Murray cod closed season and closed waters

August 2, 2022

A closed season applies to Murray cod from 1 August to 31 October in all Queensland waters in the Murray-Darling Drainage Division. Exceptions apply to some stocked impoundments.

Closed waters also apply from 1 August to 31 October to allow Mary River cod to breed.

See the full list of closed waters in freshwater areas. below.

You cannot target Murray cod during the closure, as the stress may prevent fish from spawning or protecting their nest. Any Murray cod caught accidentally must be immediately returned to the water.

Why do we have closed waters?

Closed waters (regulated waters) prevent people from fishing in certain areas and these may be:

where a population of endangered or threatened species live
where fish congregate during or before spawning
where fish may mass or be stranded near artificial barriers and be susceptible to overfishing
to separate incompatible uses, for example spearfishing in a bathing area
to enable successful migration of fish through fishways.

Waters closed to line fishing

A person must not possess or use a fishing line in the following area:

Obi Obi Creek: No fish can be taken from Obi Obi Creek all year round between the Baroon Pocket Dam wall and the shortest line across the creek at the downstream side of Obi Obi Creek crossing 4 (Manuel Hornibrook Bridge).

A person must not possess or use a fishing line from 1 August to 31 October in the following locations:

Albert River (upstream from the junction of Canungra Creek and Albert River – includes Canungra Creek)
Christmas Creek
Coomera River (upstream from the junction of Guanaba Creek and Coomera River – includes Guanaba Creek)
Mary River and adjoining waterways (upstream of its junction with Six Mile Creek at the creek’s northern bank, other than waters up to the full supply level of Baroon Pocket Dam, Borumba Dam and Lake MacDonald.
Running Creek
Stanley River (above Neurum Creek and Stanley River junction)

Waters closed to all forms of fishing

Fishing, which includes collecting, is not allowed in the following areas:

Albert River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Luscombe Weir.
Balonne River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Surat Weir; 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Beardmore Dam wall; and 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Jack Taylor Weir.
Barwon River: from Mungindi Weir to 100 m downstream of Mungindi Weir.
Boyne River (Auburn River basin): from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Boondooma Dam wall.
Boyne River (Boyne River basin): from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Awoonga Dam wall.
Brisbane River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Old Mt Crosby Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Mt Crosby Weir; from 100 m upstream to 600 m downstream of the Wivenhoe Dam wall.
Burdekin River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Clare Weir.
Burnett Creek: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Maroon Dam wall.
Burnett River: from 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Burnett River Barrage; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Kirar Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Ned Churchward (Walla) Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Claude Wharton Weir; and from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Paradise Dam wall.
Condamine River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Chinchilla Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Loudon Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Lemon Tree Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Yarramalong Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Cecil Plains Weir; and from 27º02.24′ south, 149º57.12′ east (approximately 14 km upstream from the weir) to 200 m downstream of Reilly’s Weir.
Dawson River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Glebe Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Gyranda Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Orange Creek Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Theodore Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Moura Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Neville Hewitt Weir.
Dogwood Creek: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Gil Weir (formerly Miles Weir).
Dumaresq River: from Bonshaw Weir to 100 m downstream of Bonshaw Weir.
Fitzroy River: from 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of the Fitzroy River Barrage; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Eden Bann Weir; from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Wattlebank Control Weir.
Kolan River: from 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Kolan Barrage.
Logan River: from 100m upstream to 200 m downstream of South Maclean Weir; and 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Cedar Grove Weir..
Macintyre Brook: 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Coolmunda Dam spillway wall; 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Whetstone Weir; and 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Bendor Weir.
Macintyre River: from 150 m upstream to 150 m downstream of Goondiwindi Weir.
Mary River: from 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Mary River Barrage.
Nerang River: from 100 m upstream to 600 m downstream of the Hinze Dam wall.
Nogo River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Wuruma Dam wall.
Nogoa River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Fairbairn Dam wall.
North Pine River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the North Pine Dam wall.
Pike Creek: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Glenlyon Dam wall.
Pioneer River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Marian Weir; 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Mirani Weir; and 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Dumbleton Weir.
Quart Pot Creek: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Storm King Dam wall.
Reynolds Creek: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Moogerah Dam wall.
Sandy Creek: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Leslie Dam wall.
Severn River: the part of the Severn River commonly known as Queen Mine waterhole, about 6 km west of Ballandean.
Sideling Creek: from 100 metres upstream to 200 metres downstream of the Sideling Creek dam (Lake Kurwongbah)
Six Mile Creek: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Lake Macdonald dam wall.
Stuart River: from 750 m upstream to 200 m downstream of the Gordonbrook Dam wall.
Teviot Brook: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Wyaralong Dam wall.
Three Moon Creek: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Cania Dam wall.
Thomson River: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream of Fairmount Weir.
Tinana Creek: from 400 m upstream to 400 m downstream of Tinana Creek Barrage.
Tinana Creek upstream: Tinana Creek and its tributaries upstream of Teddington Weir wall.
Yabba Creek: from 100 m upstream to 200 m downstream from Borumba Dam wall.