Anglers reminded about cod catch

Victorian freshwater anglers are reminded new catch limits will apply to Murray cod fishing this season, which opened yesterday (December 1, 2014).

Fisheries Victoria Executive Director Ross McGowan said the new limits would improve the sustainability of the Murray cod fishery and fishing opportunities for anglers in the long term.

"The minimum legal length for Murray cod this season is 55cm while the maximum length is 75cm," Mr McGowan said.

"This new ‘slot limit’ applies to all lakes and rivers throughout Victoria and has been mirrored in NSW waters, including the Murray River, for simplicity.

"The 55-75cm slot limit better protects larger, more valuable breeding Murray cod, which are the future of this iconic species."

Mr McGowan said there had also been changes to the Victorian bag limit for Murray cod.

"In rivers, the daily bag limit had been reduced from two to one. This excludes the Murray River which is a NSW waterway for fisheries management.

"This enables Victorian anglers to take one smaller fish for the table, whilst ensuring all large breeders are returned to the water and contribute to future generations.

"In Victorian lakes, the daily bag limit of two Murray cod remains unchanged because most lake fisheries are stocked populations where harvest by anglers poses no threat to sustainability."

Mr McGowan said Murray cod must be landed whole to enable Fisheries Officers to measure them and ensure compliance with minimum and maximum size limits.

"These changes will be summarised in the 2015 Recreational Fishing Guide, which will be released publicly in mid-December, and made available free through bait and tackle shops and Department of Environment and Primary Industries’ offices.

"The Vic Fishing’ app has been updated too and flyers have been sent to angling clubs and retailers that sell fishing licences advising of these changes to Murray cod fishing rules.”

For more information go to: www.depi.vic.gov.au/murraycodslots