TGFC x Mike Carney Group Barra Bash 2026 Lucinda
22nd to 25th July 2026 15 Years of North Queensland's Premier Barra Tournament
North Queensland has the best and most consistent barramundi fishing on the east coast of Australia. Every July, the Hinchinbrook Channel proves it.
The TGFC Incl. Mike Carney Group Barra Bash is now in its 15th year and has grown into one of the most anticipated fishing events on the Queensland calendar. More than 150 anglers across 60 teams made the pilgrimage to Lucinda last year and 2026 is shaping up to be bigger again.
This isn't just a fishing tournament. It's three days of world-class barra fishing, evening entertainment, the famous Calcutta auction, and the kind of camaraderie you only find when serious anglers share the same stretch of water. Whether you're chasing the champion team trophy or your first crack at a tournament barra, the Barra Bash is an experience you'll be talking about long after you've loaded the boat.
THE PROGRAM
Check in at Lucinda Cove Resort from 3:00pm (thanks to Construction Sciences)
5:30pm - Compulsory Skippers Briefing. Rules and scoring discussed
7:00pm - BBQ Dinner (thanks to Construction Sciences)
8:30pm - Calcutta Auction
WEDNESDAY 22nd JULY
ARRIVE & SETUP
5:30am - Breakfast To Go and Sign Out
7:00am - Start Fishing
5:00pm - Cease Fishing and Sign In
7:30pm - Dinner and Entertainment (thanks to Cutlers Diesel Performance)
THURSDAY 23rd JULY
DAY 1 FISHING
5:30am - Breakfast To Go and Sign Out
7:00am - Start Fishing
4:00pm - Cease Fishing and Sign In
7:30pm - Dinner and Presentation Night (thanks to TSG)
FRIDAY 24th JULY
DAY 2 FISHING & PRESENTATION
SATURDAY 25th JULY
END OF EVENT
Depart Lucinda Cove Resort
HOW IT WORKS
Barramundi Scoring Each team nominates their largest ten barramundi across the two fishing days. Fish are caught, measured on a brag mat, photographed and released - no weigh-in required. Points are calculated by centimetre, rounded down to the nearest whole number. A 72cm barra equals 72 points. All fish must be entered and uploaded to the TGFC Barra Bash App within one hour of cease fishing each day.
Other Species Eight additional species categories run alongside the main barra competition - no points, just photo proof of your largest catch. Categories include Mangrove Jack, Salmon, Flathead, Trevally, Bream, Cod, Fingermark, and Grunter.
Tackle Rules Artificial and biodegradable artificial lures only. No live or prepared bait. One rod in use at any time. All barramundi must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Enviro landing nets are encouraged.
Photo Requirements Photos must be taken directly above the fish - no angles. Fish must be mouth-hard against the brag mat, lying straight, shadow-free. Unclear or incorrectly taken photos may be disqualified by tournament judges. When in doubt, take two.
AWARDS CATEGORIES
Champion Team
2nd Place Team
3rd Place Team
TEAM AWARDS
Biggest Barramundi Day 1
Biggest Barramundi Day 2
Overall Biggest Barramundi
First Barra Caught Day 1
Last Barra Caught Day 1
First Barra Caught Day 2
Last Barra Caught Day 2
Mystery Length Barra
BARRAMUNDI AWARDS
Biggest:
Mangrove Jack
Salmon
Flathead
Trevally
Bream
Cod
Fingermark
Grunter
SPECIES AWARDS
NOVELTY AWARD
High & Dry Award
THE CALCUTTA
Wednesday night's Calcutta Auction is one of the highlights of the event. Teams are auctioned to the crowd - the winning bidder gets a share of the Calcutta pool if their team finishes on the podium.
Calcutta Payout Structure:
1st Place Team - 50% of earnings
2nd Place Team - 30% of earnings
3rd Place Team - 10% of earnings
4th Place Team - 5% of earnings
Barra Restocking - 5% of earnings
Lucinda Cove Resort The tournament base for the entire event - check in, evening dinners, entertainment, and the presentation night all happen here. Fully air-conditioned self-contained apartments, true waterfront accommodation on the southern end of the Hinchinbrook Channel, a stone's throw from the Lucinda/Dungeness boat ramps.
Accommodation is available through the resort directly. We strongly recommend booking early - this event fills Lucinda Cove Resort every year.
THE VENUE
IMPORTANT RULES SUMMARY
A full copy of the official tournament rules will be provided at registration and discussed at the compulsory Skippers Briefing. Key points to note:
Teams must have valid boat insurance covering all passengers
Registration must be completed via the tournament App
All competitors must remain in the boat during competition days
Fish must be submitted to the App within one hour of cease fishing
Protests must be lodged in writing within 30 minutes of the day's appointed finish time
Tournament judges' decisions are final
BECOME A SPONSOR
The Barra Bash offers a range of sponsorship and partnership packages from naming rights through to species category sponsors. With 60+ teams, 150+ anglers, and growing media coverage, this is one of the strongest brand exposure opportunities on the North Queensland fishing calendar.