Fishing, families and community celebrated at 2026 Recfishwest Apex Kununurra Barra Bash

Kununurra was buzzing with fishers from near and far once again, as 1,350 entrants came together for four fantastic days of fishing, festivals and community spirit at the 2026 Recfishwest Apex Kununurra Barra Bash.

Held over the long weekend of 24–27 September, the Apex Kununurra volunteer-run East Kimberley event attracted plenty of families, locals and interstate travellers to fish the signature competition.

Across the competition, fishers recorded 386 barramundi, 265 catfish and 160 sooty grunter.

Apex Kununurra’s Dylan Hearty said the Apex crew put in a big shift each year to deliver the event, with all proceeds reinvested into community initiatives.

“You’re welcomed like a local if you come to visit us and get to be amongst this space while chasing after some amazing trophy barramundi,” said Dylan.

Recfishwest was proud to once again support the Barra Bash as naming rights sponsor and celebrate the volunteers who continue to make events like this possible in regional WA.

Since 2013, more than 1.5 million barramundi have been stocked creating a fantastic fishery in Lake Kununurra and in the Lower Ord system on the doorstep of town.

Recfishwest Operations Officer Levi De Boni said it was great to see local and travelling fishers enjoying the fishery during the Barra Bash.

“We’re delighted to support an event that brings the community together in this way and where we can see the fruits of more than a decade of barramundi stocking in Lake Kununurra,” Levi said.

“Apex Kununurra do an incredible job putting on the event – and it’s a credit to them and the success of the decade-long stocking program that the event has gone from strength to strength.

“The Barra Bash brings families and fishers from across WA and interstate to enjoy this fantastic fishery, and seeing hundreds of barra recorded over just a few days demonstrates the fishing experiences stocking can help create.

That’s why we’re working hard alongside the local community to re-establish the barramundi stocking program and help ensure these benefits continue well into the future.”

Winners are very big grinners

Taking out the biggest barra honours was Angus MacDonald, with an impressive 119cm barramundi topping this year’s leaderboard.

Chris Jowett claimed the combined catch title, while Ezra Fejo walked away $10,000 richer after taking out the Mystery Barra prize.

But one of the weekend’s biggest moments belonged to Robbie Leary, whose name was drawn as the winner of the highly anticipated boat prize.

 Robbie Leary said the Barra Bash is a huge event for the East Kimberley, one of the biggest weekends of the year, which made it so exciting to become the ‘proud keeper of the boat’.

“We took the family out the very next day on the lake, with every boat that came past cheering us on or congratulating us. It was great vibes out on the water,” Robbie said

Fun and games off the water

Months of preparation by Apex Kununurra volunteers shone through across four activity-filled days, jam-packed with festivals, surprise giveaways, live music, face painting, games and more!

The ‘kids lure dig’, Recfishwest’s ‘Lob it in the Gob’ casting game and community ‘clean-up country’ competition category also landed plenty of smiles off the water, giving visiting fishers even more reasons to make the journey north.

“It’s unreal to be able to come and be a part of a great community with amazing prizes. It’s absolutely stunning,” Dylan said. Recfishwest was proud to once again support the Barra Bash as naming rights sponsor and celebrate the volunteers who continue to make events like this possible in regional WA.

Check out the highlights from this year’s competition in the video below, and a big congratulations to all of this year’s winners. We can’t wait to see everyone back for another Barra Bash next year!