Fishing

The Mildura region is home to many well-known waterways, including the Murray and Darling rivers, making it famous as a playground to both novice and serious anglers who are keen to land the legendary native Murray cod. Try your luck from the riverbank or a boat.

The Murray River offers excellent fishing from both the shore or aboard a boat. In slower moving sections of some waterways, lure casting is also very worthwhile. 

Each year just before the November Melbourne Cup public holiday, fishing enthusiasts make the trip up the Mallee to learn to fish and vie for the $500 prize money at Catch a Carp Day.

Places to cast a line

Kings Billabong is bordered by a wide stretch of the Murray River and is part of the Murray flood plain. Cast a line in the tranquil still waters that are known as a ‘fish nursery'.

Merbein Common, once the site of the original pump that serviced the Merbein irrigation area, is now a great place for barbecues, boating and fishing, swimming and walking. Access is via a sealed road 5 kilometres from Merbein.

The famous Murray Cod

As Australia's largest fresh water fish, Murray cod can grow to 1.8 metres in length. The female lays up to 50,000 eggs at a time and can live for 60 years. They rely on large timber structures in the river for their home. Fishing enthusiasts on the Murray River around Mildura have reported catching Murray cod weighing over 100 kilograms.

Don't forget your licence

If you are planning a day of fishing, make sure you have a current fishing licence. In New South Wales a Freshwater Fishing Licence is required to fish in the Murray River. If you are heading for Victorian Waters, make sure you have a Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence; they can be purchased from any of the approximately 700 participating bait and tackle stores and other retail outlets throughout the state, or from your local Department of Primary Industries (DPI) office.