Mary River Cod Survival Rates.

[rayke1938]

Just wondering on the survival rates on stocked MRC.

They are rarely reported in any of the stocked impoundments despite fairly high stocking rates.

They seem to be more frequently caught in the headwaters of the Mary and Stanley catchments.

Are these fish wild fish or merely stocked impoundment fish that have moved upstream?

Are they territorial when they get larger and chase the smaller fish and eat them similar to a bull croc? and consequencially just have a low population relative to a large area of water.

Do they school up or are a solitary fish?

I know that they are supposed to form their own breeding populations in the impoundments but the only impoundment that I have heard of fish being caught is Lake Mcdonald.

I wonder what the mortality rate of the fingerlings? Maybe the bass eat them.

Should a specialist impoundment be reserved for MRC?

Maybe Traveston when its built.

Toga are another species to think about whether they need the same treatment.

What are your thoughts ?

Cheers

Ray

[Tom B]

I know Neil Schultz reguarly targets them in Somerset and has a fairly good success rate with some impresive fish, maybe he can help you out Ray.

But if they are like Murray cod then chances are they are solitary fish which will pretty much live on one particualar snag or piece of structure for most of their life.

And as for stocking a dam with either cod or toga, i believe it would be a fairly expensive project as i have heard that toga cost $1000 per breeding pair

[werewolf]

Maybe there is more around then we think, we just suck at targeting them. Someone on here earlier today quoted Schultzy as saying if you want cod you need to target cod only or something along those lines. Maybe they will only eat the extra large lures at a certain speed etc?

That said I would love to catch a freshwater cod. Never seen one in the flesh!

[Feral]

I reckon stocking the Mary's is a waste of time for sport fishing, they should let us stock Murray's. Bigger fish, better take up in the impoundments.

However I am still chasing my first Mary in Somerset, I'll get one sooner or later! The plan is waiting for next shag breeding season, I have my "baby shag" look alike lure all ready to go!

[pcsolutionman]

Ferel get up into the stanley a bit and throw some bigger spinnerbaits around and u will nail one sooner or later

Lee

[Cowfish13]

Borumba is kind of a Toga dam isn't it?

[pcsolutionman]

Yeah its chockas with them HEHEHE

Lee

[Feral]

pcsolutionman wrote:

Ferel get up into the stanley a bit and throw some bigger spinnerbaits around and u will nail one sooner or later

Lee

Yeah, Ferg gets them regularly up there, but my worn out knees cant take the climbing and hiking, I've gotta target mine on the water!

[pcsolutionman]

Mate its called KAYAK lol

Lee

[Feral]

Yep, thats what I'm working on!

[Terry H]

Only a good 7km paddle to the good stuff Feral!

[bretto]

All the cod we have found seem to be in size groups. I'm guessing that is because they are a terratorial fish. You can pull two or three fish of the same size off snags in a short section of river or down off a snag in the impoundments. I have caught a small one in hinze when it was down at 60% on a rock ledge in a metre of water.