Rigs & Hooks For Live Baiting Barra?

[Adam Royle]

Hi Guys!

I do a bit of lure fishing for Barra now but still like to sit back and relax with a livie at certain times of year.

But every year I get into debate with mates about what rig and particuarly what type and size hooks to use for live baiting Barra!

This mainly comes about after one of us have a session where a lot of hooks are thrown!

If anyone out there has found a solid consistant set-up (especially with a hook pattern and size!) I'd love to hear it?

Catch Ya!

[Bob Eddy]

Hi Adam,
Barra are few and far between down here ,though I know of at least 3 caught either locally or even in Brisbane river along with an absolute horse of a threadfin well over 10kg in last year. Back when I was in position to have a go, seems as though poddies hooked through top jaw rather than near dorsal fin got better hook up rate, but I wouldnt swear by it. cheers.

[Adam Royle]

Bob Eddy Wrote:Hi Adam,
Barra are few and far between down here ,though I know of at least 3 caught either locally or even in Brisbane river along with an absolute horse of a threadfin well over 10kg in last year. Back when I was in position to have a go, seems as though poddies hooked through top jaw rather than near dorsal fin got better hook up rate, but I wouldnt swear by it. cheers.

Cheers mate, about 80% of my livies are poddies but the position of the hook has also been debated over the years. Lip, just forward of but through the eyes, forward dorsal or rear dorsal have all been discussed (AND USED!).

I've been studying my two Barra (Boof & Scar) that I have in a 4ft aquarium and they vertually engulf everything that hits the water. They're only about 40cm long but I was amazed when they easily accounted for a 12cm dead poddy each without even so much as a scale showing!

In this case you I'd imagine that the more exposed a hook was the better chance you'd have at connection. Such as would be the case in the upper jaw rather than half the hook buried in the body of the bait. You might be on the money mate???

Catch Ya!

[chris]

hey adam

im using 7/0 mustad wide gape hooks, on about 4 foot 50 pound jinkai, swivel, running ball sinker, as small as i can get away with, i put my mullet on the hook, so that he(or she)has the hook half inch in front of the tail.

i find they swim more instead fo just sitting facing in to the current.

this works for me in my favourite creek here in mackay, aswell as the haughton. i only fish them two places for barra,

[Adam Royle]

Cheers Chris!

Sounds like we have the same/similar hook choice but I haven't used the tail hook very much.

Looks like I'll be fishing with 2 rigs next trip!

Cheers guys!

Catch Ya!

[riffraff]

chris Wrote:hey adam

im using 7/0 mustad wide gape hooks, on about 4 foot 50 pound jinkai, swivel, running ball sinker, as small as i can get away with, i put my mullet on the hook, so that he(or she)has the hook half inch in front of the tail.

i find they swim more instead fo just sitting facing in to the current.

this works for me in my favourite creek here in mackay, aswell as the haughton. i only fish them two places for barra,

Same rig here, but I tend to hook through near the dorsal fin on the bait.

[Bob Eddy]

Gi Chris, riffraff,
Must admit never tried hooking poddies near tail but makes a lot of sense and can see that they might swim better.Have noticed that lip hooked bait dont swim about much, though they do give a good hookup rate.Lightest lead, etc also way to go.

[Adam Royle]

WOW it must be universal, three replies and three different hook points.

Atleast I know me and the mates arn't the only mob who can't come to a consensis!

Cheers guys!

[Bob Eddy]

Ha Ha Adam
you should know that you can always catch an angler one way or another, but fish are a different matter, at least the ones I chase. Went fishing yesterday, got more chance of getting one in my tank than around here at the moment.cheers

[Adam Royle]

chris Wrote:hey adam

im using 7/0 mustad wide gape hooks, on about 4 foot 50 pound jinkai, swivel, running ball sinker, as small as i can get away with, i put my mullet on the hook, so that he(or she)has the hook half inch in front of the tail.

i find they swim more instead fo just sitting facing in to the current.

this works for me in my favourite creek here in mackay, aswell as the haughton. i only fish them two places for barra,

Hey Chris!

Your tail hooking does make a big difference on bait presentation mate.

Not that I did very well, but I tried a few different hooking points today and in deep or shallow water the tail hooking promotes more physical movement from the bait by far! And that went for both mullet or sardines.

Definitely sticking with that method, just need a fish to find the livie now!

Catch Ya!