More chances to hook a Murray cod this season

[Member]

More chances to hook a Murray cod this season

The recreational fishing season for Murray cod opened on December 1 and fishers have a great chance of landing a catch after substantial fish stocking programs in Victoria’s lakes and rivers.

Fisheries Victoria has stocked more than 1.7 million Murray cod fingerlings in the past two years. With more releases planned for this summer, the two million milestone will be reached, meaning there will be even more Murray cod stocks to enjoy in the years to come.

Murray cod is an iconic native fish and catching one is the biggest thrill an inland fisher could have here in Victoria. Murray cod have been released widely across northern Victoria to improve fish stock and angling opportunities.

The Million Murray Cod project at Lake Eildon is Australia’s most substantial stocking program for the species and is funded entirely by recreational fishing licence fees.

The Building Northern Native Fisheries project, again funded by licence fees, is stocking an extra one million native fish into the Campaspe River, Gunbower Creek and Kow Swamp.

Stocking over recent decades has also helped create recreational Murray cod fisheries in places like the lower Goulburn River either side of Shepparton and the Loddon River at Bridgewater.

These productive fisheries are popular and provide great fishing for bait fishers and lure casters, from both boats and the shore.

The Victorian Government is investing $16 million into recreational fishing initiatives and supporting fishers by allocating all funds from fishing licence fees back to recreational fishing projects, like Murray cod stockings.

The daily bag limit for Murray cod is two fish, both of which must be between 60 and 100 centimetres.