BEAUT BARRA
BARRAMUNDI are thriving in Copperlode Dam, 12 months after thousands of the fish were released into Cairns’ main water reservoir.
More than 30,000 barra fingerlings were released into Lake Morris in October last year, and some of the target species have already grown as large as 70cm.
It is only the second time barra have been stocked in the dam since it was built 40 years ago.
Copperlode Dam Fishing and Kayak operator Kim Andersen, a former fisheries officer, said he had been amazed at the growth rate of the fish.
“It’s consistent with the growth rate that they got in the ’90s,” he said.
“They were growing 3mm a day, average growth rate, when they were small. How big they’ll get is all relative to food source and whatever else, but technically they can live for 25 years, and probably grow to 1.5m in there.”
The dam was opened to commercial use by Cairns Regional Council in July 2015, with permits so far awarded to Copperlode Fishing and Kayak, and to Raging Thunder for canyoning.
Fishing is only permitted at the dam under the supervision of an authorised guide.
This is due to the risk of contaminants entering the city’s water supply and the dangers of towing a boat along Lake Morris Rd.
Mr Andersen said the dam ecosystem appeared to be in a pristine condition.
“We run a tagging program, and I’ve tagged about 500 barramundi, of which we’ve had four recaptures,” he said.
“Scientists tell me that this means we have a very healthy fishery.”
The dam is also home to bony bream, sooty grunter, archerfish, sleepy cod, eeltailed catfish, and mangrove jack that were stocked there in the 1990s.
“You still see masses of bony bream swimming around in the lake,” Mr Andersen said.
“They’re still in abundant supply.”