Sport
19 February, 2026
Fantastic weather for barra
THIS year’s barra season has kicked off with plenty of excitement, as keen anglers hit the water in droves to test their luck.
The weather has been absolutely spot on for fishing, with hot and stormy conditions rolling across the tropical north coast, making for ideal barra habitat.
Prawn activity is high along beaches and in estuary systems, which means using soft plastic prawns is proving to be a reliable tactic for landing quality barras.
The ‘Irukandji Megaprawn’ and the new ‘Wilson Wild Shrimp’ have emerged as standout performers this season, but there’s a healthy supply of different plastic prawn lures available for those wanting to mix it up.
Paddletail plastics are also getting results, particularly when fished in the cane drains where barra tend to lurk. The ‘Armour Skip Doctor’, rigged up weedless, lets fishos confidently target snags and grassy spots without worrying about getting tangled up. It’s the go-to for those tricky, hard-to-fish locations.
Ongoing monsoonal weather has pushed a lot of barra up onto the surface, creating perfect conditions for topwater action.
Local lure maker Drew Mintoss from Mintoss Lures continues to impress with his 3 and 4 inch frogs, which consistently produce catches of, not only barra, but also mangrove jacks, jungle perch and sooty bream in both freshwater and saltwater systems.
Mr Mintoss has just launched a new plastic lure, the ‘Johnson’, and despite being a fresh concept, it’s already a favourite among local anglers and proving its worth on the water.
Last weekend, I took the grandkids out to Barra Down Under and it was a cracker of a day.
The set-up by owner Ryan Sprague is absolutely top-notch, easy for families to navigate, with plenty of safe spots for kids to cast a line.
The young ones were rapt, reeling in barra after barra, and the abundance of fish meant everyone had a go and left with big smiles. It’s a real gem for anyone looking to introduce kids to fishing in a relaxed and friendly environment.
Out on the Reef, there’s been some solid action lately. We’ve been landing good numbers of coral trout, red throat emperor and Spanish mackerel, with the odd big nannigai and red emperor coming up from the deeper water.
One thing to keep in mind – sharks can be a nuisance, so moving spots regularly is key to keeping your catch safe. An electric motor makes it a breeze to shift around and stay ahead of the sharks.
In the freshwater scene, jungle perch fishing has really taken off this season. The new ‘Molosi Hard Bodies’ and ‘Poppers’ have been working well, tempting jungle perch and sooty grunter from the snags.
With the popularity of catch and release, it’s important to handle these fish gently and quickly, making sure they go back healthy.
– Tony Mossop, Tackle World Tully
Read More: Cassowary Coast