Fish stocking record for Murray Cod

The State Government’s fish stocking program set new records over summer, with the release of 543,000 Murray cod into freshwater dams across NSW.

The stockings will attract more anglers to important rural and regional centres.

The Murray cod is one of Australia’s largest freshwater fish and is highly prized by recreational anglers. They can grow up to 1.8 metres long and weight up to 50kg.

These latest stockings are part of the State Government’s on-going commitment to stock freshwater areas with trout, salmon and native species.

The Murray cod were bred at the NSW Department of Primary Industries Narrandera Fisheries Centre and released from December through to February.

This includes:

• 69,000 Murray cod into Pindari Dam near Inverell;
• 50,000 Murray cod into Burrinjuck Dam near Yass;
• 50,000 Murray cod into Burrendong Dam near Wellington;
• 42,000 Murray cod into Windamere Dam near Mudgee; and
• 42,000 Murray cod into Split Rock Dam near Manilla.

Anglers need to be aware of the bag limits for Murray cod – with a limit of two per person, per day from either rivers or dams. Only one of those can be longer than 100cm.

Keen anglers can look forward to keeping these fish when they reach the minimum legal length of 50cm in a couple of years.

Murray cod are found right through the Murray Darling Basin – ranging from west of the Divide through south-east Queensland, through NSW, into Victoria and South Australia.

The largest specimen ever caught was estimated to be 80 years old and weighed 113.5kg.

Murray cod numbers have declined over a number of decades. However, the Government’s fish stocking program is helping to stabilise the population.

The fish stocking program is partly funded by the recreational fishing licence and is another example of anglers’ money working for them. The State Government also allocated more than $1 million to the stocking program this year.”

Full list of Murray cod stockings to-date (summer 04/05)