Trout Cod @ Lake Sambell & Kerferd!

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BEECHWORTH has become Australia’s newest hot-spot for anglers, with the town’s Lake Sambell becoming Australia’s first trout cod fishery.
The world-first trout cod initiative was launched on by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford and VRFish general manager Dallas D’Silva.

As of 14 August 2015, Australia’s only trout cod fishery was opened at Lakes Sambell and Lake Kerferd (near Beechworth in North East Victoria). The lakes have been stocked with more than 45,000 trout cod fingerlings since 2008 using revenue raised from recreational fishing license fees.

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Fishing for trout cod is subject to certain rules and restrictions, including:

Bag and possession limit of one (1) fisher per person per day

Size limit (slot limit) of between 40-50cm

No closed season

Trout cod populations nationally in all other rivers, streams and impoundments continue to remain threatened and are not permitted to be caught.

How to tell the difference between Trout and Murray Cod

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It is very easy and common to mistake a trout cod for a Murray cod, and vice-versa. However, there are a few distinguishing features that make it easy to tell the different between the two different, but similar, species, including:

  • Murray cod have a shorter snout

  • Trout cod have an overhanging upper jaw

  • Trout cod have a stripe through the eye

  • Trout cod have spotted markings on the body where Murray cod have mosaic pattern markings

  • Trout cod generally appear more blue-grey in color and Murray cod more green-olive with a bright, white belly

  • Trout cod generally more aggressive and outfight Murray cod 

  • For more information, see the Fisheries Victoria website for a more detailed description of the differences.

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