November 28, 2022
Murray Cod season opens on Thursday 1 December 2022 after a three-month closed season.
Due to the recent flooding across Northern Victoria, the Murray River is closed to boats and recreational users in affected areas, hypoxic blackwater is impacting some of our waterways and there have been large-scale fish rescues along the river. With this in mind, we expect Murray cod opening to look a little different this year.
If you are planning to target Murray cod during the open season, using best practice handling techniques will help you to take care of your catch to ensure the sustainability of this magnificent and unique fishery for future generations.
CARE FOR COD
We have partnered with the Victorian Fisheries Authority and Native Fish Australia to develop a Care for Cod campaign. When practicing catch and release, adopting better handling practices can help cod to survive post-release.
Care for Cod follows a simple four point plan.
- Be prepared | Have your cod gloves, knotless net and long-nose pliers ready for a catch.
- Reduce air time | Minimise the time the cod spends out of the water to under 30 seconds. Where possible, leave the cod in the water.
- Gently does it | Support the cod’s body
- Use the right gear | When baiting fishing use circle hooks and a tight line to avoid deep hooking the fish, also reduce fight time by using heavier gear.
MURRAY COD LIMITS
Murray Cod have a bag limit of one in rivers and two in specific lakes and impoundments. They carry a minimum size limit of 55 cm and maximum size limit of 75cm. For more information visit the Victorian Fisheries Authority Murray Cod page.
