Catching a Murray cod on a Crown Seal Lure
The Murray cod is Australia's largest freshwater fish.
Murray cod are an amazing specie that is now highly vulnerable. It is believed that only 10% of the population still exists post-European settlement. This is due to the damming of rivers which halt breeding, habitat destruction and past recreational fishing practices.
Thanks to many modern day anglers who strongly promote the catch and release of the mighty Murray cod, numbers are slowly starting to increase in their natural habitat throughout the Murray-Darling River system.
Cod are capable of growing up to 3-4kg in a small river system, >45kg in a dam or lake although 15-20kg is more common. The largest cod ever recorded weighed in at 113kg! They even say that larger fish have been caught but never officially recorded! Crikey!
They have a diverse range of habitat, from small clear strong flowing rocky streams upland through to silty slow flowing large meandering rivers in the lowland. They are well stocked in a number of dams and lakes across eastern Australia. Cod can be found around structure like fallen timber, standing dead trees, clay banks, rocky outcrops and overhanging vegetation. They are carnivorous and will go for anything that moves in it's path and can fit into it's cavernous mouth. Crayfish, turtles, other fish and scuba divers (I kid you not...but that is a another story!) are all fair game.
The Crown Seal Lure is a terrific lure for targeting Murray cod although you will need much stronger gear. The Crownie needs to be trolled at very slow speeds and down deep during the day amongst structure. If you are not hitting snags and structure, then you are wasting your time as this as this is where cod will be hiding. On dawn and dusk, surface casting or trolling works well too. If casting from a boat or the bank, cast amongst snags and let the lure sink a little before retrieving.
Before leaving, check out the rest of the website and get yourself a Crown Seal Lure. All this reading must be making you thirsty for a fish!