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| This information taken from
"River Murray Fishing and Boating Guide" SA Fishing Tackle Agencies 210a Grange Road, Flinders Park. |
MURRAY
RIVER FISHING |
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Murray Cod The Murray Cod Grows to 1.8 metres and up to 113kg (Australia's
largest freshwater fish). The Murray Cod is a renown sporting fish that is groper like in appearance and has a huge mouth. Its back is a mottled, olive-green colour and its belly is a silvery white. Edges of all soft fins may also be tipped in white. This species makes a facinating display and is at its best when housed in a large tank with natural mangrove roots as decoration. The natural feeding time of the Murray Cod is in the evening. Murray Cod are a bottom feeding fish in the fresh water Darling-Murray system of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It was introduced to Western Australia many years ago but it has not thrived in the manner it does in the Murray-Darling basin. It can be taken from a moored or drifting boat or with a lure trolled behind the boat at speeds no greater than 2 knots. They are strong hard fighters whilst they are in deep water and as they are pulled toward the surface they rapidly throw in the towel and, as a result, have become classified by fresh water anglers as sluggish, heavy fish and of no sporting value. The breaking strain of the suitable line is usually far larger than it need be, particularly if a hand-line is to be used and lines with the dimensions of tennis racquet nylon are generally favoured. This, to a large degree, overcomes cut fingers. If, however, a short boat rod is to be used, with either a large centre pin, side cast or multiplying reel, then a line with a breaking strain of 40 to 50 lbs. is more than adequate, Hook sizes would depend on the size of the fish one expects to encounter and anything from a 1/0 to 8/0 would be equally suitable. You must appreciate that Murray Cod is known to attain a weight of over 200lbs and even a fish of 100lbs could swallow comfortably a bait presented on the largest shark hook. There are three particular spinners which stand out that are by far the most successful. They are: 2. More recently there has been introduced large Sway Back, Flopy and Flatfish patterned models which are doing a first-class job. 3. In the lower reaches of the rivers, however, the big 4 rubber Vivif is on its own and preferably of a green and red colour. A word of warning, however, the standard hook supplied with this lure is not strong enough for large Cod and heavier trebles should be fitted. If natural bait is to be used, an endless choice is available but the more successful are Yabby, Bardie, Grub, Shrimp, fresh water Mussel or Red Meat. The table value of Cod is well known, in fact, it ranks with the first 10 fish common to this country. Personally, I believe this to be and unjust classification, for unless you remove all the fat which gathers beneath the skin and along the walls of the stomach, the flesh is inclined to become oily. If a Cod is cut into cutlets, skinned, the fat removed then it will store for an indefinite period in a refrigerator with no loss of value as a food. |
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