Murray River SA Help
Submitted by Wet Dreams on Thu, 2013-02-07 08:06
Hi All,
Just after some help and info in regards to fishing the Murray between Mannum and Swan Reach (possibly further up river a little) on what gear to take/use there? What sort of fish I'm likely to encounter? And also lures/sp to use?
First time to SA hence all the questions, and will be on the river for a week solid of wakeboading/skiing but very keen to have a fish while I'm there. Currently have a pfluger trion 7ft 2-4kg rod matched to a 2500 Ci4 stradic (4lb bite motion braid) if that will suffice?
Any help or info will be greatly appreciated!
Cheers Sam.
____________________________________________________________________________
Mind the smell, ive been fishing!
sunshine
Posts: 2600
Date Joined: 03/03/09
All the usual suspects
Bloody carp, tench, callop and cod - I never caught a thing on lures but that was years and years ago before the evolution of sp's - we used a drum net and picked up road kill for bait to catch murray river shrimp ( huge and edible in their own right) and used those for bait exclusively - brilliant
Light gear adds to the enjoyment - we used to use 6lb mono
I wonder whether the old guy who owned the farm next to the ferry at Swan Reach still owns and drives that old whippet car - it was a gem of a vintage unit in immaculate condition
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
I used to live just up the
I used to live just up the road from Swan Reach. What time of year are you going? I have caught dozens of monster Murray Cod on lures eg. stumpjumpers, oargees or poltergeists. I believe it is now illegal to target murray cod, but the Golden Perch are still a good fish to catch, and if you use a smaller lure (poltergeist) to target the perch, you may still hook a big cod.
Casting at the fallen trees (snags) is a good method, using either diving lures or spinnerbaits.
If the water is dirty, which is likely after the last few wet years, bait fishing will be a better option.
Carp are a pest and must be killed immediately. They can easily be caught using worms for bait and a paternoster rig. 15 - 20 pound braid is your best bet, as there are heaps of snags and you dont want to lose too much tackle.
If you have a shrimp / yabby trap, put half a carp in there for bait and you will get some shrimps or maybe yabbies for bait.
Fishing very close to sunken timber will be the best method to catch some perch using the shrimps for bait.
I have heard of a lot of catfish being caught recently, watch out for their spines and they are protected too and must be released unharmed!
Ben Derecki
Posts: 1926
Date Joined: 10/10/07
That's a hell muzza PA,
That's a hell muzza PA, what's the story behind that?
Is that the Blanchetown bridge in the background?
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
Kingston bridge mate. I have
Kingston bridge mate. I have dozens of cod photos. Some were way to big to even consider getting a photo. I will try to find some more later on to "show off"
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Fishing for Murray Cod in SA
Fishing for Murray Cod in SA is prohibited between 1 August and 31 December inclusive. A ban on trolling from a moving vessel for all freshwater fish species within these dates.. Murray Cod (outside these date) are catch and release only. Ie you can fish for them but have to release them. It is now also illegal to lift them out of the water due to damage this can do to their internal organs. If you want a photo get in the water and cradle them on the surface.
It is illeagl to target Cod in the northern sections towards the NSW border but I believe this does not apply between Mannum/Swan Reach
Bag/size limit on other fish apply see link below for details re Callop (Yellowbelly), cat fish etc. No limits at all on Carp other than can not release them back into the water.
http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/fisheries/recreational_fishing/catch_limits_and_legal_lengths
I fish with 6lb braid and don't have much trouble with pulling callop out of snags (Bait) but might want at least 10lb if using expensive lures or targeting cod.
Good luck
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
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pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
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pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
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Ben Derecki
Posts: 1926
Date Joined: 10/10/07
Some nice fish there. You
Some nice fish there. You ever cooked one up?
Murray cod always seem to have the fattest guts on them.
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
Nope, never cooked one. It
Nope, never cooked one. It was always a dream of mine since a child to catch a big cod. It took until I was over 30yo to get a big one.
The Golden Perch / Yellowbelly / Callop are very plentiful and are not too bad to eat... but you gotta remember these fish are freshwater and will have a slight muddy taste. You are better of grabbing some lamb chops from the country butcher and support our farmers!
Wet Dreams
Posts: 105
Date Joined: 29/12/08
Cheers!
Some absolute cracker Murray cod there, always got huge bellys on them!
Will be heading there start of next month- 1st of march for a week. Was thinking of grabbing a couple of spinnerbaits? But will grab one or two of those you mentioned. Cheers for the help!
Mind the smell, ive been fishing!
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
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