EVERY angler strives for that one moment, when they finally realise the catch of a lifetime.
The exact minute the countless hours invested, not to mention the frustration derived, are swept aside as you stare at your elusive catch.
There are many joys in angling but none hold the euphoria that comes with achieving this goal.
When it comes to Murray cod, Shepparton angler Tim Polis will tell you his dream fish finally arrived — and, much to his surprise, it was of mega-sized proportions.
Polis was fishing near Mildura with several good friends who were all very keen anglers. Trolling lures they worked the deeper sections of river hoping that elusive bite might load the rod to a good fish.
Several hours passed without a touch and they were starting to wonder whether bait fishing might not be a better option. Just one more pass on the deep run and they would give up the lures and seek the shade to drown a few baits.
Tim’s previous biggest cod was a 99cm model he landed in the Goulbourn River. But that fish would be quickly forgotten as his lures were smashed by an unseen giant that stopped the rod dead and sat on the bottom as if it were a snag.
For a moment he wasn’t sure, then the rod bucked and ripped down tearing line from the reel like nothing he had ever seen. Several times he drew the fish halfway from the bottom, but each time the unseen monster would win more line, seeking sanctuary at depth.
Slowly but surely, every surge shortened until the fish began to tire and a hint of line started to build on the reel. Several laps of the boat, and the double could be seen as a giant boil erupted and the fish dived once again.
Polis was starting to wonder if he might ever see the fish, when it suddenly popped to the surface. A monster in any species, it seems he had hooked the cork.
His deck hand and good mate Terry Himona could not believe the size and wondered how he might fit it in the net. With shaking hands the two anglers steered the giant head and half the body in, before dropping the rod and hauling the monster aboard.
The cheers and laughter at such a catch echoed along the river for miles as Polis’ dream of catching a metre cod had been achieved — and then some.
The fish was laid on the measuring mat and stretched out at 136cms. A true monster of a cod, with a tail the size of an oar and a head that might look more at home on a bull.
After a few snaps with the camera the boys returned the cod to the river and headed back to camp for a few ales.
Polis said he loved fishing the Murray River and never dreamed such a catch possible.
He also went on to say that he didn’t expect to better the giant cod as it was the catch of a lifetime.
