A ripper squid destined for the pan.

You would be hard pressed to walk the length of any coastal jetty and not find a mix of anglers both young and old wetting a line in the hopes of catching a squid. Their popularity amongst fishos is often signified by a string of bobbling floats held taught in eager hands. There is no need for flash expensive gear when catching squid; it is a sport of humble tackle and affordable means. I guess that’s a part of what makes squid fishing so popular, that and the fact they are easily accessible to anyone that might like to chance their luck.

As table fair goes fresh caught squid runs rings around the rubber band variety many of us are accustomed to chewing on. Crumbed and fried in oil they are hard to beat and reason enough to spend a few hours on the pier trying your hand.

Basic rods and reels are gear of choice as are simple hand lines of 10lb to 15lb. Squid are not known for long sizzling runs but they do put a bit of weight on the line especially when they get a bit of size about them. They are quick to find the pylons if you don’t have enough pressure on the line to keep control.  There are two main jigs used to target squid, the first is a prawn imitation that can be cast and wound just like a lure. This is worked in a lift drop retrieve so it swims up and down just a few feet above the bottom. The second is similar to a skewer which is threaded with a small baitfish like a pilchard or mullet. This rig can be fished under a float or allowed to drift and be worked in the current with a slow retrieve. Squid respond well to burley and a few mashed up pilchards hung over the side of the pier in a burly bag will entice the squid to come in search of the scent. Other fish too will follow the fine burly trail, these will often include whiting, trevally and flathead and each of these make a welcome catch as you wait the arrival of a squid or two.

Once you have hooked a squid, retrieve it in a slow steady fashion as they will often pull free of the jig. Remember before you lift them from the water, squid are renowned for squirting a long black ink trail with very good accuracy. Leave them in the water until they have jettisoned their ink and then bring them in. Be careful when removing them from the jig as squid have a parrot like beak that can give you a nasty nip. Spring and summer are great times to fish for squid and generally coincide with seaside family holidays. Squid fishing is great fun and once you’ve caught and cooked them yourself you will quickly understand that a feed of fresh squid runs rings around the rest.

This Golden perch made short work of a cheap copy lure.

I guess the saying is true of many things and that is you “most often get what you pay for.” This is especially true when it comes to many forms of fishing related equipment, not least of all a wide range of successful and readily accepted Australian made lures. Our lure makers are amongst some of the best in the world developing a range of products second to none. We are able to achieve this because we have some of the most demanding conditions and fish alike to rigorously test the shortfalls of any poorly constructed product.  In the early stages our lures are not simply made, packaged and sold in bulk. There is an evolutionary process that sees them go through the cycle of change where every fault is scrutinised and improved until what we are left with is a marketable product that works equally well in the field. For some lures and manufacturers this can take many years and during this period they develop a following and reputation that is deserved of the hard work and effort put in.
In recent times the availability to acquire cheap imitation or copies from overseas countries has seen the Australian fishing industry and consumers alike bombarded with a number of vastly inferior products. While they may look very similar in shape, size and colour the illusion only runs skin deep. Most of these lures would be flat out passing the angry gold fish test let alone the destructive forces unleashed by a sizable Murray cod. Their buy price and cunning camouflage is what tempts the consumer the chance to save a few bucks. But in the end the loss is generally what was handed over in monetary terms and in many cases the fish that decided to chew them to bits. And don’t be duped into believing its only big fish that pull them apart, many of them are so poorly constructed that a single encounter with a golden perch will leave them in tatters. On a recent trip I was to witness this first hand where the inner wire and one treble were pulled free of the lure by a perch that would have weighed no more than a single kilo. The chance to keep a few extra bucks in the pocket becomes a lure in itself that draws you in no differently than what the angler hope’s to do with his or her cheaply acquired purchase.  How much might we pay to hook and land that fish of a lifetime? It’s too late to answer this question after your cheap copy has been chewed to bits and spat out by a giant Murray cod, for a few simple dollars I think we all know the answer to this one. When it comes to buying lures look for the Australian made logo on the pack. After all it makes good sense to use lures that are designed right here for the very fish they are intended to catch.     

Jock Mackenzie with a nice Murray cod caught casting the weed pockets.

In recent years anglers have faced a growing menace along the river that is having an impact on not only how but where they can comfortably wet a line. A living carpet of weed now skirts the snags and banks along much of the river and it seems until we have a decent flush through the system we as anglers are going to have to come to terms with the challenges it provides. In angling terms weed is simply another form of structure that fish use to hunt, feed and hide amongst.  Being able to read the weed line and choose the appropriate lure or bait is the key to catching fish amongst its growth. In the past few weeks we have found great success casting lures to its edge on the same line that old fallen snags trace under the water. While we cannot cast at the visible timber jutting down though the weed we can take a calculated guess at where the snag might lay on the bottom in relation to the way it runs into the water. Casting lures towards the weed line then working them down to the hidden timber is a great way of coming up tight to both Murray cod and Golden perch. While most anglers will dismiss weed lined snags, they are often passing up a good opportunity that is simply hidden from sight. Gaps in weed beds are another tell tale sign where large hidden snags of rock or timber provide a great ambush spot for native fish. I am of firm belief that areas of cleared weed around some snags are kept that was for easy access by large resident fish.
In sections of water where the weed snakes from the bottom to within a few feet of the surface shallow running lures come into their own. Spinnerbaits or hard bodied lures worked just above the weed will often produce the goods. Buzzbaits and other surface styled lures are also a good option and can be worked between the gaps and pockets of weed during periods of low light. Several nice Murray cod have been caught on surface lures these past few weeks the biggest a solid 35lb making this a valuable method that can work where other lures fail.

Gapes or lines snaking through the weed can be viewed as paths similar to that seen in a sheep paddock. You will often see large carp working the edges of these providing great opportunities with the fly. Other fish will frequent them and the next golden perch to smash a lure cast into the opening or head of a path will not be the first or last to come undone. While weed can be a problem, it can also provide anglers with opportunity and for the time being at least if we intend to catch more fish we as anglers will simply need to weed between the lines.

This solid Murray cod was taken on a Koolabung Codzilla surface lure.

Anglers digging bardie grubs for bait these past few weeks will no doubt have noticed that they are starting to turn. By this I mean they have reached the stage where they transform from grubs into moths and this happens about this time every season. Over the next few weeks these large moths will break free of their earthen tunnels and take to the wing to produce the next generation. The timing of this event is predetermined by the seasonal change and the prevailing rains that are hoped should follow. The moisture acts to soften the hard earth lined cap on the tunnels making it easier for the moths to break their way through the crust. It also allows the next generation of grubs to burrow deep out of harm’s way, where they can grow fat on a diet of fine vegetation and gum roots. Murray cod too are in tune to this event and they will now turn topside to seek out and feed on a heaven sent harvest that beckons an easy meal. Anglers would do well to seek out and use a range of surface lures that mimic the struggling action like that of these large ghost moths. Most tackle shops will have a range of surface lures that will vary in size from the smaller models right through to the larger end of the scale that look more like a wounded duck than a struggling moth. But they all work; it’s just a matter of getting them in front of a hungry fish.
 Lures for surface fishing are many, but I tend to favour those that create maximum water displacement at minimal speed. Several that meet this criterion are both the 100 and 120mm Koolabung Cod walkers and Jamie Fletts Depth Charge range. Most of these are larger styled lures that tend to attract bigger fish. Buzz baits too are an effective top water lure that create plenty of sound and have an excellent hook up rate. Bassman do an upsized version that carries a larger blade and sizable hook. Buzzbaits do need to be worked a little faster but the hanging hook ensures that most strikes load the rod. Fishing the surface works best during periods of low light and dawn and dusk into the night are the most productive times. Over the next few weeks Murray cod will feed at their best from the surface as they scoff down a bounty of top water tucker. Some of our smaller rivers have begun to produce for those anglers in tune to this event with the Wakool and Murrumbidgee proving popular. Similar results can be expected along the Murray as anglers come to grips with top water tucker time and the use of surface lures on Murray cod. 

River shrimp make great bait for Murray cod and Golden perch.

Regardless of where you fish if you’re going to use bait, you can’t do better than that readily sourced on location. Collecting your own bait is not only fun but can save you a few quid at the same time. Along the Murray there are no shortages of natural baits on hand and knowing where and how to collect them will see you amply supplied and ready for a day’s fishing action. The hardest of localised baits when it comes to collecting would have to be the humble bardie grub. Their symmetrical holes can be found around the base of river gums by removing the top layer of soil with a shovel. Once located, the large grubs are extracted from their tunnels with a grabbing or corkscrew device fashioned on the end of a Speedo cable. This is often hot work but they are worth the trouble as they are a favourite food source when it comes to Murray cod. Other baits include local river muscles found along the mud bunks just a few meters from the edge. With a lifespan of between 30 and 50 years these muscles are quite often very large, providing several baits per specimen. Murray cod eat the muscles whole and regurgitate the shell once the stomach acids have killed, opened and broken down the contents. However they are more than happy to dine on those pre-shelled and readily prepared on a hook. These large river muscles are best located whilst wading in the shallows, you can feel them in the mud with your feet but with the chance of foreign object and such like glass, I would be more inclined to wear light shoes for this job. Shells can be opened with a knife or by cracking them on a rock.
Possibly the easiest to catch and most prolific natural bait in the river would be (Macrobracachium austrailienser) the common long armed shrimp. During the warmer months their numbers explode and with the use of a simple shrimp trap of regulation standards, an endless supply of bait is just a few feet away. Baited with a handful of dried dog or cat food these simple nets attract the shrimp in no time at all. It is not uncommon to feel them pinching at your feet whilst swimming or wading in the river. So, next time you head off to the river remember the best baits to use are most often those readily available right where you are fishing.               

landing your lure or bait in the right spot is an essential part of angling success.

Casting is something many anglers take for granted; if it lands in the water then that’s often deemed as close enough. Whether fishing with bait or lures, being able to place a cast on the money can often mean the difference between a creel full of fish, or nothing.

A recent trip to the Bidgee near Balranald was proof in itself to the benefits of casting accuracy. Having just received a rise in water levels, the local fish population were making the most of the newly covered ground. As the waters began to recede, the fish continued to feed against the bank making the most of the available tucker on hand. Fishing from a boat, the method used on this occasion was to cast small spinner-baits and blades along the edge of logs as hard up against the bank as the accuracy factor would allow.

Any cast that fell short of its intended mark by even a foot generally went unscathed, while those that landed only inches from the bank were often belted on the second or third turn of the handle. The distance between success and failure in this case was a matter of inches, but that was all it took.

This sort of scenario presents itself in many facets of fishing, be it casting a bait along the edge of a current line or flicking lures around the timber, the benefits of accurate casting are many. Practice is what makes perfect and this can be as simple as a few targets in the back yard set up at different distances. With a little practice, it doesn’t take long to hone this important skill.

For those that intend on going to the Cod Classic at Mulwala on the first weekend in Dec you have the perfect opportunity to see what a lot of practice can achieve. Dave Hodge the master caster will be doing a few demos over the weekend and his awesome ability is something to behold. Just one of his many freakish feats is to hit a plastic bottle thrown into the air; this is hard enough to do with a shotgun let alone a casting plug. Dave will be the first to admit that his ability to catch fish while others are left wanting, is thanks in a large part to his casting ability. Don’t underestimate the smaller points of angling, when you really need them its amazing how big they suddenly become.

Structure comes in many forms like the giant pylons supporting this road bridge.

 It comes in many forms, both natural and man-made. As varied as it may be, it all has one thing in common; it is the home of fish. A sanctuary from predators, or a place to explode upon unwary prey, understanding structure will help you catch more fish. Murray cod are the snag masters, it’s their domain and understanding where and what constitutes the type of snag most likely to hold large cod is for the most governed by time itself. Time of the day is important, time of the year another factor and possibly the most telling, the amount of time a particular snag has lain in the water.          

Everything breaks down over time, including large fallen trees. The remnants of a stump on the bank partially submerged in water are most often overlooked in preference for snags that hold more visible structure. This is a big mistake; the benefit of fishing these old trees is for the most their skeletal remains lay strewn close to the bottom. These old snags provide cover enough to hold the biggest of cod whilst ensuring your lure spends the majority of its time in the strike zone instead of riding high over branches. The smallest stump on the bank can hide the biggest surprise underwater. Weed beds are another form of structure that attracts both predator and prey alike. Like a giant curtain, large fish hide in its many pockets while smaller schooling fish like bony bream are funneled along its edge as they form into dense nomadic schools as the water temperature cools down. When working lures around weed beds, either sit back and cast into the indentations and pockets or cast parallel, working your lure along the edge of the weed curtain itself.

 Man-made structures are many, the numerous timber pylons of a jetty or boat ramp will often hold schooling golden perch. A larger version of this parallels the giant vertical pylons that support numerous road bridges that span the river. Whether fished vertically with lure or bait or trolled past with deep diving lures, they are a sanctuary to fish and an opportunity for anglers. Even permanent lights that shine bright upon the water become a form of over head structure that under the cover of darkness will often draw fish. These lights draw insects that in turn fall onto the water’s surface attracting fish.  Like fishing itself, not all forms of structure are sign posted with a “here I am.” Understanding structure is to work out how certain things impact on the way fish are likely to behave. Where they can best hide from prey or where they are most likely to find a meal? At either end of the scale structure plays an important role when it comes to catching more fish.  

That simple explanation about sums it up. The many moods of Murray cod is what dictates the lure style best suited to the job as do many natural variations including water depth, available cover and so on. If you understand the make up of a particular lure and the effects certain conditions place upon it, you will then understand where it can be used to greatest effect. It’s the angler more so than anything else that constitutes the success of any one particular lure.

Crank it up a gear. This nice cod was fooled with a fast retrieve using a Rapala X- Rap.

It has often bothered me to think on the feeding nature of giant Murray cod. Some days they lay sullen to the point of arrogance as they refuse to except the most well presented bait or lure. Even when delivered amongst the snags and into the dining room they will presume to eyeball the offering snubbing it in a manner more befitting a well pampered moggy than that of a fish. Bloody frustrating to say the least but to their comparative benefit, cod don’t openly groom their lower extremities with their tongue whilst wearing that same smug look of contentment. And yes there are other ways to provoke a reaction other than with the swinging of a boot. When cod are in this mood you can choose to cut your losses and target other more willing fishes such as golden perch. Or, kick your cod fishing ideals up a gear and use speed as an option. We have had great success using speed as a way to invoke a reaction strike from fish that seem otherwise shut down. So successful has it been that we have made room in the tackle box to harbour several lures more suited to top end blue water trolling than the snaggy depths of the Murray River.  Worthy of a little effort this style of lure burning has the ability to prompt a strike where other methods fail.  So next time the fish seem a little reluctant why not kick things up a notch and see if you can’t draw that all important reaction strike.

Cod thumb or perhaps cod hand, either way Murray Cod have very sharp teeth.

If I had a dollar for every lure we have retrieved from the Murray River covered in teeth marks and sporting a short length of mono or braided line, I could possibly retire. To the uninitiated, it’s a great find but it is also a hard luck story of the one that got away. Contrary to popular belief Murray cod have teeth, and while they are not of the style that sharks possess, they are sharp nonetheless. These teeth are like small fine needles, rows and rows of them curved back in a fashion that is designed for grasping and holding baitfish and other items of prey. If you put your hand in their mouth to remove a hook, you will quickly find out that they are also very effective at removing skin. These injuries are often referred to as cod thumb, and are a painful trophy for he or she who has caught a fish. When a large cod inhales a bait or lure, they instinctively throw their head from side to side during the fight. This action is similar to a rasp working across your line and without the use of a heavy mono leader, in most cases the line will part. In time, the fish will spit the lure out and it will float to the surface covered in teeth marks and sporting a short length of line. It’s a revolving tale of cod fishing woe that can be fixed simply by learning how to rig a mono leader.

In fact when targeting any big fish be it Murray cod, Barramundi, kingfish etc it is advisable to use a mono leader. Leader materials are many; Fluorocarbon has been touted in recent times as the be all and end all of leader materials. This is possibly true in lighter gauges when targeting bream, bass and other smaller fishes. When you begin to run leaders 50lb and above many Fluorocarbons will not meld well when tied onto the main line. They display a memory that will often see them spring back from the knot. Softer materials form far better knots that not only pull up tight but also run through the guides more smoothly when casting. Many anglers don’t run a leader simply because they are unsure how to tie one. A simple answer to this problem is to drop into your local tackle shop and get them to give you a demo. There are also a number of books available on this subject with Geoff Wilson’s Knots and Rigs providing several clear step-by-step versions of the leader knot. Next time you have the good fortune to find the gnarled up lure with the short length of line you can fish comfortably in the knowledge that running a leader is one less way to loose a fish.