A WEEK on from the Murray cod open and a slight improvement in weather has seen plenty of anglers out on the water trying to catch a cod.
Reports are very encouraging with several big fish allegedly landed on both bait and lures.
In the Murray River, near Murrabit, one angler fishing from the bank caught a 93cm, 84cm and an 81cm cod on bait.
Chicken was his choice of baits and the cod seemed to agree as they lined up to scoff it down.
In the Murray River, upstream of Swan Hill to Brooks Lane, Jim Credlin reports the capture of two fish over 130cm and another at 124cm since the open.
While we have not seen any photos yet, Credlin said it’s unlikely that any angler might stretch the truth on their catch, so it must be true.
Several other good-sized Murray cod have been landed both above and below the Swan Hill road bridge on bait.
Perch have remained hard to catch in this area and one suspects it might be because the cod are biting so well.
Downstream along the Murray River and a few good-sized cod have been landed around Tooleybuc on both bait and lures.
Bait has been the best producer with grubs, yabbies and chicken all catching fish.
A few smaller-sized cod and the odd perch have also been landed in this area on baits of fresh river shrimp.
Robinvale has a few smaller cod to size, the biggest an 80cm fish landed on a lure.
Some good-sized perch to 55cm have also been caught on bait with shrimp and worms doing the job.
Reports from the Murray River at Wemen are also encouraging with several Murray cod to 95cm landed on bait.
Grubs have been doing the damage with freshly dug bardies best.
Kym Sykes at Mildura said the fishing locally in the Murray River is as good as it’s been in years.
Numerous Murray cod up to 120cm have been landed and he has the photos to prove it.
Sykes said it’s been a long while since we have seen Murray cod of this size in our local waters and it’s sure to attract keen cod fishos to the area.
We might even see a return to the good old days where the Murray River at Mildura was renowned far and wide as a Mecca for big Murray cod — I guess only time will tell.
Further downstream, the Frenchman’s Creek regulator has been fishing well for golden perch and the odd Murray cod to 75cm.
Best bites have been when there is flow at the regulator.
Back to the Murray River and Lock 9 downstream to Ned’s Corner has also seen a few good Murray cod landed on both bait and lures.
Murray cod up to and over a metre in length have been caught trolling the deeper holes.
Grubs and yabbies have been the pick of baits and a few cod have also been taken on surface lures at first and last light.
All up, our local waters are fishing very well for Murray cod as we head towards the holiday season.
So, if you are yet to catch a cod this season, now is as good a time as any to wet a line.
