I’ve got some news from MAS that will interest folk.

MAS has become aware of unconfirmed reports of native trout cod being stocked in the Goodradigbee River.

Information was obtained from the Threatened Species Unit of DPI via the recreational angling contact in DPI Fisheries,  Jim Harnwell. They advised that trout cod were stocked in the Goodradigbee River on two occasions.  The first stocking was on 2/12/2020 and consisted of 16,000 fingerlings.  The second occurred on 3/12/2021 and consisted of 20,000 fingerlings.  The fingerling size for both stockings was approx. 40mm.  It appears that both stockings took place below the Brindabella Bridge in a number of locations.

Also it appears that trout cod have also been stocked in the Upper Murrumbidgee River and Upper Murray River.  These were done about 7 to 10 years ago  – for the Murrumbidgee they were all stocked below Tantangara Dam.

This raises a number of questions for the MAS.  President, Steve Samuels, has expressed to DPI disappointment that the MAS was not advised by the Threatened Species Unit of these stockings.  He indicated that recreational anglers could be placed in a compromising position if they caught a trout cod and kept it, believing it to be a murray cod.

The TSU has given an undertaking to improve their internal communication with the Rec Fish Manager to ensure we do not have these surprises or anglers are not compromised.