Alexei Volkov
Barramundi fishing has been revolutionised by soft plastics, which are now the go-to lure for anglers. Soft plastics are versatile and can be used in a wide range of ways and scenarios, from saltwater estuary fishing to freshwater impoundment fishing. They are also suitable for beginners, as they can be purchased pre-rigged and ready to fish, or rigged by the angler themselves. The most common soft plastics used to catch barra include prawns, paddletails, and frogs, which are designed to replicate the barra's natural prey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lures | Frogs, prawns, baitfish imitations, paddle tails, swimbaits, topwater, stickbaits, hard bodies, and soft vibes |
| Lure size | 80-130mm for hard bodies, soft plastics, topwater, and stickbaits; 90-100mm for blades and soft vibes |
| Lure colour | Various |
| Jig heads | Standard, weedless, and treble hook set-ups |
| Line setup | 20-30lb braid; 40-80lb fluoro leader |
| Rod and reel setup | Shimano Zodias 5’10” Med Baitcast rod and Shimano SLX DC SLXDC150XG Baitcaster reel; Shimano Zodias 270MH Med/Heavy Spin 7' rod and Shimano Vanford 4000 Spin reel |
| Technique | Roll, twitch, lift, drop, and "boof"; cast soft plastic lures into a snag with a current and retrieve with a medium-paced wind to mimic fleeing baitfish; cast prawns into a specific area and let it swim down with hops and twitches to mimic a prawn |
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What You'll Learn
Soft plastic shapes, sizes and colours
Soft plastics come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colours, which can be used to suit all barramundi fishing scenarios. The most common soft plastic shapes used to catch barra are prawns, paddletails, and frogs. Prawn-shaped soft plastics are ideal for when barramundi are in a specific area, such as a hole or snag. Cast the prawn right into the area and let it swim down on a tight line with a few little hops and twitches on the way down. Paddle-tail soft plastics, on the other hand, are perfect for when the barra are out hunting bait fish like Boney Bream and Mullet. You can cast long searching casts across the area the Barra are feeding and use a medium-paced wind to make the lure swim through the strike zone. This will look exactly like bait fish trying to escape and will attract feeding Barra.
Soft plastics can be rigged in a wide range of ways to suit different fishing scenarios. When fishing in deeper open water, a jig head with a single treble attached is generally used to increase the chances of hooking fish. In shallow weedy areas, an unweighted weedless jig head is used to fish soft plastics through the weeds without getting snagged. When fishing in snaggy deeper areas, a weedless jig head with a small ball sinker tied into the loop knot is used to get the soft plastic down into the honey hole while preventing snagging.
The size of the soft plastic lure is also important. If the fish are hitting bigger plastics, switch to a bigger plastic. If tentative bites or short bites at the tail are forthcoming, move down to a smaller plastic and hook size. The most successful barra lures seem to be in the 80-130mm size range. Blades and soft vibes for barra fishing are usually around the 90-100mm size.
Soft plastics are available in a variety of colours. The colour of the lure can be chosen to match the fishing scenario or the type of prey the barra are targeting. For example, the Bozo 4" Mullet lure in the sanger colour is recommended for barra fishing because it imitates the barra's favourite meal, the mullet.
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Using jig heads
Jig heads are a long shank hook with lead weight moulded around it. They are considered the best way to catch fish. There are two main types of jig heads: belly-weighted and head-weighted. The former is best used in shallow water as the weight serves as a keel to keep the plastic upright. The latter is for deeper water with the tow point at the top.
When fishing for Barramundi, or Barra, in shallow, weedy areas, use an unweighted weedless jig head to fish your soft plastic through the weed without getting snagged. In snaggy, deeper areas, use a weedless jig head with a small ball sinker tied into your loop knot to get the soft plastic to the desired depth without getting snagged. If fishing in open water, use a regular jig head setup with a treble or two attached.
The hook size of your jig head should be proportional to the size of your soft plastic. You want the hook point to protrude about halfway down the length of your soft plastic, maximising the hookup rate without limiting the action. When rigging your soft plastic, ensure it is straight on your jig head so that the soft plastic swims right on the drop without spinning.
There are several types of jig heads, including football, mushroom, and darting. Football jig heads are designed to drag soft plastics on the bottom, imitating the kicking action of a crawfish trying to escape. Mushroom jig heads stand vertically on the bottom, while darting jig heads have most of their weight forward of the line tie, allowing the lure to jump side to side and dart forward.
When rigging your soft plastic lure, slide the hook point of the jig head into the head of the soft plastic and ensure the hook comes out through the centre of the lure. Stop once you get to the barbs of the jig head. Twist the lure 90 degrees, push it up and over the barbs, then twist the lure back into place. This is known as the 90-degree load, ensuring that the plastic in front of the hook remains untouched.
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The best soft plastics to use
Soft plastics have revolutionised barramundi fishing. Barramundi are ambush predators that target live bait fish, prawns, and sometimes amphibians. Soft plastics that replicate these prey items are used by anglers in a variety of situations.
When choosing the best soft plastics to catch barramundi, consider the following:
- Paddletails: Paddle tail soft plastics work best when barramundi are hunting bait fish like Boney Bream and Mullet. Cast long across the area the barramundi are feeding and use a medium-paced wind to swim the lure through the strike zone. This will look like bait fish trying to escape, enticing feeding barramundi.
- Soft prawns: Shrimp-style soft plastics are a better option when barramundi are in a more specific area like a hole or snag. Cast the prawn right into the area and let it swim down on a tight line with a few little hops and twitches on the way down. This will look just like a prawn, and you can let the lure hang in front of the fish before slowly retrieving it.
- Frogs: Frogs are another key style of soft plastic that can be used to catch barramundi.
- Swimbaits: Both hard-bodied and soft plastic swimbaits have a place, mainly in impoundment barramundi fishing. They tend to be expensive and require heavy tackle, but they can be effective when barramundi are feeding on larger models of bony bream.
Other tips for choosing the best soft plastics include:
- Size: If fish are hitting bigger plastics, switch to a larger plastic. If tentative bites or short bites at the tail are forthcoming, move down to a smaller plastic and hook size.
- Jig heads: Standard jig heads are a simple and effective way to rig soft plastic lures for barramundi. They offer good exposure of the hook point and barb, and they ride with the point upwards, providing good snag resistance.
- Weedless jig heads: If fishing in shallow weedy areas, use an unweighted weedless jig head to fish your soft plastic through the weeds without getting snagged.
- Treble hook setups: If fishing in deeper open water, use a jig head with a single treble attached to increase the chances of hooking fish.
- Weight: Light plastics are less likely to be thrown when a barramundi jumps and shakes than a big hard body.
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The right gear for soft plastics
The right gear is critical to success when using soft plastics to target barramundi. Here's what you need to know to get started:
Rod and Reel Setup: Opt for a rod that's 6-7 feet in length, paired with a 3000 or 4000 size reel. This setup offers sensitivity for detecting subtle bites and a comfortable casting experience. Look for a rod with a medium-heavy power rating and a fast action tip to handle the weight of soft plastics and provide solid hook-setting capability.
Braided fishing line: Spool your reel with 20-30 lb braided line. Braided line provides greater sensitivity, allowing you to detect even the faintest bites. Its thin diameter also enables better casting distance and cuts through weeds or structure more easily, ensuring your soft plastics reach the target zone.
Leader: Attach a fluorocarbon leader to your main line using a uni-knot or similar connection. A leader length of 3-4 feet is ideal, with a leader strength of 30-40 lb test. Fluorocarbon is nearly invisible underwater, providing a stealthy presentation, and it also has less stretch than monofilament, further enhancing sensitivity.
Soft Plastics: Choose soft plastic lures that mimic the natural prey of barramundi. Opt for 3-5 inch minnow-style plastics, curl-tail grubs, or paddle-tail swimbaits in natural colours like white, silver, or translucent. Ensure you have a varied selection of colours and lure actions to experiment with, as barra can be finicky at times.
Terminal Tackle: Utilise jig heads specifically designed for soft plastics. Match the jig head weight to the depth you're fishing and the current strength; a good starting point is a 1/4 ounce jig head. Also, include weedless jig heads in your arsenal, which feature a spring-keeper system to secure your plastics and help prevent snagging on structure or weeds.
Storage: Keep your soft plastics organised and easily accessible with a dedicated storage system. A compact tackle bag or box with custom compartments ensures you can quickly select the right lure when the fishing action is at its peak.
With the right gear and some dedicated practice, you'll consistently catch barramundi on soft plastics.
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Soft plastics vs hard bodies
Soft plastics have revolutionised barramundi fishing, allowing even newcomers a chance to catch these iconic sportfish. Barramundi are apex predators that target mostly live baitfish, prawns, and sometimes amphibians. Soft plastics can be used to replicate these prey items. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colours, with paddle tail and shrimp or prawn styles being the most popular. Paddle tail soft plastics work best when the barramundi are hunting baitfish, while shrimp styles are better when the fish are in a specific area like a hole or snag.
Soft plastics can be rigged in a wide range of ways to suit different fishing scenarios. Jig heads, weedless jig heads, and treble hook setups are all possible. If fishing in deeper open water, a jig head with a single treble hook can be used to increase the chances of hooking the fish. In shallow weedy areas, an unweighted weedless jig head can be used to avoid getting snagged. When fishing in snaggy deeper areas, a weedless jig head with a small ball sinker can be used to get the soft plastic down while preventing snagging.
Hard-bodied lures also have their place in barramundi fishing, particularly in impoundment fishing. They tend to be more expensive and require heavier tackle to cast and work properly. However, they can be effective when nothing else is working, such as when barramundi are feeding on larger prey.
When it comes to size, smaller lures in the 80-130mm range tend to be preferred for barramundi fishing, although larger lures can also catch fish. It's important to match the size of the lure to the size of the fish you're targeting. If fish are hitting bigger lures, switch to a larger lure. If tentative or short bites are occurring, move down to a smaller lure and hook size.
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Frequently asked questions
Paddle tail soft plastics work best when the barra are hunting bait fish, and shrimp-style soft plastics are better when the barra are in a more specific area like a hole or snag. Soft prawns and frogs are also common lures used to catch barra.
The setup depends on the type of water you are fishing in. If you are fishing in deeper open water, use a jig head with a single treble. If you are fishing in shallow weedy areas, use an unweighted weedless jig head. If you are fishing in snaggy deeper areas, use a weedless jig head with a small ball sinker.
Roll, twitch, lift, drop, and boof, usually in that order. This will help you get the lure deep into the structure and is a skill in itself.
You will need a reel and a rod. Nomad Sport Fishing recommends using Shimano reels and rods. You will also need soft plastics lures, which can be purchased as part of discounted pre-purchase lure packs.
Soft plastics can be rigged in a wide range of ways depending on the fishing scenario. Standard jig heads are one of the simplest and most effective ways to rig soft plastics for barramundi.
