Reel Life | The waters are calling: prepare for cod opening

I know of a number of keen anglers who make cod opening an annual event and spend the opening camped as a group on a section of the Murray.

So, if you are one of a group that does just that — have a good time!

Make sure your boat licence and registration, and your fishing licence, are all up to date, and have a happy and safe cod opening.

Now, let’s get down to the heart of the conversation — where to fish for cod.

Well, some will have a secret spot that they believe only they know about.

Good luck with that idea!

From all reports, all the usual spots have been showing promise.

But forecast rain may play a part in when fish will play the game. To provide the action that we hope for, let me list some likely spots.

Of course, Lake Eildon, the Goulburn River, the Broken River and the Broken Creek, the Murray River as well as Lake Mulwala — they are just a few of the waterways available to fish.

And as I said, you might have your favourite or secret spot that you can try.

The same goes for bait, and while I expect there will be an onslaught on the yabby, shrimp and worm populations, grubs and the like will be gathered.

And the dairy shelves in local supermarkets will have their cheese stocks raided, as well as the chicken shelves.

Finally, anglers will be taking a close look at the latest supply of both hard body and soft plastic lures — the latest colours and patterns — all to add to their collection of cod-catching gizmos and gadgets.

Would you believe there are anglers among us that consider trout or redfin more worthy opponents than cod? Well, each to their own.

Both trout and redfin can be caught at this time of year, and while they generally lack the size of cod, they do put up a worthy fight.

And on the table, they also offer a better option.

At present, anglers fishing the rivers and streams in the high country will come across plenty of trout.

While redfin are harder to find, anglers report good bags of redfin at the Hume Weir, Waranga Basin and also among the tree lines in Lake Eildon, especially at Peppin Point near the concrete galleon.

Also, the ‘Demon Yellowbelly Angler’ is reporting redfin in the channels in the Rushworth area.

Speaking of yellowbelly, they too are a worthy opponent for anglers and can be caught in a similar fashion to cod.

Now to the saltwater down south.

At Queenscliff, at the head of Port Phillip Bay, Rod Lawn from Adamas Fishing Charters said that once the winds abated, he was experiencing some of the best fishing he had seen for years.

Rod said that both inside and outside the heads, snapper had been taking up most of his fishing time, with most anglers bagging out within the first hour of their charter.

So, it has given him more time to go after other species, including flathead, whiting, salmon and others.

Rod said there were early signs of kingfish as well.

Western Port Bay is also fishing well, with snapper being caught along the edges of the shipping lanes off Hastings, as far as the steel works, and all places in between.

There is also good fishing in the shallow weed beds for King George whiting and gummy sharks.

They are being caught in the deep water off Phillip Island and San Remo.

North of the NSW border, at Eden, John Liddell said most fishing was on the inshore reefs from Boyd’s Lookout to Green Cape, with snapper, morwong, kingfish and flathead in between the reefs.

All in all, John said when the weather was suitable, the fishing was good further north at Narooma.

Graham Cowley said it was similar fishing around the island, and when it was too rough, fishing in the lake resulted in big flathead and bream from around the oyster leases.

At Flinders Island, James Luddington said flathead nearly a metre long and gummy sharks were the main catch.

Have a good week fishing, and good luck on cod opening.

Until next week, stay safe.