The Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) is a freshwater fish species in the snooks family (family Centropomidae) of order Perciformes (perch-likes). The Barramundi is native to the Indo-West Pacific regions which includes Thailand.
Barramundi Diet
The adult Barramundi is a predatory fish striking predominately at small fish. At early stages of life the Barramundi would feed primarily on insects, weeds & algae.
Barramundi Identification
The Barramundi has a silver or grey body with dark brown or black tail fin rays. The body shape is elongated and slightly oblique and the upper jaw extends behind the eye.
Barramundi Fly Fishing in Thailand
Thailand Flyfishing Season: All year
Often known for its spectacular violent head shaking leaps from the water during a fight, the Barramundi justifiably commands respect from those who seek it out. Surprisingly, this, the gamest of all game fish is relatively unknown to many fly fishermen. Pound for pound the Barramundi will outrun, outstrip and outfight any salmonoid. After landing his first ever Barramundi, Dave Williams remarked “ this fish does not know when to give up !”
Barramundi Lates calcarifer is a catadromous species; it grows to maturity in the upper reaches of freshwater rivers and descends downstream to estuaries and coastal waters for spawning. They are also protoandrous hermaphrodites: they start life as males, reaching maturity at 3 to 4 years old and later change gender to become females, usually at around 5 years old.
Barramundi are usually a pale blue to grey-green colour with a coppery shimmer, silvery on the sides and white below. It has a pointed head, concave forehead a large jaw extending behind the eye and a rounded caudal fin. It has a first dorsal fin with seven or eight strong spines and a second soft-rayed dorsal fin with ten or eleven rays. They can grow to a maximum length of 2 m (6 ft 7 in), weighing in up to 60 K (130 lbs). Specimens weighing around 8 - 15 lbs are more commonly caught in Thailand. Although larger fish are both seen and caught.
The females produce large numbers of small, non-adhesive, pelagic eggs between 0.6 mm and 0.9 mm in diameter (one 22 Kg female was recorded as having 17 million eggs) The eggs appear pinkish when water hardened. The eggs hatch within 15 - 20 hours at which time the larvae are are around 1.5 mm in length and the mouth and eyes are well developed, although the yolk sac is large. At 2.5 mm the mouth is large and open, the yolk sac is greatly reduced and the pectoral fins are beginning to develop. Above this size the larvae begin to exhibit the the characteristic colouration of juveniles of this species - overall brown mottled markings with a white stripe running lengthwise along the head. At 3.5 mm the yolk sac is all but gone, fin rays are beginning to appear and the teeth are well developed. By the fifth day the yolk sac has been completely absorbed and by 8.5 mm the fins are fully developed.
Growth rate is variable but generally rapid. Typical overall lengths at the end of each year are -
Year Length Range (mm)
1 310 - 330
2 430 - 500
3 529 - 610
4 610 - 690
5 730 - 770
6 810 +
The name Barramundi is a loanword from a Queensland Aboriginal language of the Rockhampton area meaning “large scales” or “large scaly river fish”. However, for marketing reasons the name was appropriated during the 1980s, a decision which has raised the profile of this sporting fish. Barramundi are also known as Asian seabass, giant perch, giant sea perch, white seabass, Siakap in Malay & Pla Kapong in Thai.
In Thailand, Barramundi are found only in the Chachoengsao district adjacent to the Bang Plakon river. Dry season saline intrusion into this low gradient river has saturated the surrounding low laying land with salt for centuries. Aided by a network of irrigation canals, there is a profusion of brackish water lakes and ponds which are ideal homes for Barramundi. The fish caught are an average of 10 lbs with specimens reaching 15 lbs plus. There are currently 3 IGFA Barramundi world records from this area.
The Thailand Barramundi is the most obliging of gamefish. It is an ambushing, opportunist feeder during night and daylight hours. It will also take a fly out of aggression, curiosity and territorial defence instincts. Its diet includes baitfish, crayfish, crab and its younger, smaller siblings. Its usual method of feeding is to suck the prey into its large mouth, then expel the excess water through its gills. Generally, Thai Barramundi commence daylight feeding during late morning, around 11 am. As the day progresses, so their feeding becomes more intense. At the same time their metabolism increases, so as the day progresses, the fish becomes stronger and a fiercer fight ensues. Also, rather strangely, the brighter and more intense the sunlight - the better the fishing !
Nearly every guest who booked one Barramundi fly fishing day has asked to book additional fishing day before leaving Thailand !