Setting up your boat for barra fishing is critical if you want to maximise catches.
I have everything I use regularly a hand reach away. Other less common items are stowed.
I prefer a tiller steer with open deck.
I like a clean deck with plenty of room to fight the fish.
And my live bait tank is the best I’ve ever seen for keeping live bait alive.
This month marks the end of an era with my retirement from charters and a new beginning with our Fish Smarter online fishing courses.
Rather than bake in the hot sun, now I mentor my students from the comfort of my air conditioned office. Or from a lap top in our cabin aboard Mood Swings.
But before I hang up my charter guiding hat for good, I thought I’d share how I have set up my 5.6 m custom craft Super Punt barra boat.
Many years of trial and error have gone into the vessel. It might not be for everyone. But it has sure worked for me as a barra guide.
The video below demonstrate the open plan tiller set up I prefer for barra fishing.
Good bye old girl, I’m gonna miss you.
We are replacing the barra punt with a 6 m Custom Craft North wind long boat built by BME Cairns. This vessel will be more suited to towing behind the game boat in our fishing travels.
Some of the more useful features of the barra boat include; plumbed live bait tank, open plan with centre esky, quick release cleats and under gunnel rod storage.
And of course my essential array of Garmin marine sounding equipment and transducers.
Following are a series of blogs mentioned in the video pertaining to certain aspects of the set up.

More barra boat set up tips
-
How to build a fibreglass boat deck that doesn't get hot
Every few years I refit my boat, building in a custom non-slip fibreglass floor that doesn't get hot
-
Store rods safely with these handy rod cleats
Australia would have to be one of the most over-regulated countries in the world. Keeping on top
-
Mounting your transducer tips
Does your sounder cut out when you travel at speed? Mounting your transducer to read at speed plays
-
How to catch barra; Anchor on the fish
Anchoring on the fish while live baiting for barramundi or other tropical species has never been eas
More free fishing tips
-
Sneak peek into Barra Basics
Getting lots of questions about Barra Basics so I thought I'd quickly share a sneak peek video we ma
-
Large mouth Nannygai on Wonky Holes
Every time I find myself wanting to catch some large mouth nannygai, I'm always on the look out for
-
Spinning Reel Basics
Spinning reels are a great way to catch fish, however they do twist up your line if used incorrectly
-
Best way to get lures off snags
One of my most useful tips is how to get lures off snags and this is the topic of our latest video.
If you're new to this blog and have never heard of our fishing courses, you can find out more here:
And if you enjoyed this tip and would like to see more, enter your name and email to join our free fishing community and go in the draw to win a barra charter with Ryan Moody.

Leave A Response