It’s a still summer evening. The water’s glassy, there’s a line of drowned timber stretching off the point, and somewhere in it, a metre-plus barra is waiting for an easy meal. The rivers and estuaries might be closed, but out here, the barra season is very much alive.
From midday on 1 November, barramundi are off limits in Queensland’s east coast waters until 1 February, to protect breeding fish during spawning. But the closure doesn’t apply to a long list of Queensland’s stocked impoundments. While the wild fish get a well-earned rest, the dams stay open all summer.
A few months back, we covered how to fish the Irukandji Megaprawn DTF in the estuaries in Tie One On: How to Fish the Irukandji Megaprawn DTF. This time, we’re taking it to the dams.
Where You Can Still Chase Barra This Summer
The closed season doesn’t apply in these Queensland impoundments, or in the waterways upstream of them:
- Lake Awoonga
- Lake Monduran (Fred Haigh Dam)
- Tinaroo Dam
- Burdekin Falls Dam
- Peter Faust, Teemburra, Kinchant and Eungella dams in the Mackay region
- Koombooloomba, Callide and Fairbairn dams
- Plus several more weirs and dams across the state
Check the Queensland Fisheries website for the full, current list before you head out.
Know the Rules Before You Go
- You’ll need a Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIPS) to fish with a line in SIPS dams. You can buy one online through the Queensland Government.
- Size and possession limits still apply in exempt waterways, so check the current barra rules before keeping a fish.
- Outside the exempt dams, barra are completely off limits until 1 February, and that includes catch and release. If you hook one by accident, release it straight away.
The free Qld Fishing 2.0 app is the easiest way to keep on top of closures, limits and permits.
Why the Megaprawn DTF Suits Dam Barra
Impoundment barra are often big fish living around heavy timber and weed, which is exactly the kind of fight the Megaprawn DTF was built for. Pre-rigged on an Iron Claw 5/0 jighead with a Decoy treble stinger, and moulded from Irukandji’s “Immortal” TPE with a kevlar-reinforced tail, it’s designed to survive repeated hits rather than coming back in pieces after the first fish.
At 42g, it also gets down to fish holding deep in the timber or along the edges of drop-offs.
Adapting Your Approach for the Dams
The core technique from our original guide still applies: let it sink to the bottom, rip the rod tip to imitate a fleeing prawn, then pause and let it fall. Most strikes come on the drop. But dams fish differently from estuaries, so here’s how to adjust:
- Forget the tides and focus on structure. There’s no run-out tide in a dam, so work the cover instead: standing timber, weed edges, points and drop-offs are all worth targeting.
- Step up your leader. Impoundment barra can be big, and they’ll head straight for the timber once they’re hooked. Our original guide suggests stepping up your leader when there’s a chance of barra around structure, and in the dams, that chance is high.
- Be patient with the pause. Let the lure sit and fall right into the structure before you rip it again.
For colour selection, see the colour guide in our original Megaprawn DTF blog. It breaks down which of the six colours suits which conditions.
Barra Closed Season FAQs
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Can you catch barra in Queensland in November?
Only in the stocked impoundments and waterways that are exempt from the closed season, such as Lake Awoonga, Lake Monduran and Tinaroo Dam. Everywhere else on the east coast, barra are off limits from midday 1 November until 1 February. -
Can I catch and release barra during the closed season?
Not outside the exempt dams. Targeting barra for catch and release is still not allowed during the closure, because the stress of capture can stop fish from spawning. -
Do I need a permit to fish the barra dams?
Most of the exempt impoundments are part of the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme, so you’ll need a SIPS permit to fish them with a line. Check the requirements for your chosen dam before you go. -
What about the Gulf of Carpentaria?
The Gulf has its own closed season, which starts earlier, on 7 October and has a separate list of exempt lakes, including Lake Moondarra and Lake Julius.
Gear Up for Summer Barra
The closed season gives the wild fish a break and the impoundments give you plenty of reasons to keep chasing barra all summer. Grab a SIPS permit, pick a dam and make sure a couple of Megaprawns are in the tackle box.
Shop the Irukandji Megaprawn DTF 140mm and the full Irukandji Tackle range at Fishing Superstore.
Tight lines!
