Murray Cod Closed Season: Dates, Size Limits and Legal Fishing Rules

Why Murray Cod Have a Closed Season

Murray cod are Australia's largest freshwater native fish and a flagship species of the Murray-Darling Basin. They spawn in spring, when rising water temperatures trigger nesting behaviour in hollow logs and undercut banks. Because adult cod guard their eggs and larvae, removing or even stressing a nesting fish can wipe out an entire brood. For that reason, fisheries agencies in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and Queensland apply a combination of a spring closed season, a legal size slot and tight bag and possession limits.

If you plan a trip inland from Sydney to the Murrumbidgee, Macquarie, Lachlan or Murray systems, these rules apply the moment your line hits the water — not when you decide to keep a fish.

Typical Closed Season Dates

Across most of the southern Basin, the Murray cod closed season runs from 1 September to 30 November inclusive, reopening on 1 December. During the closure it is generally illegal to take or possess Murray cod from rivers, creeks and many impoundments, and in some jurisdictions targeting them at all is prohibited.

• Rivers and streams: almost always closed for the full spring period.
• Some dams and lakes: a limited number of stocked impoundments may stay open year-round.
• Cross-border waters: the Murray River is shared, so check which state's rules apply to your access point and boat.

Dates and exemptions are reviewed periodically, so confirm the current season with the official fisheries authority for the state you are fishing before you travel.

Legal Size Limits and the Slot Rule

Murray cod are protected by a size slot rather than a simple minimum length. In New South Wales and Victoria the accepted slot is a minimum of 55 cm and a maximum of 75 cm. Fish under 55 cm are immature; fish over 75 cm are the highly productive breeders that sustain the population. Both must be released with minimum handling.

1. Measure from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail with the fish flat and the tail not pinched.
2. Keep a rigid measuring device — not a stretched tape — in the boat or your pack.
3. If a fish is borderline, treat it as outside the slot and release it.

Bag and Possession Limits

In the main southern jurisdictions the daily bag limit is commonly two Murray cod per person, with a possession limit of around four, covering fish at home, in the freezer, in a vehicle or at a campsite. Possession limits stop anglers stockpiling catches over consecutive days. Fillets are counted back to whole fish, so keep frames or leave a patch of skin where required so officers can identify the species and length.

Remember that bag limits are ceilings, not targets. Many Murray cod anglers now practise catch and release entirely, particularly for trophy fish above the slot.

Protected Relatives You Must Not Keep

Trout cod are fully protected in most waters and are easily confused with Murray cod. Trout cod have a straighter, overhanging upper jaw, a darker grey-blue back and a distinct dark stripe through the eye. If in doubt, release the fish immediately in the water. Other native species in the same rivers — including some populations of freshwater catfish, Macquarie perch and eel-tailed species — may also carry closures or full protection.

Licences, Gear and Handling Rules

A recreational fishing fee or licence is required for freshwater fishing in most Australian states unless you fall within an exemption category such as age or concession status. Carry proof while you fish. Common gear conditions for cod waters include limits on the number of rods and attended lines, bans on set lines in some rivers, and restrictions on live finfish as bait.

• Use knotless, rubberised landing nets and support big fish horizontally.
• Keep fish in the water while unhooking; avoid lifting by the jaw alone.
• Crush barbs or use single hooks to speed up release.
• Never move live fish between waterways — it spreads disease and pest species.

Penalties and Compliance

Fisheries officers patrol inland waters throughout spring and can inspect vehicles, eskies, boats and camps. Offences such as taking cod in the closed season, exceeding bag limits or possessing undersized and oversized fish attract on-the-spot fines, court-imposed penalties, and forfeiture of gear in serious cases. Ignorance of a local closure is not a defence.

Plan Your Trip Correctly

Before you leave Sydney, write down the waterway, the state it sits in, the current closed season dates, the size slot and your bag limit. Cross-check against the official fisheries website or printed guide for that state, because regulations can change between seasons and vary between rivers and impoundments.

Fishing Licence Australia publishes plain-English summaries of Australian fishing rules to help you interpret official guidance. For questions about this page, contact us on +61250701250 or at [email protected] during Mon–Fri: 09:00 – 17:00 (AEST). Always treat the relevant state fisheries authority as the final word on regulations.