This week our foremost Australian native fish expert Simon Kaminskas gives us the low down on the world’s biggest freshwater sport fish that is unique to Australia. Take it away Simon.

“Today, we are looking at Murray cod. Murray cod are a fish dear to the hearts of myself and many other anglers. Indeed, Murray cod are not just a fish. They are one of the most unique and beautiful native Australian animals around, and until white man’s arrival, one of the most successful. They have evolved along with the Australian landscape and climate for a staggeringly long time - fossil records show that they evolved from their marine ancestors and into the freshwaters of the newly born Murray Darling system 60 million years ago.

Murray cod are remarkable by any ecologist’s standards in how adaptable they are. They are found in a wide range of habitats

They are the big boss fish, and they have real character. They are meant to out-compete all the other species of fish in the river and each other. A fearsome predator, they will eat anything that will fit down their huge mouths. The thing that most people know about Murray cod is their size. They are officially considered to be the fourth largest wholly freshwater fish in the world after three species of catfish.

Many fish ranging between 45 and 55 kilos have been reliably recorded during the years, while the largest was a staggering 113.5kg fish caught by some bridge builders in the Barwon River in 1902.