At the Sunwater Kinchant Dam Open Day on August 20, members of Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association (MAFSA) transported 200 barramundi to the dam for release.
These fish were purchased by MAFSA using funds generated by the INDT 2022 World Sooty Championship event held at Eungella Dam on the May Day weekend. MAFSA runs this event annually (Covid permitting) and the funds raised supplement those grants obtained under the Stocked Impoundment Permit scheme and all funds are used exclusively in the Mackay area.
The 200 barramundi averaged 330mm in length and were purchased from a local supplier.
It is unusual to release large fish, but as the fish were tagged MAFSA decided to use larger fish to increase their chances of survival to legal (580mm) size or better. In that way better data should be able to be obtained.
MAFSA Chairman Tim Swann said, “This is the first tagged barra release in Kinchant Dam and we are seeking data on growth rates of barra in the dam.
“Each tag has a dedicated ID number and if any angler catches a tagged barra they should take a photo, record the length of the fish, date of capture and if the fish was again released. That info can be phoned through to the mobile number on the tag.”
Kinchant dam is a fairly stable impoundment, that rarely overtops the wall, so these tagged fish should stay in the dam for many years and hopefully grow to over a metre in length. Anglers who catch them and record the details will be assisting MAFSA gather better knowledge of the results of the stocking in the dam.
The numbers of huge barra over 1200mm long already in the dam have proven to be a major drawcard for locals and visiting anglers alike. Kinchant dam has featured in many national publications and is part of the ABT Barra Tournaments each year.
“MAFSA also has a dedicated catch data app for Eungella Dam, Kinchant Dam, Teemburra Dam and the Pioneer River weirs.
“We stock these with various species mainly barramundi and sooty grunter, and this info is vital so we can build a data bank on them all. Any fishing in these areas should be logged on the app, even doughnuts, as the more data we have the better we can target stocking rates,” Mr Swann said.
Tagged barra have been previously released upstream in the Pioneer River and tag returns show some of these barra migrate to saltwater during floods. Records show they migrate north and south of the Pioneer system and a recent return provides further proof that MAFSA is improving Mackay’s saltwater barra fishery.
“Darcy MacFarlane caught a 1150mm barra in Constant Creek almost seven years after it had been released by MAFSA above Marian Weir when it was a 243mm fingerling,” Mr Swann added.
“I urge anyone catching a tagged fish to report the details and all anglers should use the MAFSA App in our stocked fisheries.
“For further info on tagging, fish stocking, sooty grunter spawning membership, contact us via our Facebook page or through the local tackle shops.
“Help us live up to our motto ‘MAFSA for a better fishing future’.”
200 barramundi were released into Kinchant Dam by members of Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association. Photos supplied
