Thousands of Murray cod released into Chifley Dam

Murray cod from the Narrandera Fisheries Centre - bred from fish rescued during the drought in 2019 - are being used as breedstock to repopulate the rivers and dams of the Macquarie River catchment.

Sofala Branch of the Central Acclimitisation Society (CAS) secretary Col Gordon said the Murray cod have specific genetics for the Macquarie region.

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He said the cod were recently released in Burrendong Dam near Wellington, Gosling Creek Dam at Orange and Oberon Dam, as well as Chifley Dam.

"It's all funded by the Freshwater Fishing Trust, which is funded from the sale of freshwater fishing licences," he said.

"From all the fishing licences sold, the money gets put back into improving and enhancing fishing opportunities for freshwater anglers.

"The hatchery manager [at Narrandera], Matt McLellan, said it's been one of the best breeding years for native fish he's seen since he's been running the hatchery down there.

"To date, they've put out half a million Murray cod and they've got probably about the same number left to go."

The Murray cod that have been released in the region join 160,000 rainbow trout fry released in the area's streams in October by the CAS.

"If it wasn't for these stockings, there would be very little in the way of recreational angling available except for invasive species like European carp and possibly redfin," Mr Gordon said.

"Because of the really good conditions that we've been experiencing for the last couple of years with the rainfall, the fish that have been released have been responding really well and there is excellent fishing in all streams and dams around the region at the present time."