Species › Australia & New Zealand › Murray Cod

Freshwater

Murray Cod

Maccullochella peelii · cod, goodoo, Murray perch

Water temp
64–75°F
Peak season
Nov–Feb
Best light
Low light
IGFA record
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Murray Cod (Mathoura Murray Cod sculpture .jpg)

Photo: Mattinbgn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Murray cod are deep-bodied, broad-headed fish with a marbled green-and-cream pattern, a huge mouth and rounded tail, native only to the Murray–Darling Basin of southeastern Australia and stocked into many reservoirs there. They are ambush predators that hold on snags, undercut banks and rock bars, hunting fish, crayfish, frogs and even birds, with the biggest fish most active at night and in low light. Historically caught over 200 lb (90 kg), they were badly depleted but are recovering under strict rules, and anglers now travel to the Murray, Murrumbidgee and lakes like Mulwala for metre-plus fish.

Typical size4–15 lb (2–7 kg); 20–30 in
TrophyMetre-plus (39 in+) fish, roughly 40 lb (18 kg)
Table fareGood — but most big fish are released; slot limits apply

Where & when

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A closed season (September to November in most states) protects spawning cod; the opening on December 1 and the hot summer months are peak, with a second strong run in autumn as water cools.

Lake Mulwala, AustraliaTimbered impoundment on the Murray; Australia's cod capitalMurray River (Barmah to Echuca), AustraliaSnag-lined river reaches with big resident codCopeton Dam, AustraliaNorthern NSW reservoir famous for giant cod on big lures

How to catch

Surface lures after darkCast large paddlers, wakebaits and fizzers to snags, rock walls and timber from dusk through the night on a slow, steady retrieve with pauses. The hit is a huge boil; wait until you feel weight before setting the hook.
Slow-rolling spinnerbaits and swimbaitsBy day, roll 1–2 oz spinnerbaits or big soft swimbaits deep past standing timber and along drop-offs, letting them bump into structure. Fish the shaded side of snags and repeat casts; cod often take on the third or fourth pass.

Gear

Rod6–7' heavy baitcast rod rated 20–60 g+
ReelBaitcaster 6–7:1 with strong drag
Line30–50 lb braid; 40–60 lb fluorocarbon or mono leader

Lures

large surface paddlers and wakebaitsspinnerbaitsbig hardbody divers and swimbaits

Baits

yabbies (freshwater crayfish)scrub wormsbardi grubsshrimp

Regulations

Murray cod are managed with a closed spawning season, a slot limit and a small daily bag in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland, and a recreational license is required in NSW and Victoria. Fish above the upper slot size must be released.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

How big do Murray cod get?

Verified fish over 220 lb (100 kg) and 6 ft (1.8 m) were recorded in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but today a metre-long fish of around 40 lb (18 kg) is the benchmark trophy and fish over 50 lb are rare. Slot limits require anglers to release the biggest fish so the population can rebuild.

Bite forecast — Murray Cod

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Murray Cod.

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