Champion angler Alan Macdonald reels in rare albino barramundi at Lake Tinaroo

A Far North angler says he couldn’t believe his eyes after he reeled in a 90cm albino barramundi while fishing at Lake Tinaroo.

A Far North angler says he couldn’t believe his eyes after he reeled in a 90cm albino barramundi while fishing at Lake Tinaroo.

Alan Macdonald and his mate, Kayne Chick, caught the fish last Wednesday using mouth almighty, a native Australian fish, as bait.

“When it first jumped out of the water my mate got pretty excited,” Mr Macdonald said.

“I almost couldn't believe my eyes I thought I was seeing things.”

The 90cm albino barramundi was posed with for pictures before the beauty was returned to the water.

“We brought him in for a quick look and a photo but didn't want to keep such a beautiful fish out of the water too long and put him right back to live another day.”

The Tablelands man said he had never seen anything like it in his 30 years fishing Tinaroo.

“I’ve fished Tinaroo a lot and never seen a fish like this one,” he said.

“It’s absolutely my number one catch for sure.

Tablelands Angler Alan Macdonald with a rare albino barramundi he caught while fishing Lake Tinaroo. Photo: Supplied

“My previous favourite was a giant mangrove jack I also caught on Lake Tinaroo, but I certainly have to stick this one at top spot now.”

Mr Macdonald is a highly regarded fisherman among the community having won Champion Angler in the Tinaroo Barra Bash in 2021 when he reeled in 10 barra, with one measuring a whopping 122cm.

Tinaroo Barra Bash secretary Ann Leighton said an albino barramundi of that size was exceptionally rare.

“We get a fair few with partial albinism and patches of that white colouration but a fully white one is rare because they stand out so much to predators especially birds because they just cannot camouflage into their surroundings,” she said.

Mr Macdonald said it was amazing to be able to one up close.

“The would usually get predated on as fingerlings but this one was certainly very healthy and back swimming around out there doing his thing which is the important thing.”

Originally published as Champion angler Alan Macdonald reels in rare albino barramundi at Lake Tinaroo