Fishing from his Safari H2O kayak,
avid angler Dave Brace casts his thoughts on using big soft plastic lures and explains how to rig them to ensure you stay connected to those bigger barra.

Casting or trolling big baits doesn’t always mean you’ll attract big fish.

From experience, matching the hatch when lure fishing for barramundi is of utmost importance; however, there have also been times when even the closest representation has failed. To put it simply, sometimes barra just aren’t interested. I believe this is primarily due to the particular feeding mode and/or mood of any one fish, at any given time.
In spite of this, having the confidence in lure presentations and persisting with casting or trolling past the noses of shut down fish has led to incredible sessions. Discovering the lure that flicks the switch can be trying and challenging; however, it’s the sight and sound of a subtle soft plastic lure, as opposed to a rattling hardbody, that gives me more confidence when trying to wake these fish from their state of hypnosis.
Once one fish is caught, surrounding fish tend to also become more active, creating a feeding frenzy that often sees predators crave more sizable baits. I’m far from a finesse angler and when using larger lures with heavy gauged hooks, I have more confidence in luring and landing these larger predatory fish.
Size matters… to a point
Don’t be deceived though; just because you use big soft plastics doesn’t mean you’ll only catch big fish. Barramundi can be aggressive feeders depending on their feeding mood and less than legal length fish have also been caught using these big baits.
The ZMan 6” SwimmerZ is a favourite plastic of mine for casting at larger Australian freshwater predatory fish such as Murray cod, but even more so when targeting barramundi. Its versatility is exceptional when matched to various jigheads from the TT Lures range, whether rigged on a weighted or unweighted ChinlockZ or a weighted HeadlockZjighead.

The attached Size 1 VMC treble stinger hook rigged on this 8” Mag SwimZ didn’t miss its target fastening itself in the armour plated jaw of this nicely weighted fish.

The lure’s paddletail has a great action and vibrations can be felt all the way through the line to the angler’s hands. This likely explains why so many good-sized barramundi are taken on this presentation, especially in dirty water or during the cover of darkness. The lateral lines positioned on the fish’s sides are a seventh sense, designed to pick up on prey in such conditions.
The 8” Mag SwimZ is a step up from the 6” and it’s becoming my go-to lure when targeting these larger fish. Rigged on a whopping 12/0 ChinlockZjighead, the action of this big soft plastic isn’t impeded one iota. The 8” Mag SwimZ has a unique action in that its large belly rolls when retrieved through the water column. Unlike the 6” SwimmerZ the paddletail of the 8” Mag SwimZ features a curved paddletail that hooks under the lure’s tail to catch water. When combined with the super-soft ElaZtech material this creates an ultra-realistic swimming action.
This particular lure exerts vibrations in the water with minimal effort, even when the lure is retrieved at a very slow speed. This is perfect for more timid and inquisitive barramundi. Mind you, they are equally as effective when retrieved at higher speeds if you’re chasing a reaction bite as the lure doesn’t lose its form and maintains its likeness of a scattering baitfish.
For a more subtle approach, the 9” GrubZ is also worth packing into a tackle tray. These soft plastics embellish a large curly tail and cop their fair share of abuse, catching copious amounts of fish before they require changing. Rig it weedless on an 8/0, ¼ ozSnakelockZ for shallow water presentations or ¾ oz if trolling in open water.
Sting ’em
If barrastart short striking lures when trolling open water, attach a stinger hook configuration and add scent. The structure surrounding the environment I’m fishing dictates whether I attach a stinger hook or not. In an environment where aquatic weed is prevalent, attaching a stinger hook isn’t advisable, as it will only snag up more. Contrary to that, assist hooks rigged in conjunction with the jighead is highly recommended in open water.
There are other considerations though.
You have to be respectful of the size of some of these fish’s mouths. Recalling a few barramundi I have caught over the years, when removing the lure from their mouths, I was able to fit both of my dinner plate sized hands in there. The volume of water these fish inhale upon striking can be enormous. With that in mind, when a lure is drawn in, there’s no guarantee a jighead will find its mark. Slightly exposing the hook on a weedless jighead will increase your hook up rate.
Another reason stinger hooks are recommended stems from the speed in which these fish engulf lures. Barramundi strike their prey (lures included) by inhaling water which is then expelled through the gills just as quickly once they sense a foreign object within their sensitive membraned jaw line. This is where a stinger hook can be imperative as it swings around with the aim of clinching soft flesh.
Barramundi have armour-plated jaws and sometimes, regardless of how fast you strike or how sharp the stinger hooks are, these hangers miss the target. Anyone that’s experienced it will know how frustrating it can be.
The final reason, and probably the most important, is that barramundi aren’t always in a feeding mode; however, some of their territorial traits can bring about their downfall. This is especially true when individual fish strike a lure instinctively as it passes by their nose. It is in this scenario that you’ll find the hooks of your lure stuck steadfast on the bridge of the fish’s nose or on the bottom of its jaw, well away from the mouth.
Rig ’em right
Rigging these soft plastics requires a series of highly rated swivels and split rings. I squeeze the eye of the swivel over the barb of the jighead and attach the treble stinger hook to the other end via a split ring. I have a preference for 2/0 VMC 6x strength treble hooks when using the 6” SwimmerZ and a size 1 VMC treble hook when casting or trolling the 8” Mag SwimZ.

The author’s Safari H2O kayak bares the scars of some pretty big barramundi being pulled over the side.

Tackle shops that stock the TT Lures and ZMan range of lures will be able to assist you in ordering these particular sized lures, especially the larger 12/0 ChinlockZ and ChinlockZ SWS jigheads.
Spending time rigging these plastics with stinger hooks in the lead up to a barra expedition is well worth the effort as you need to get it right. Assembling several coloured lures rigged on a variety of weighted jigheads will also be beneficial for the ease of interchanging presentations quickly.
Remember it is the angler that sets the motive action of all lure types and variances in weighted jigheads, retrieval action, trolling speed and rod tip angles all influence how a lure swims and attracts fish.
Fishing with confidence is what drives me to be persistent when chasing these occasional elusive fish, especially when things aren’t going to plan; it’s all about the hunt and challenge. Using bigger soft plastic baits fills me with the belief that soon enough a heavy silver scaled brute will once again be subdued yakside.
Trial and error and spending time on the water only increases your knowledge. In turn, lessons are learned which coincidently elevates your chances of catching that fish of a lifetime and with every cast, you’re one step closer.

Passionate about fishing since his youth and in the past five years has been contributing in an honorary capacity to Queensland’s freshwater fisheries. He has been a member of MASA for a number of years and was involved in restocking barramundi into Lake Monduran. Now he is the founding president of the Ewen Maddock Fish Management Inc. a fish stocking group within the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. David primarily fishes freshwater and enjoys targeting Australian bass, saratoga, Murray cod and his favourite, barramundi. He prefers to target fish from his kayak.