Let’s cast away: William Golt from Shepparton and Lincoln Vincitorio from Tatura were kayaking to Shepparton fishing for cod. Photo: Rodney Braithwaite
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
It might have been a work day, but the Goulburn and Murray rivers were awash with eager anglers on Wednesday in search of the finest freshwater fish, the Murray cod.
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The midweek opening of cod season might have kept a few away, but even Shepparton fishing tackle retailer Steve Threlfall managed to mix work and pleasure.
“I’ve got two blokes standing in front of me wanting cod lures,” he said when he picked up the phone at the Shepparton store on Wednesday afternoon.
“I went up the Murray and camped last night and went out fishing early this morning,” he said.
“There were 20 of us in the camp and every boat had caught a cod by 9.30am with the biggest topping 80cm.”
Wednesday’s office: Paddling and wetting a line beats working any day.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The Murray cod, our largest native freshwater fish, is revered by many anglers. They can grow to 1.8m long and weigh up to 113kg.
In First Nations mythology a huge Murray cod is responsible for forming the Murray River and all its fishes.
Once commercially fished to the point of extinction, the Murray cod is now carefully managed with a closed season from September to November. The species is more abundant now than in the 1950s.
Cod bonanza: An influx of anglers brings millions of dollars in economic benefit to the region.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“I am amazed by the way it has turned around, but the rain and flooding in NSW will allow carp to breed up, so it is always a battle,” Mr Threlfall said.
And, while the current conditions are not normally conducive to good cod fishing, Mr Threlfall said anglers should ignore the signs.
“Disregard the murky colour of the water and the high flows,” he said.
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