Hi geoff,
We'll have to call the barra estuary Gt's to stay on topic, but yes I fish for barra and yes this will be the best year probably in the last 30 years. After the 1991 flood I was catching 2 or 3 good barra in my lunch hour off the rocks near work.There has been excellent recruitment from breedings in November 2008 2009 and 2010. There were huge numbers of undersize barra in the system which will now have been gorging themselves up on the floodplains for the last 2 months. We also had the unusual event of up to 50000 large barra go over the wall at Awoonga dam, survival rates are reportedly between 50 and 80%. Most of these fish were over a metre. These will also migrate and improve the estuary fishery.I believe its already a turkey shoot in the Boyne below the dam.
Only problem will be to see how the professional catch goes. the local pros are sensible and respectful, but courtesy of dumb QLD legislation as we get a few barra we get a huge influx of foreign net fisherman who pulse fish the hell out of the river.
Getting back to GT's we (capreef) have proven a link beyond doubt between improved catch rates on reef species and a big flood in the river. The effect lasts 2 to 3 years. it is not just better breeding as coral trout don't get to 38cm in 6 months. I think its improved growth rates, actively feeding and better recruitment, also possibly migration, but not really any tag data to prove it.
I don't see why this effect would not extend to GT's as the same improved conditions would apply.
So here's my tip....
We'll see the best GT fishing for a generation along the Capricorn Coast and Shoalwater Bay in the next 2 years....
Hows that for setting me up for a fall.
