Gippsland Barra

laddercat · #1 04-07-2016, 03:38 AM

For those of you who missed it or havent heard the barra stocking of a pondage in Gippsland is going well with growth rate comparable to their northern brothers.

Here is the source article:
http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/...elwood-pondage

If this is successful will we see barra impoundment fishing across VIC and NSW ? Struggling regional centers sure could use the extra rec extra rec dollars.

The G factor · #2 04-07-2016, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laddercat

For those of you who missed it or havent heard the barra stocking of a pondage in Gippsland is going well with growth rate comparable to their northern brothers.

Here is the source article:
http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/...elwood-pondage

If this is successful will we see barra impoundment fishing across VIC and NSW ? Struggling regional centers sure could use the extra rec extra rec dollars.

Definitely won't be seeing it across Victoria. The only reason they survive is because the power station pumps hot water into the pondage.

Still awesome, but it will get flogged hard

yellow door 1 · #3 04-07-2016, 04:31 AM

Another thing that sets it apart from other waters is the unusual food source. Billions of Cichlids thrive in the warm water of the Pondage.

I've never caught one but there is supposed to be enough in there, to keep a alot of Barra well fed

Bait Caster · #4 04-07-2016, 04:34 AM

I find it odd that they are guessing which group of fish released are being caught. Surely tagging of some sort would have been sensible?

yellow door 1 · #5 04-07-2016, 04:43 AM

I remember Hodgey had got a few back in the day.

It looks like some of these would be easy pickings for a predator

bjspinner · #6 04-07-2016, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bait Caster

I find it odd that they are guessing which group of fish released are being caught. Surely tagging of some sort would have been sensible?

The fish are acoustic tagged and monitored, at present it is a trial program with all areas closed to fishing.

laddercat · #7 04-07-2016, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The G factor

Definitely won't be seeing it across Victoria. The only reason they survive is because the power station pumps hot water into the pondage.

Still awesome, but it will get flogged hard

ahhh i see. Was wondering how the temps worked etc.

The G factor · #8 04-07-2016, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laddercat

ahhh i see. Was wondering how the temps worked etc.

yeah the ponds are above 22 degrees all year round with averages about 24-25 degrees and up to 28 degrees I believe.

I have burleyed up there just to see what happens with the cichlids, and I found out you really dont even have to burley...there are just millions of them. The barra would be eating very well

Bait Caster · #9 04-07-2016, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjspinner

The fish are acoustic tagged and monitored, at present it is a trial program with all areas closed to fishing.

Yeh, I read that part, yet the article gives the impression that they dont know which release the captured fish come from.

Eastbrimin · #10 05-07-2016, 12:15 AM

Local ABC radio today said they found a few that are up around the 6kg mark and they can not believe how quickly they are growing.

Eastbrimin · #11 05-07-2016, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pygmy II

The fish that are already 6kgs were put in at 50cm of which there was only 20 just back in April.

Wonder what they weighed at release????

Think they may need a ballot system or something for fishing there once it opens!!! Will be absolute mayhem

Fez fish · #12 05-07-2016, 04:13 PM

Place is definitely like a warm bath I can see why the barra will thrive there.
Use to fish it when I was young when I lived in Vic.
To be sustainable they should make the pondage
Catch and release so everyone can enjoy the barra.

Shane.

Piranha · #13 05-07-2016, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pygmy II

The fish that are already 6kgs were put in at 50cm of which there was only 20 just back in April.

Article said released at 30cm and now some are 60cm.

Pygmy II · #14 06-07-2016, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piranha

Article said released at 30cm and now some are 60cm.

Yes my mistake!

Here is the info

“Eighteen barramundi measuring about 33cm were stocked into the Pondage in September 2015, following a successful acclimatisation trial,” Dowling said.

“These were followed in April 2016 by three size classes consisting of 1000 fingerlings at 5cm, 500 fish at 10cm and 100 larger barramundi at 30cm.

“We believe that the six largest barramundi surveyed last week, including the thumper over 6kg, were all from the first small stocking in September 2015.

“Nine of the barramundi surveyed were around 50cm and from the recent stocking of 30cm size class fish in April 2016.

Piranha · #15 06-07-2016, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laddercat

For those of you who missed it or havent heard the barra stocking of a pondage in Gippsland is going well with growth rate comparable to their northern brothers.

Here is the source article:
http://www.fishingworld.com.au/news/...elwood-pondage

If this is successful will we see barra impoundment fishing across VIC and NSW ? Struggling regional centers sure could use the extra rec extra rec dollars.

Added to what G Factor has mentioned about the water temps.. barra carry a virus that is waterborn, that virus has the potential to wipe out every native freshwater fish in the murray darling basin if it where to enter the system.