The annual Murray cod season opened for anglers in NSW waters today, Tuesday 1 December, following a three-month closure for breeding.
Industry & Investment (I&I) NSW Inland Fisheries Manager Cameron Westaway said freshwater fishers are looking forward to fishing for the popular native species.
“Murray cod are a prized catch of freshwater anglers, and they are one of Australia’s largest freshwater fish. It grows up to 1.8 m and can weigh more than 100 kg,” Westaway said.
“Every year a three-month ban on fishing from September to November protects this native species during its breeding season.
“Since the closure was first introduced more than a decade ago there have been numerous reports of significant increases in Murray cod numbers, which are found mainly in the Murray Darling River system.”
Murray cod are also stocked into inland rivers and dams as part of the NSW Government’s fish stocking program. Last year 103,000 Murray cod, bred at I&I NSW hatchery at Narrandera, were released under the program. A further 244,000 Murray cod were stocked through the dollar-for-dollar scheme funded by the NSW recreational fishing licence and community groups.
The minimum legal length of Murray cod is 60 centimetres with a daily bag limit of two, and a possession limit of four with only one over 100 centimetres in length.
Detailed information on freshwater fishing rules can be found at www.industry.nsw.gov.au/fisheries and in the I&I NSW recreational freshwater fishing guide or by visiting your local I&I NSW office.
