Anglers chasing Murray cod have more options in Victoria’s lakes this spring with the iconic species able to be targeted in Lake Eppalock, Lake Nillahcootie and Cairn Curran Reservoir.
Lake Nillahcootie
Spring sees the annual Murray cod closed season in effect throughout most rivers and lakes north of the Great Dividing Range, as well as the Yarra River, but consultation earlier this year opened up another trio of large Victorian waters for year-round fishing.
Victorian Fisheries Authority Director Fisheries Management Luke O’Sullivan said it meant cod fishers would have more options than ever to wet a line in some of the state’s biggest waterways this spring, many of which shared in our recent record -breaking 11.5 million fish stocking effort.
“The Murray cod closed season is really important in many rivers and lakes to allow these treasured native fish a chance to breed, but that’s not the case in several impoundments we heavily stock like Eppalock, Nillahcootie and Cairn Curran,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“Our record-breaking stocking program means we can open these waters up year-round which is great news for those of us who love our cod fishing.
“Lake Eildon has become a year-round native fishing mecca since the closed season was removed in 2016 and a similar move at Rocklands Reservoir in the state’s west in 2021 is also paying dividends for anglers.”
Lake Eppalock has been stocked with nearly 2.6 million Murray cod fingerlings since 2010, Cairn Curran has scored more than a million in the past 20 years and Nillahcootie has received in excess of 400,000 since 2011, in addition to golden perch at all three waters.
The removal of the closed season is also expected to reduce fishing pressure on nearby systems where natural breeding does occur like the Loddon, Campaspe and Broken rivers.
The Murray cod closed season applies in the majority of rivers and lakes north of the Great Dividing Range, as well as the Yarra River, between 1 September and 30 November. It does not apply in lakes Eildon, Eppalock and Nillahcootie, Cairn Curran reservoir and waters of the Wimmera and Millicent basins – except for the Wimmera River.
Fisheries Officers will be chatting to and educating fishers on the Murray cod slot limit, between 55 and 75 centimetres, the bag limit of two in lakes that remain open, and not targeting cod in waters to which the closed season applies.
September 1 also sees the river blackfish closed season take effect until 1 January 2025 and the annual closure for Murray spiny freshwater crayfish through until 1 June 2025. For detailed information of size and bag limits plus closed season information download the free Vic Fishing app or head to www.vfa.vic.gov.au/fishingguide
