Common Name: Giant Sea Perch (Lates
calcarifer). Siakap in Malay, and Kim Bak Lor in Hokkien among
the southern Malaysian Hokkiens. Barramundi in Australia.
Description: Carnivorous fish. Has a silvery body with armour of hard scales. When hooked, the sea perch jumps out of the water, shaking the head vigirously from side to side to dislodge hook.Can attain maximum size of 1.5 metres, weighing over 15kg.Found mostly near piers, along coastline and estuarine waters.This fish feeds on small crustaceans and fish.
Tips: Best baits are live ones, such as live prawns and fish like the gelama, kembung and selayang. Lures of bright colours are also said to yield results. Use 20lb mainline with a wire trace of 25lb. If using live fish, use free lining, allowing the prey to lure out the predator. If using prawn, hook it by the tail and suspend it from a float. Hook size: 1/0 alone or ganged.