News

Cod season opens today

Dec 1, 2023

Murray Cod, Melbourne Aquarium Photo by marty8801

The cod fishing season reopens today after the annual three month closure to fishing to support breeding.

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NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Deputy Director General Fisheries Sean Sloan said record numbers of Murray Cod were produced and stocked during the 2022/23 season to help bolster populations in NSW lakes and rivers after years of drought, bushfires and floods.

“More than 1.28 million Murray Cod were stocked into waterways across inland NSW during the 2022/23 stocking season,” he said.

“This amazing achievement by our flagship Narrandera native fish hatchery is only the beginning, with solid numbers of juvenile Murray Cod currently in the hatchery pointing to a bumper year of production and stocking set to commence for the new season.”

But now that fishing is underway again for another year, Mr Sloan asked all fishers to continue doing the right thing “to ensure we protect, conserve and improve our fisheries resources for future generations”.

“A daily bag limit of two Murray Cod per person and a total possession limit of four applies when fishing in any inland waters.

“Fishers are required to release Murray Cod which are smaller than 55cm, or bigger than 75cm, with the least possible harm.

“I encourage the public to report suspected illegal fishing to the Fishers Watch Phoneline on 1800 043 536 or via the online form located on NSW DPI Fisheries website at https://bit.ly/38lU4OB.”