Fishing for Murray Cod

An Australian Freshwater Treasure

By: Colby Lesko

Murray cod are an amazing species of large freshwater fish found in Australia’s largest river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, which is located at the Southeastern edge of the country and runs between Victoria and New South Wales. Murray cod are a large predatory fish that eat everything from lizards, birds, crustaceans and fish. This makes them an amazing fish to target with lures or flies, while they will also take a range of baits. Murray cod can grow to over 99 pounds (45 kilograms) and over 50 inches  (130 centimeters) in length. A freshwater fish of this size is an extremely impressive animal anywhere in the world, and for this reason, large fish are highly respected as catch-and-release species. Even better is the opportunity for an IGFA World Record fish. Currently, the All-Tackle category is vacant; beyond that, we have also made the species eligible for length records in multiple categories as well. You can see all categories for Murray cod records here. 

Fishing for Murray cod is extremely popular in Australia, and any fish over one meter in length is regarded as a trophy fish. These big Murray cod can be extremely hard to catch and can require a large amount of effort and time on the water to find. Murray cod do extremely well in rivers and lakes; there are hundreds and hundreds of locations you can target these fish. The Murray-Darling Basin is over 2,500 kilometres long and has hundreds of other rivers and creeks that flow into it. I have fished for Murray cod for 15 years and still have not been to many of these rivers and locations.

Murray cod are a long-lived species of fish living to over 60 years of age. They spend their entire life cycle in freshwater, while some cod have been found to travel great distances, others stay in the same area their whole lives. Catching large Murray cod can take serious determination; they are not a species of fish you are going to head out and catch huge numbers of. A 10-fish day is a great day, and if you’re lucky, one might be a big one. These bigger fish are often very highly regarded by Aussie anglers, and many people devote years of fishing to catch and release that one-meter-long plus Murray cod. It is possible to keep smaller Murray cod to eat with a slot limit of 21.6 inches to 29.5 inches (55 centimeters to 75 centimeters) long in a select range of rivers and lakes. However, most anglers choose to release this iconic Aussie species.

From dirty, mud-stained rivers to crystal-clear lakes, Murray cod thrive in all freshwater environments; however, generally, the bigger the water, the bigger the fish. The mighty Murray River is the largest river where cod are found, and this naturally flowing river produces some of the biggest fish. Many large fish are also caught in freshwater dams after years of successful stocking programs.

Murray cod fishing is very similar to largemouth bass or pike fishing. The use of diving crankbaits, topwaters, spinner baits and swimbaits are common. Baitcasting setups are widely used, from crankbait rods up to swimbait setups, to cast the bigger cod lures. Because of the potential for large fish on big lures in and around submerged structure, many anglers choose to use 60-pound leaders and 30-50-pound braid main lines. My personal favorite way to target Murray cod is to fish for them with big surface paddling lures. These surface paddling lures have been specially designed for Murray cod here in Australia. They are large in size and paddle along the surface like a bird or rat trying to cross the water. The biggest cod seem to be extremely excited by these lures and will often hit them off the surface with some amazing force, quite a sight to witness!

 

Murray cod are a “snag” (as we call them here in Australia), dwelling species. A “snag” is simply a submerged structure; common examples include sunken trees. Cod love to spend their days hiding in the cover of these large sunken trees in rivers and lakes. By spending your time casting lures at these big pieces of structure, you put yourself in the best position for catching a big one. While Murray cod are not a hard-fighting species, fishing for them in this heavy structure requires strong gear and good angling technique, or the fish will simply take your lure back into the structure and bust you off. What they lack in fighting stamina, they make up for with low-down power - the first strike or bite from a cod is one of the best bites you will ever feel.

Many of the rivers and lakes where Murray cod are found are extremely remote. Because of this, Murray cod are commonly targeted over a number of days on campout trips. This allows anglers to drive large distances yet still have enough time to properly search for Murray cod. This requires the camping gear to be packed into the boat or set up on the riverbank where you can have a place to sleep, cook and relax, but allow maximum time on the water. This is all part of the fun of chasing Murray cod. The Murray and Darling Rivers are amazing places to do this, as they provide 60 miles (100 kilometers) of public, free access camping grounds that you can sometimes have all to yourself. 

Murray cod are targeted by anglers for nine months of the year in Australia. Summer, Autumn and Winter (December through August) are all open to Murray cod fishing; however, the Spring months of September, October and November are closed season for Murray cod in the rivers as they spawn. A growing number of freshwater lakes are now being opened to Murray cod fishing in spring, providing anglers with year-round access. This change has come about because Murray cod have been proven to be unsuccessful in spawning in lakes, as they need the correct water height and temperature for their eggs to hatch and larvae to survive. The summer months are the best for catching numbers of fish; however, the bigger fish are caught over the cooler winter months.

Murray cod have had a tough past in Australia, from river and habitat destruction to commercial overfishing. However, now there is good news! We are moving in the right direction with stocking programs, habitat restoration and commercial fishing for the species ended several years ago. It’s now easier than I can ever remember to get out and catch a few Murray cod. Many locations are still bouncing back, and it's looking like a bright future for Murray cod angling in Australia.

Anglers travelling to Australia looking to catch a Murray cod have a range of options. Linking up with a guide will bring the best results for travelling anglers. There are a range of guides that offer impoundment trips out of boats chasing large cod at various lakes. There are also a few guides that offer river fishing from drift boats. A smaller number of guides also offer walking expeditions for both fly and lure anglers. But if you’re after a more DIY trip, anyone can purchase a fishing license for the state you intend to fish and go have a crack at it yourself. Victoria and New South Wales are the two states that offer the best DIY fishing opportunities, and all rivers and lakes are open to the public and tourists to fish.

Murray cod are an extremely unique species of fish, only found here in Australia and provide excellent angling opportunities. They aggressively eat big lures and look amazing with their marbled colors. Due to this, they are on many anglers' bucket lists or dream fish, and many anglers are now traveling long distances to target them. There’s no doubting they are the biggest, baddest freshwater fish we have here in Australia. I think that they could rival that of any other freshwater fish in the world in terms of freshwater angling excitement.

Bio – Colby Lesko

I am an Australian fishing writer, photographer and guide who has worked in the fishing industry since leaving school. I enjoy fishing for all species of fish and travelling, targeting new species. However, some of my favorite targets are large Murray cod and giant trevally. I enjoy exploring remote areas and camping out on the water for multi-day trips. I also like freediving, hunting and have a true passion for the outdoor lifestyle.

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