Hazelwood Vic. BARRA already up to 6 kilos!

[Roverlord off road spares]

Move over Darwin. We have barra down south!
A survey of Hazelwood Pondage last week captured 20 stocked barramundi, the biggest of which weighed over 6kg.
That's exceptional growth and exciting news for freshwater anglers hoping to chase a barra right here in Victoria.
These growth rates are comparable, if not better, than some of Australia's best tropical barra fisheries.
Fisheries Victoria scientists will continue to monitor the fishery and acoustically track several tagged fish.
The Pondage remains closed to all fishing for now, though we are hopeful of an official opening before Christmas.
Stocking Hazelwood with barra is all part of the State Government's Target One Million plan for recreational fishing, which aims to get more Victorians fishing, more often - www.vic.gov.au/targeto (http://www.vic.gov.au/targetonemillion)

[strangy]

Yeah but..
Have they stocked the crocs too? Nothing like being stalked by a croc while fishing.

[rangieman]

Yeah but..
Have they stocked the crocs too? Nothing like being stalked by a croc while fishing.

No but we could be stalked by Fisheries and they can be deadlier than croc`s:twisted:

[Roverlord off road spares]

Taking about crocs, I watched a fishing show today where the angler was fishing for Barra and hooked a Crock on his lure, suprisingly he manage to get it boat side., after a good fight. I didn't watch it all but they got there lure back I think.

[bob10]

Vics have never been backward in coming forward with self promotion. I believe it is called marketing. And good luck to them. Don't hold your breath waiting for that big barra, though.

The optimum temperature for barramundi culture is 28 C, with acceptable growth rates between 26-30 C. Temperatures below this range will result in decreased metabolism and growth. Barramundi generally stop feeding at temperatures below 20 C. To maintain acceptable growing temperature conditions, some existing farms rely on the use of warm subterranean bore water and climate controlled or insulated sheds. Expensive alternatives include the heating of individual tanks with electric submerged heaters. At optimum temperatures, barramundi can be raised to market size (500g) between 6-12 months.

[rovercare]

Vics have never been backward in coming forward with self promotion. I believe it is called marketing. And good luck to them. Don't hold your breath waiting for that big barra, though.

The optimum temperature for barramundi culture is 28 C, with acceptable growth rates between 26-30 C. Temperatures below this range will result in decreased metabolism and growth. Barramundi generally stop feeding at temperatures below 20 C. To maintain acceptable growing temperature conditions, some existing farms rely on the use of warm subterranean bore water and climate controlled or insulated sheds. Expensive alternatives include the heating of individual tanks with electric submerged heaters. At optimum temperatures, barramundi can be raised to market size (500g) between 6-12 months.

which would make the hazel wood cooling pond the perfect water temperature for barramundi to grow.....bob;)

[Grentarc]

which would make the hazel wood cooling pond the perfect water temperature for barramundi to grow.....bob;)

With the minimum recorded temperature being around 22 degrees C from memory, it is why it was (guessing past tense because there are now Barra there) overrun with feral cichlids.

[Homestar]

So what happens when they decommission the power station in a couple of years...

[rovercare]

So what happens when they decommission the power station in a couple of decades...

Just corrected it for you

[Grentarc]

It took them around 10 years from when they started talking about releasing Barra there to actually doing it, so going by that time line they have a good decade or 2 before that happens ;)

[Homestar]

Vics have never been backward in coming forward with self promotion. I believe it is called marketing. And good luck to them. Don't hold your breath waiting for that big barra, though.

The optimum temperature for barramundi culture is 28 C, with acceptable growth rates between 26-30 C. Temperatures below this range will result in decreased metabolism and growth. Barramundi generally stop feeding at temperatures below 20 C. To maintain acceptable growing temperature conditions, some existing farms rely on the use of warm subterranean bore water and climate controlled or insulated sheds. Expensive alternatives include the heating of individual tanks with electric submerged heaters. At optimum temperatures, barramundi can be raised to market size (500g) between 6-12 months.

Just in case you didn't know Bob, the Hazelwood Pondage is heated as it is the main cooling for the Hazelwood power station. At the outlets - which are off limits to the public - the temp is very high, but by the time it reaches the public area - the main part of the lake at the top end via a channel, it's around 30, then drops to around 22 to 24 at the very end by the time it reaches the overflow. There's a cooler to make the water temp more 'victorian' by the time it reaches the outer waterways.

You can swim comfortably in it in the middle of Winter - we use to as kids all the time. :)

[rangieman]

Just in case you didn't know Bob, the Hazelwood Pondage is heated as it is the main cooling for the Hazelwood power station. At the outlets - which are off limits to the public - the temp is very high, but by the time it reaches the public area - the main part of the lake at the top end via a channel, it's around 30, then drops to around 22 to 24 at the very end by the time it reaches the overflow. There's a cooler to make the water temp more 'victorian' by the time it reaches the outer waterways.

You can swim comfortably in it in the middle of Winter - we use to as kids all the time. :)

Thinking maybe someone that is supposed to be really good at google would have worked that out before they typed such a long winded rant:angel:

[bob10]

Just in case you didn't know Bob, the Hazelwood Pondage is heated as it is the main cooling for the Hazelwood power station. At the outlets - which are off limits to the public - the temp is very high, but by the time it reaches the public area - the main part of the lake at the top end via a channel, it's around 30, then drops to around 22 to 24 at the very end by the time it reaches the overflow. There's a cooler to make the water temp more 'victorian' by the time it reaches the outer waterways.

You can swim comfortably in it in the middle of Winter - we use to as kids all the time. :)

Thanks, didn't know that, but had a feeling it would have to be something like that. Still, fishing for barra in an impoundment has its drawbacks. For a start, the barra are usually fatty and have a weedy taste. However, you can usually get a good fight , for a short while. Great experience for kids, and for those who can't get to the real barra rivers. Unless they have access to salt water, barra can't breed, so the impoundments have to be constantly stocked. Be interesting to see the entry fee .

We have a number of these impoundments in the South East, you can have a good day out, without having to travel too far, but it's a bit like going to the zoo to look at the animals in the cages, just not the real thing. Barra fishing when you are not really barra fishing. I can travel north , sit on a river for hours and not catch a thing, but feel like there is no where else I would rather be. Sitting on an impoundment for hours not catching, doesn't seem the same, but I definitely see the advantage to those unable to travel , for whatever reason. You know what they say, a bad days fishing beats a good day working, any time.

[bob10]

Thinking maybe someone that is supposed to be really good at google would have worked that out before they typed such a long winded rant:angel:

Rant? as far as rants go, fairly average, I'd say. Probably because my typing finger was getting sore, not up to normal AULRO standards, I'll admit. If you want to hear a real rant, sit in a boat with me on the Normanby river, fishing most of the day , no fish, finally hook one, and a scaly mongrel of a thing decided he wanted it more than me. Now THAT was a rant. That was a very long time ago, too long, time to go back. [ sigh!]

[rovercare]

Rant? as far as rants go, fairly average, I'd say. Probably because my typing finger was getting sore, not up to normal AULRO standards, I'll admit. If you want to hear a real rant, sit in a boat with me on the Normanby river, fishing most of the day , no fish, finally hook one, and a scaly mongrel of a thing decided he wanted it more than me. Now THAT was a rant. That was a very long time ago, too long, time to go back. [ sigh!]

Grandpa bob?

[bob10]

Grandpa bob?

Not quite,no crocodile, but my crusty old mate, not as dangerous as a croc, every time he laughs, he spits his false teeth out. He could only gum you death. I used to threaten that I would throw him out if a big lizard came near, his reply channeled John Wayne, " that'll be the day, Pilgrim". Then he would laugh and spit out the teeth. He doesn't fish any more, too old.