Page 23 - Modern Fishing

Derek Lee opening our
Rocky Barra Bounty comp
with an 84cm barra

ROCKHAMPTON NET FREE ZONE REPORT

In November 2015 three new net free beauty of having the entire NFZ as during the comp was 69cm, far
zones were established along the the boundary means that productive exceeding any other year. Those
east Queensland coast. NFZ means waters are never too far away. results would rival if not top any
that the area is closed to commercial 2017 broke a lot of records. Out other premier saltwater barramundi
gill netting. One of those zones of the 80 2-man teams there were À VKLQJ FRPSHWLWLRQ LQ WKH FRXQWU\
was the Rockhampton region. The 484 barra tagged over the two-and- So if you’re keen on chasing a
Rockhampton Barra Bounty is a a-half-day event. 353 of those were barra then the days of traveling
5-star barramundi catch and release legal size which equates to 73% of thousands of kilometres to the NT
competition that happens every year all barra were over 58cm in length. IRU \RXU EDUUD À [ DUH RYHU 6WDWV OLNH
around October. It’s a great way to get They are bloody good odds if you’re the ones mentioned don’t lie. Make
some feedback on the NFZ. looking for somewhere to catch your sure you check out this region when
This year we had a minor fresh À UVW OHJDO EDUUD $GG WR WKDW WURSK\ planning your next barra holiday.
water run down the river only a barra that topped the metre mark The tips and techniques outlined in
week before the event. It would with a 1.33m monster making it the this article plus any of the advice
PDNH WKH )LW]UR\ ULYHU À VKLQJ WRXJK VHFRQG ELJJHVW LQ ERXQW\ KLVWRU\ $Q from local tackle shops will put you
in the top half of the river but the overall average length for barramundi ahead of the game.

MODERN FISHING 23