Are barra set to be the next big thing on the thriving US fishing tournament circuit?
The American public gets a chance to catch this hard-fighting Aussie fish during an October 3 benefit on private property in rural Osceola County, Florida.
The Great Barramundi Fishing Tournament will be held at Osceola Outback Adventures off U.S. 441, south of Holopaw. The site features three man-made impoundments leased to Eco Barramundi, an Australian aquaculture firm that on occasion opens the site for public fishing.
The barra stocked ponds have Floridians anticipating tangling with a fish similar to their native snook, and a fish that grows a lot bigger.
Joan Needleman, the director for 4 The Kids of Brevard, an organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life for underprivileged and at-risk children, convinced Byron Hennecy, the manager of the fishing operation, to host a benefit for the organization.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for some spectacular fishing with a species found nowhere else in Florida,” said Needleman.
“We’re going to limit it to 75 people because we want everyone to have plenty of space to do their fishing.”
Anglers will be casting from the banks of the ponds, boats won’t be allowed.
For a $200 donation, adults will be allowed to fish for five hours (brabless hooks only) and all caught barra are to be released. Cash prizes are up for grabs for the biggest catches.
