How To Guide When Fishing Hard Body Lures for Barramundi

INTRODUCTION TO HARD BODY LURES FOR BARRAMUNDI

Hungry barramundi are a sucker for well-worked hard body lures. Guides will show you how to use a slow retrieval technique with a twitching motion. The twitching of the hard body lure through a snag imitates an injured baitfish which screams "EAT ME!". Barra are lazy ambush predators so give them time to size up the bait, get ready for that explosive bite, and you're on!

There are a number of fantastic different styles of hard body lures for barramundi. Rivers and estuaries are ever-changing and vary in terms of depth and structure as you change location through shallow sand bars, deep banks, snags, and points. Therefore, your guide's tackle bag will have a variety of lures for each scenario.

Surface lures, diving lures and suspending lures all have their time to shine depending upon the time of day and location you are fishing. Barramundi are most actively feeding in the early morning and the late afternoon which brings surface lures into the equation.

TARGETED FISH SPECIES

It is not only Barramundi which take a strong liking to the these lures... Mangrove Jack, Fingermark, Flathead, Cod and Saratoga are commonly caught with this technique also.

TYPICAL LOCATIONS

We fish for barramundi using a variety of hard body lures at the following locations:

Jackson, Archer and Love Rivers
Lloyd Bay and Temple Bay
Princess Charlotte Bay

Tips & Tricks

Go slow and learn to break your wrist with the twitching action imparted on the lure. Well, not literally break your wrist, but snap it downwards before pausing and allowing the lure to sit momentarily before repeating.
In shallow snaggy water, try and use floating lures which avoid snagging up repeatedly. Suspending and sinking lures can be a little snaggy, except in the most experienced hands.
Barra will be in a different mood every day of the week. Try and adjust your retrieval and lure movement based on previous success.
Always retrieve your lure right back to the boat. Don’t simply wind it in at the end. Countless barra are missed by the impatient and can hit all the way back to the rod tip.

OUR TACKLE

FNSF-NOMAD use top of the line Shimano rods, reels and terminal tackle. We provide the following two different setups for using hard body lures when fishing for Barramundi:

Reel: Shimano SLX DC SLXDC150XG Baitcaster
Rod: Shimano Zodias 5’10” Med Baitcast
Line: 20-30lb braid; 40-80lb fluoro leader

Reel: Shimano Vanford 4000 Spin
Rod: Shimano Zodias 270MH Med/Heavy Spin 7'
Line: 20-30lb braid; 40-60lb fluorocarbon leader

OUR RECOMMENDED LURES

Our guides are experienced in using a wide variety of hard body lures and recommend the following when it comes to fishing for Barramundi:

- Nomad Styx 95/116
- Nomad Chug Norris 95
- Nomad DTX 85/100
- Nomad Maverick 115
- Lead Hi-Jacker 5"
- Gold Bomber
- Rapala Skitter v10, X-Rap SXR-10, X-Rap Prop Skizzer
- Classic Barra

These lures are available to purchase as part of our discounted pre-purchase lure packs in your own personal lure wrap, and can also be puchased on board.