The Murray cod is the biggest freshwater fish in Australia, and one of the most addictive species you can ever target. They grow over a metre long, they hit surface lures with a bow-wave that sounds like a brick going in the water, and they live in the most beautiful inland country in the country. If you have not caught one yet, you are missing one of the great Australian fishing experiences.
This guide is written for first-time cod anglers. The species has a real reputation for being hard, and the rules around it are stricter than for any other freshwater fish, so this guide covers both how to catch them and how to fish for them legally.
What is a Murray cod?
The Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) is the largest freshwater fish native to Australia. It is a member of the temperate perch family, despite the "cod" name. Olive-green with dark mottled markings, big mouth, big tail. Grows to over 1.8 metres long and 113 kilograms, although a 100cm fish is now considered a trophy and most modern anglers will fish for years before they land one.
Most of the cod you catch will be between 50 and 80cm long. Anything over 80cm is a very good fish. A 100cm "metre cod" is the lifetime goal. A 120cm+ fish is a story you will tell forever.
Cod are catch-and-release by almost every serious angler. Wild populations are recovering from decades of habitat destruction and overfishing. The bigger fish in particular are old (a 90cm cod could be 30+ years old) and are critical breeders.
Important first: the closed season
Murray cod fishing is closed by law during the spawning season. You cannot legally fish for cod between 1 September and 30 November in most states, with some impoundments exempted. The closure protects breeding fish.
Closed season details vary by state and water type (river vs impoundment), and the rules change occasionally. Always check before you fish:
If you ignore the closed season you will get fined. Don't ignore it.
Where to find Murray cod
Cod live throughout the Murray-Darling Basin, the river system that drains most of inland eastern Australia. They are also stocked in a number of impoundments outside their natural range. There are two types of cod water:
Natural rivers (the Murray-Darling system)
- Murray River. The big river. From the High Country down through Albury, Echuca, Mildura, and out to the lower lakes in SA. Cod live along the entire length.
- Murrumbidgee River. NSW. The water around Wagga and Hay holds good cod.
- Goulburn, Ovens, Mitta Mitta, Kiewa, Campaspe. Victorian Murray tributaries. Excellent water.
- Macquarie, Lachlan, Castlereagh, Namoi, Gwydir, Darling. NSW inland rivers.
Stocked impoundments
- Lake Mulwala (NSW/VIC border, Yarrawonga). Australia's most famous cod fishery. Lots of standing timber, lots of fish, accessible.
- Copeton Dam (northern NSW). Trophy water. Lots of metre-plus cod caught here.
- Windamere Dam (NSW central west).
- Lake Hume (NSW/VIC). Largest Murray-system dam.
- Lake Eppalock, Cairn Curran (VIC).
- Wyangala, Burrendong, Burrinjuck (NSW).
- Glenlyon Dam (QLD/NSW border).
For your first cod, pick a stocked impoundment over a wild river. Impoundments concentrate fish around timber and points, and the open water makes them easier to fish from a boat or kayak. Lake Mulwala is the classic first-time cod destination.
When to fish for Murray cod
Outside the closed season, the best windows are:
- Late spring and early summer (December and January, after the closure ends). Water warming, fish active.
- Autumn (March through May). Cod feed hard before winter. Big surface lure window.
- Winter (June through August). The cod world's best-kept secret. Cold-water cod feed slow but eat big lures.
Time of day matters a lot. Cod are low-light feeders. The two best windows are:
- The last 90 minutes before dark and the first hour after. Surface lure prime time.
- Pre-dawn into the first hour of light. Same as dusk in reverse.
Hot bluebird middays are slow. Overcast, drizzly, or post-rain conditions can fish all day. Cod feed hard right before and right after a storm front.
The basic setup, what to buy
Cod fishing needs heavy tackle. Light estuary gear will get bricked on a 70cm cod buried in timber. Do not try to fish cod with bream gear. It does not work and you will lose fish.
Rod
A 7-foot or 7'6" medium-heavy baitcaster rod, rated for 10 to 20kg or 20 to 50lb. Some anglers fish heavy spin gear and that is fine, but baitcasters give you more accuracy when casting big lures and more pulling power.
Reel
A low-profile baitcaster reel in 200 or 300 size. Daiwa Tatula, Shimano Curado, Abu Garcia Revo. Around $250 to $400 for a reliable one. Pre-spool with heavy braid.
Line
Braid in 30 to 50 lb. Cod live in timber. Light braid breaks. Heavy braid lets you pull a fish out of a tree.
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader in 40 to 60 lb. About 1.5 metres tied to your braid.
Lures
Four categories cover most cod scenarios:
- Surface lures (Jackall Pompadour, Bassman Mumbler, Atomic Hardz Surface). Big walking or paddling lures, 70 to 130mm long. Used at dawn and dusk.
- Spinnerbaits (Bassman, Mumbler, Outlaw). 1 to 2 oz weight. Cast tight to timber, slow-roll past.
- Swimbaits (Stocky Sucker, Roosta Popper, Optimum). 100 to 200mm long. For trophy fishing.
- Hardbody minnows / diving lures (Halco Poltergeist, AC Invader). 60 to 100mm.
Five techniques that catch Murray cod
1. Casting spinnerbaits at timber
The everyday cod technique. Cast a 1 to 2 oz spinnerbait as tight as possible to a piece of standing timber. Let it sink for a count of three. Then slow-roll it back, just fast enough to feel the blades thumping. Most strikes come when the lure passes within a foot of a branch. Lift the rod hard when you feel weight, cod will dive straight back to the tree to bury you.
2. Surface lures at dawn and dusk
The most exciting cod technique. Cast a big surface lure at the base of a drowned tree or on a shallow flat near deep water. Let it sit for two seconds. Then retrieve it slowly with a steady paddle action. Cod surface strikes are absurd. A 70cm fish hitting a surface lure sounds like a dog falling in the water. Wait for weight before you strike. Do not strike on the splash.
3. Trolling diving lures
From a boat or kayak, troll a deep-diving hardbody at about 3 to 4 knots along the edge of standing timber or a steep drop-off. The lure should be hitting timber occasionally. Most strikes happen when the lure deflects off a branch and changes direction.
4. Casting swimbaits for trophies
Big lures catch big fish. Cast a 150 to 200mm swimbait at deep timber and retrieve it slowly. Long pauses. You will get fewer bites but the fish that eat are bigger. This is how most metre-plus cod get caught.
5. Bait fishing (for kids and slow days)
Old-school cod fishing was bait fishing, and it still works. A big bunch of worms, a yabby, or a live carp on a 6/0 to 8/0 octopus hook with a small running sinker, fished on the bottom near timber. Slow but effective.
Rigging, the knots that hold
Tie braid to fluorocarbon leader with an FG knot or a heavy double Uni knot. The knot has to pull a 90cm fish out of a tree, so make sure it is tied carefully.
Tie leader to lure with a loop knot. A loop knot lets a heavy lure swing freely and increases the action.
Rules, slot limits, and looking after the fishery
Cod are heavily protected. Beyond the closed season above, the size and bag limits in most states are:
- NSW: Minimum size 55cm, maximum 75cm, bag limit 1 per person per day, possession limit 2 total.
- Victoria: Minimum size 55cm, maximum 100cm (slot), bag limit 1 per person per day.
- South Australia: Minimum 60cm, bag limit 1.
- Queensland: Catch and release only in some waters. Closed season applies.
These rules change. Always confirm at the state fisheries website before you fish.
How to release a cod well. Wet your hands or use a wet rag before touching the fish. Hold the cod horizontally, supporting the belly with one hand. Never hold a big cod vertically by the jaw alone, the weight can damage the spine. Take your photo in 20 seconds or less. Lower the fish into the water and hold it gently while it gets its bearings. Let it kick away on its own.
Big cod (80cm+) are old, slow-growing, and critically important breeders. Even if a fish is "legal", letting it go is the better choice.
Now go fishing
The fastest way to catch your first Murray cod is to drive to Lake Mulwala, hire a guide or join a club fish for a day, and watch how someone who knows the water does it. Failing that, take this guide, grab a baitcaster, tie on a 1.5 oz spinnerbait, cast tight to standing timber in 3 to 6 metres of water, and slow-roll. You will catch a fish.
Murray cod are the species that turn freshwater fishing from a casual hobby into a lifelong obsession. Be patient. They are worth the wait.
Captain Baker, Harson Outdoors