The Murray cod is Australia’s largest freshwater fish, known for extraordinary size and an appetite that included almost anything moving in the river.
But by the 1960s and ‘70s, its numbers had collapsed across the Murray-Darling Basin.
Dammed rivers, lost spawning flows, removal of snags, competition from carp and decades of heavy harvest pushed the species close to disappearing.
The turnaround has been one of Australia’s major environmental success stories.
Hatcheries learned to breed cod at scale, allowing millions of young fish to be released into waters where the species had almost vanished.
River managers restored flows and returned timber habitat to key stretches of river.
Modern size limits were introduced to protect large breeding fish, supported by the closed season, and recreational anglers shifted strongly toward catch-and-release.
Today, Murray cod populations are the healthiest they have been in generations.
Local efforts have played a major role in this recovery.
The Edward Kolety Fishing Classic, the Edward River/Deni Fishing Club and Edward Kolety Lagoons Landcare Group - and others - have spent years restoring habitat, fundraising for restocking and have been promoting responsible fishing and building community awareness.
In more recent years, cod efforts have turned to the Adopt-a-Cod program (follow the Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge Facebook page for 2027 details.
For a fish once feared lost, its return to abundance is one of the river’s most significant wins.
Local anglers are hoping they can spruik a similar success for the eel-tailed catfish, with its return to the Edward system spearheaded by local anglers in recent years.
• Share your catch with us! Send your pic and details to eamon.kurta@denipt.com.au.
28°C