Chittum Down Under:The Barramundi bite
“From explosive surface strikes to gnarly jumps and head shakes, the barra is an incredible species to target — whether on fly or conventional tackle.”
While the Chittum Skiff was originally purchased for our lodge on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, midway through transit we decided to open a second lodge in the Whitsundays. We knew the Chittum would be the perfect fit for chasing the iconic tuskfish around the islands’ shallow flats — and of course, the mighty barramundi.
Our new lodge is located in Airlie Beach, in the heart of the tropical Whitsundays. It’s just a short drive to local boat ramps and about 38 minutes to Peter Faust Dam, a fishery that’s earned its reputation for holding plenty of “holy grail” metre-plus barramundi. From explosive surface strikes to gnarly jumps and head shakes, the barra is an incredible species to target — whether on fly or conventional tackle.
Lake Proserpine (Peter Faust Dam) sits about 25 km west of the town of Proserpine, nestled in the hinterland of the stunning Whitsunday region. The fishery offers a wide range of structure — from heavily wooded river lines and shallow creeks to lush weed beds and deep open water — all providing ideal conditions for hunting trophy-sized barra.
Thanks to the region’s tropical climate, barramundi can be caught year-round, though they tend to be more challenging during the cooler months. Our fishing season runs from August through March, which is prime time for both the islands and the dam.
The primary diet for barramundi in Peter Faust Dam consists mainly of bony bream, along with other small fish and crustaceans like shrimp and prawns. Larger barra feed more heavily on fish, while the smaller ones tend to focus on crustaceans. When it comes to flies, we try to “match the hatch” using patterns like Bendback Deceivers, Pink Things, Gold Bombers, and frog imitations, just to name a few.
As for the Chittum — we opted for the full carbon Snake Bight Skiff. Living in Australia, I purchased this skiff without even taking it for a test drive, and I couldn’t be happier with that decision! The handling, stability, and ride are second to none, and I can’t recommend these boats highly enough.
