cod - December 14, 2020

COD, MURRAY

Scientific Name:

Macculochella peeli

Salt/Fresh:

Fresh

Also Known As:

Cod, Murray Cod, Muzza, Goodoo

Countries:

Australia

Description:

The largest of Australia's Freshwater species and is one of the most sought after of our freshwater fish..

How To Identify:

A mottled olive green to yellow/green on the higher back and fading to a creamy yellow underneath and lower body. Murray Cod have quite a large mouth and forward eyes. Common sizes area around 2-10kgs however more and more dam introduced larger cods are caught each year. Potentially could reach 100kg however fish over 40kgs are rare. In the past sometimes confused with the rarer Cod of the Eastern freshwater ways, Mary River Cod.

How To Catch:

In years gone past chased by fisherman with bait. Cod will take most freshwater baits such as worms, live shrimp or yabbies, witchety grubs and small baitfish. However now days Cod are highly sort after fish caught with Lures. Traditionally Cod lures are large very deep diving slow rolling minnows. A whole range of specialist cods lures are made in Australia to target these great fish. The type and style of lure will depend on the type of water being fished as Cod can be found right up in the sweet-water high country down right down the river and in impoundment dams. Impoundment Dams and Deep River Section: Lures - Large deep diving Spinnerbaits - large spinnerbait such as those produced by Gangster Lures produces a lot of big cod each year..

Where Found:

Found throughout the Murray/Darling system. It has also been introduced to many dams throughout Australia where is has been thriving and growing to some very large sizes.

MFP Notes by the Lads:

BIG RED:

There is absolutely nothing better than walking the banks of a river or creek in inland Australia casting lures for Murray Cod. The places you see and go when chasing these fish are the true heartland of Australia and you literally feel the county breathing around you, absolutely magnificent. Catching Murray Cod in their native environment is simply stunning, and I think that is half of the excitement for me, packing all the gear and getting ready to cross the Great Dividing Range into Cod Country!

Here is a video I made about the best lures I have found for Murray Cod...

The other huge aspect of Murray Cod fishing is knowing where to cast. Always look for spots (especially in flowing water) that look like places Murray Cod could hide to ambush their prey - snags, points, and eddies.

Episodes:

COD, MURRAY

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