Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M600

It's eastern freshwater cod breeding season

by Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW 17 Sep 2023 23:51 UTC
It's eastern freshwater cod breeding season © RFA of NSW

Eastern freshwater cod, also referred to as 'eastern cod' or 'Clarence River cod', are an endangered species that is totally protected under State and Commonwealth legislation.

They are an apex predator inhabiting freshwater streams within their natural range across north-eastern NSW. Found only in the Clarence and Richmond River catchments, their distribution and abundance has reduced significantly since European Settlement.

Eastern freshwater cod face several ongoing threats ranging from aquatic habitat degradation through to illegal fishing and capture.

They breed during the months of August through to October. To further protect these iconic fish from accidental capture during their spawning season, a total fishing closure is seasonally placed over a large portion of their natural range where there are self-sustaining wild populations.

From 1 August 2023 through to the 31 October 2023, the waters of Mann River and its tributaries upstream of its junction with the Clarence River are closed to all forms of fishing activity. The fishing closure also includes a prohibition on possessing fishing gear in, on or adjacent to these seasonally closed waters.

Fisheries Officers will be out monitoring for illegal fishing activity during the closure period. Officers will also be keeping an eye out for illegal dredging, reclamation and snag removal activity within rivers and streams, because damage to fish habitat is a major threat to Eastern freshwater cod and many other aquatic species.

Penalties for fishing during the closure period are significant and they range from $500 up to $22,000 upon prosecution. Similarly, the penalties for unlawful dredging and reclamation of waterways range from $1,000 up to $110,000 upon prosecution.

Related Articles

Helping boaters steer clear of common mistakes
Veteran Sea Tow® captains share their tips Boating season is already in full throttle, and Sea Tow®, recognized throughout the marine industry as Your Road Service at Sea®, is proud to offer boating tips to avoid some of the most common mistakes seen on the water. Posted on 24 Jul
TATULA is Tops at ICAST 2025
All out with the new 23 model lineup of cork handle bass rods DAIWA goes all out with new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods and wins coveted Best Freshwater Rod at ICAST 2025. Posted on 24 Jul
Owner shares why he loves his WorldCat 325DC
Chuck highlights the unique experiences and cherished moments created Embark on the adventures of Chuck Smith, proud owner of the WorldCat 325DC. In this short testimonial, Chuck shares the joys of sandbar outings, fishing escapades, and family travels made possible by the versatility of the 325DC. Posted on 23 Jul
Marine Auctions: July Online Auctions
Bidding to start 24th July and will end 30 July We are now accepting entries for our August Online Auction. Posted on 22 Jul
Mercury Marine expands V10 Verado lineup
With all-new 425hp outboard and enhanced 350hp model Mercury Marine today announced the latest expansion of its award-winning Verado® outboard lineup with the introduction of the all-new V10 425hp Verado outboard and a performance enhanced version of the V10 350hp Verado outboard. Posted on 22 Jul
The after party starts now!
Prestige have already given us two instalments of their M-Line, and now here is the third Prestige have already given us two instalments of their M-Line, and now here is the third - M7 Posted on 21 Jul
Lowrance software update offers new features
New Trolling Motor features, Live Sonar enhancement Lowrance®, a world-leader in fishing electronics, today announced the release of software update 25.2, which is packed with innovative trolling motor features, significant enhancements to ActiveTarget® 2, and expanded third-party integrations. Posted on 16 Jul
DAIWA: Humbled and Honored
Carey Graves accepts Executive Officer role with parent company Globeride, Inc. American DAIWA Corp. President Carey Graves accepts Executive Officer role with parent company Globeride, Inc. Posted on 16 Jul
Lowrance® unveils Ghost® X Trolling Motor
Effortless positioning for a perfect cast every time Lowrance®, a world-leader in fishing electronics, today announced the Ghost® X 47-inch trolling motor, designed for freshwater and featuring an enhanced precision directional indicator, increased power, and the quietest motor yet. Posted on 16 Jul
DAIWA: The 9 Lives of Line
New offerings were popping up like prairie dogs Available in August, XBRAID's new FULLDRAG X9 brings big game fishing the pinnacle in 9-strand braided line technology and advanced manufacturing techniques. Posted on 15 Jul
Maritimo S SeriesPalm Beach Motor Yachts