Jay Dubya

Australia doesn't farm Nile Perch. We farm Barramundi (Lates Calcarifer), a purely Australian fish that is very very closely related to the Nile Perch, but has some differences (needs further research, an silghtly incorrect article is here if you look at nativefish DOT asn DOT au SLASH barramundi Unlike the fat lazy fish in Egypt, Australian Barra are one of the hardest fighting sports fish you can encounter. Salt water barra assemble in the ocean, go upstream to breed during the wet (tropical rainy) season. Occasionally they get landlocked, fat and lazy. Salt water Barra will leap, shake, buck. I had a lure thrown nearly 100 yards by a monster Barra; all she did was shake her head when she came up. The picture you see is a big breeding female Nile Perch; Barra are born Male and change to Female. Barra will take anything including other Barramundi if they are in a feeding mood. Most of the time they aren't, and its very frustrating. We usually fish for them with lures simply because bait attracts crocs, and because Barra are territorial, and will strike at fish that invade their space (so bright flashy colours invoke a response). We fish from aluminium boats with hardbodied and softbodied lures and bait. Mainly because the crocs find it harder to get the aluminium out of their teeth afterwards instead of cleaning their teeth with toothpicks from timber boats. Mind you, there are plenty of idiots that are happy to wade in and tempt fate, and thankfully the crocodile participates in this natural human process selection, weeding out the stupid and ignorant. Two weeks ago there was a 4.7 metre croc (thats around 17 footer) removed about one km downstream from one of our favourite swimming holes. Estuarine Crocodile, or Saltwater croc. Crocs over 3m will take horses. Mind you, no matter where we are, we are always polite enough to let the visitors get in the water first; can't be too careful. ;D Anyway, book your flight to Australia mate, plenty of fishing, none of the hassles