Freshwater anglers, especially cod chasers, are champing at the bit for next Tuesday - opening of cod season.
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DPI/Fisheries enforcement patrols will be active this weekend and Monday to ensure nobody jumps the gun. Recent surveillance and patrols across inland rivers in NSW have uncovered a number of offences involving threatened species.
Two anglers along the Central Murray received penalty notices after being found in possession of seven silver perch, which were fortunately returned to the water live.
Another three adults possessed of silver perch alongside the Lachlan River and, at Barmah on the Murray River, a man was issued a $2500 penalty notice for taking a highly-protected trout cod.
Once widespread in the Murray Darling system, silver perch have declined to low numbers or disappeared from most of their former range and are completely protected from fishing in rivers and streams in NSW but can be taken in listed dams where they are stocked.
Totally protected from fishing, trout cod can be distinguished from Murray cod by their overhanging top jaw.
Several populations have been re-established in Victoria and NSW by stocking of captive-bred fingerlings or through translocation.
The Murray River and its NSW tributaries from the Yarrawonga Weir down stream to the Newell Hwy Rd Bridge at Tocumwal is also closed to fishing for all species until the season opens to protect the significant population of trout cod.
Report illegal fishing via the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 or online at: https://bit.ly/3dMPFCX