fish, crustaceans, aquatic insects
- Secondary prey
- mollusks, octopuses, shrimp
- Occasional prey
- frogs, water snakes
- Feeding behaviour
- Ambush predator that chases its prey with quick bursts of speed.
- Natural predators
- crocodiles, sharks, sea snakes, sea eagles
Hunts in shallow waters taking advantage of poor visibility to surprise prey.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- solitary
- Aggressiveness
- medium
- Migration
- Migratory for spawning in brackish waters.
- Seasonal behaviour
- Often moves to freshwater areas during the dry season.
- Juveniles
- Juveniles tend to stay closer to the coast and in estuaries.
- Adults
- Adults are more mobile and can move between fresh and saltwater.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- November, December, January
- Spawning depth
- between 5 and 10 meters
- Eggs
- Pelagic eggs, small and numerous.
- Larval stage
- They develop in brackish water, going through several stages before becoming juveniles.
- Sexual maturity
- 3-4 years
When to catch Barramundi
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Dayalba, tramonto
Nightnotte
This species shows peak fishing activity in spring, summer and autumn, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in winter, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Atmospheric pressure
Low
Very aggressive and active.
Medium
Good hunting activity.
High
Less reactive.
Barometric trend
Water temperature
10°COptimal zone: 14-24°C27°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
estuariesmangrovesriver mouthscoastal lagoons
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
spinningtrollingdeadbaitinglive shrimp fishing
Other applicable
SpinningLive BaitingSpinning MedioBeach FishingBolentinoRock FishingSpinning PesanteSurfcasting
Recommended baits
live baitfishshrimpluresfrogs
Baits by pressure
Low
CrankbaitJerkbaitJig head + softbaitPaddle tail softbaitPopper piccoloShad softbaitStickbait WTD
Medium
Cefalo vivoPesciolino vivoEsca viva (generica)Gambero vivoPezzo di pescePinfish vivoGambero morto / Gambero
High
Cefalo vivoCrankbaitJerkbait
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Reacts with energetic bursts and jumps out of the water.
- Handling
- Use a glove to protect your hand from dorsal spines.
- Release
- Support the fish in the water until it regains strength.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The world IGFA record for the Barramundi on all-tackle is a specimen of 44.64 kg caught in 2010 in the Mary River, Australia. The Barramundi is known to reach up to 60 kg under ideal conditions and is a highly sought-after species in the sport fishing circuits of Southeast Asia and Australia.
- In the kitchen
- Excellent white flesh, used for grilling and baking dishes.
- Cultural notes
- Considered an iconic fish among Australian sport fishers.
- Historical notes
- Traditionally caught by Indigenous Australians for its abundance and flavor.
