Murray Cod

[jaybez]

G'day raiders, 

Out in Western Victoria on Thursday last week, and quickly messaged a mate of mine from the area, to see if he was keen for a short session on Friday morning. He was keen, and had in mind a private dam for cod. 

Anyways, went there, throwing surface just after first light. About 20 minutes after we start, he gets a swirl behind his paddler, after he cast at a scum pile. Two minutes later he casted 5m further up the bank and boof, he was on! His first cod on top water, about 45cm.

About five minutes later, with first cast privileges now, running my paddler along a fallen tree, I had a smaller boof and a smaller fish on. This one would have been perhaps 25cm.

The water was extremely warm, and the fish were fat as. An epic little system that hasn't been stocked for years but is self sustaining.

That was it for the fish, but an epic little session before the weekend.

Cheers,

Jay

[big Neil]

3 hours ago, jaybez said:

G'day raiders, 

Out in Western Victoria on Thursday last week, and quickly messaged a mate of mine from the area, to see if he was keen for a short session on Friday morning. He was keen, and had in mind a private dam for cod. 

Anyways, went there, throwing surface just after first light. About 20 minutes after we start, he gets a swirl behind his paddler, after he cast at a scum pile. Two minutes later he casted 5m further up the bank and boof, he was on! His first cod on top water, about 45cm.

About five minutes later, with first cast privileges now, running my paddler along a fallen tree, I had a smaller boof and a smaller fish on. This one would have been perhaps 25cm.

The water was extremely warm, and the fish were fat as. An epic little system that hasn't been stocked for years but is self sustaining.

That was it for the fish, but an epic little session before the weekend.

Cheers,

Jay

I reckon the best sound in the world is the boof of a surface take from a hungry Murray Cod smashing a lure on the surface. Great report Jay.

bn

[bessell1955]

Great photos of a well marked Cod.

[Hill373737]

Great report, good to see a couple of nice cod.

Even though I'm completely focussed on the retrieve and expect a hit at any wind, that boof still scares the crap out of me when it happens!! 🙂

[jaybez]

On 11/12/2024 at 1:34 AM, big Neil said:

I reckon the best sound in the world is the boof of a surface take from a hungry Murray Cod smashing a lure on the surface. Great report Jay.

bn

Thanks Neil, yeah I agree... Can't beat it to wake you up early in the morning!

On 11/12/2024 at 2:50 PM, bessell1955 said:

Great photos of a well marked Cod.

Thanks @bessell1955. They are very well marked out of the clear water there. Beautiful fish.

On 11/18/2024 at 3:22 PM, Hill373737 said:

Great report, good to see a couple of nice cod.

Even though I'm completely focussed on the retrieve and expect a hit at any wind, that boof still scares the crap out of me when it happens!! 🙂

Thanks Steve, yeah it always takes you by surprise - have you ever noticed cod below your lure before a boof? 

[Pickles]

Great report @jaybez, love the photos too. Some really healthy looking cod 👍.
it’s  a cracker when you get an expected “whack” (especially on surface popper) and your lure hurtles straight at you, certainly wakes you up in a hurry.

[Hill373737]

13 hours ago, jaybez said:

 

Thanks Steve, yeah it always takes you by surprise - have you ever noticed cod below your lure before a boof? 

I've seen plenty of swirls where they don't boof the lure but haven't seen one before it hits.

I was fortunate enough to get this monster off the top very early in my cod fishing career, it hit the lure a couple of metres from the boat, it was like a bomb went off.

[big Neil]

Counting the days till I can get back into my Cod fishing, miss it.

Great 120 cm specimen pictured above Steve. Strange that the metre plus Cod lose their lovely patterned skin and look rather drab by comparison.

bn

Edited November 20 by big Neil
more info...

[Hill373737]

10 more sleeps bn and it'll be on again, I can't wait!!

I guess its part of the aging process, the small cod  always have the brightest, most vivid mottling! That cod in the photo must be around to 30 to 40 years old!

Hilly

[Pickles]

On 11/20/2024 at 7:38 AM, Hill373737 said:

I've seen plenty of swirls where they don't boof the lure but haven't seen one before it hits.

I was fortunate enough to get this monster off the top very early in my cod fishing career, it hit the lure a couple of metres from the boat, it was like a bomb went off.

Steve, that is an absolute monster cod (imagine how big they must have been at the turn of the century)

[big Neil]

16 hours ago, Pickles said:

Steve, that is an absolute monster cod (imagine how big they must have been at the turn of the century)

Apparently up to 1.8m and well over 100kg. The classic b/w photo from 100 years ago was a Hills hoist full of metre long Cod.

bn

[Hill373737]

I've seen that photo, at that time, I doubt there was much thought given to sustainability of any resources, not just beautiful big cod.