Murray River cheat sheet

Every fish, the licence and the rules, the methods and the box of tackle. One page to take to the water.

Fishing Dan · cheat sheet

Murray River

Every fish, the licence and the rules, the methods and the box of tackle. One page to take to the water.

By Dan · read the full guide

Checked 5 June 2026

fishingdan.com/spots/murray-river

What's on

Murray cod Dec – Mar; closed 1 Sep – 30 Nov

Golden perch spring – summer

Redfin warmer months

Peak In season Slow Closed (law)▎This month

Murray cod December to March (summer night bite), closed 1 September to 30 November. Golden perch spring to summer. Redfin through the warmer months.

Licence

The Murray is the NSW/VIC border, so carry the licence for the water you fish. NSW Recreational Fishing Fee (1-year A$35, 3-day A$7) or Victorian RFL (1-year A$42.20, 3-day A$10). Hold both if you move between the states. Buy from NSW DPI / Service NSW or the VFA / Service Victoria.

The limits

Murray cod slot 55 to 75 cm (release under and over), bag NSW 2 / VIC 1 in rivers. Golden perch 30 cm, bag 5. Murray cod closed 1 September to 30 November in both states. Release silver perch (protected).

Release / handle with care

Release trophy cod over the slot and any silver perch; wet hands, support horizontally, unhook over a wet mat. Do not return carp (or redfin where required) to the water alive. Clean kit between waters.

Bank vs boat · season · time → rig

Fish	From the bank	From a boat	Best time	Method / rig
Murray cod	Yes, off reachable snags and holes	Yes, the productive way (cover more timber)	Summer; dusk and after dark for the surface bite	Cod spinnerbait rig; surface lures at night; bait on a running sinker
Golden perch (yellowbelly)	Yes, on lures or bait near snags	Yes, covers more water	Spring as the water warms; through summer	Cod spinnerbait rig (scaled down); running-sinker or paternoster bait rig
Redfin	Yes, in slower backwaters and edges	Yes	Warmer months	Small soft plastics, blades or bait

Bank only takes cod and yellowbelly off reachable snags and holes. A boat covers far more timber and is the productive way. Surface lures at dusk and into the night are the summer cod method either way.

The rigs

Cod spinnerbait rig

Heavy braid 50–60 lb → heavy mono/fluoro leader 40–60 lb → a big spinnerbait, swimbait, deep diver, lipless crank or surface lure, cast tight to timber

FG knot · Palomar · improved clinch / non-slip loop

What you need

Rod & reel

Baitcaster rod heavy, ~1.8 to 2.1 m (6 to 7 ft), rated for big lures and a fish that must be stopped in cover

Baitcaster reel a strong low-profile baitcaster with a firm drag, loaded with heavy braid

Light spin outfit (optional) a 2 to 4 kg spin rod and 2500 to 3000 reel

Lines & leader

Main line heavy braid, around 50 to 60 lb

Leader heavy mono or fluorocarbon, around 40 to 60 lb, about a rod length

Lighter braid and leader (optional) ~20 lb braid, ~20 to 30 lb leader

Lures

Spinnerbaits large, single and double blade (the snag-fishing staple)

Swimbaits / deep divers large hardbody and soft swimbaits

Lipless crankbaits medium to large

Surface lures paddlers, walkers and fizzers

Smaller lures scaled-down spinnerbaits, lipless cranks, soft plastics, blades

Bait & bait terminal

Running sinkers (ball or bean) a range of weights to hold against the current

Hooks strong, sized to the bait (a bardi grub, yabby, shrimp or worm)

Swivels and beads a few, to build a running-sinker or paternoster rig

Bait bardi grub, yabby, shrimp, or worm (the proven Murray baits)

Other kit

Cod cradle or knotless net a large, knotless landing net or a cod cradle to hold a big fish safely

Wet mat, pliers and a head torch a wet unhooking mat, long-nosed pliers, and a head torch for the night session

Measuring tape or brag mat to check the cod against the 55 to 75 cm slot and the golden perch against 30 cm

One heavy baitcaster outfit, heavy braid and a heavy leader cover the cod lure method. Add sinkers, strong hooks and bait for the bait rig, and a light spin outfit only for golden perch and redfin.

The knots

Knot	Ties	Used by
FG knot	Heavy braid to the heavy leader.	Braid-to-leader join
Palomar	Lures straight to the leader, the workhorse.	Lures and hooks
Non-slip loop	A fixed loop at a lure for free movement.	Lures

Learn the FG knot for the braid-to-leader join and the Palomar for everything else. Wet every knot before you pull it tight. The running-sinker bait rig is described in the full guide; its own build page is on the way.

Want to cover the timber? A boat is the productive way to fish the Murray. Book a guided cod trip or launch your own at a town ramp. See guided trips and boats in the full guide →

Fishing Dan · fishingdan.com/spots/murray-river · Last checked 5 June 2026 · Confirm licences, seasons and boat hire with the authorities named in the full guide before you travel.

The printable

This one page is the printable I take to the water.

Give me an email and I will show it to you, ready to print. A one-page reference: what's on by month, the licence and rules, a rig for every fish, the shared tackle box and the knots.

I'll send you the cheat sheet, and email you when I add a new place to fish. Nothing else.