Fishing Cobram & Barooga
While Cobram sits on the Victorian bank, note that Barooga and the Murray River water column fall strictly under New South Wales jurisdiction, requiring a valid NSW Recreational Fishing Licence to fish the river or northern bank. Warm spring and summer weather triggers active feeding runs for Golden Perch and Silver Perch along the clay banks. Anglers must respect the annual Murray Cod breeding closure from September 1 to November 30 across all river reaches.
Land-based fishers can work wide sandy beaches, riverbank reserves, and parkland bends on both sides of the river. Setting up bank rod stands with fresh yabbies or scrub worms in deep clay holes produces steady catches of Golden Perch. Walking the steep timbered banks casting spinnerbaits or hardbodies close to fallen logs yields aggressive Murray Cod strikes.
Boaters launching from Thompsons Beach or Barooga Recreation Reserve can explore miles of winding river channels away from town. Trolling deep-diving hardbodies close to steep timbered outer bends is the primary method for pinning big river cod. Electric trolling motors allow anglers to stealthily hold position while casting soft plastics and spinnerbaits directly into heavy timber laydowns.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- THOMPSONS BEACH FORESHORE: Wide sandy beach reserve flanked by deep clay drop-offs and fallen red gum logs. Cast running sinker rigs baited with fresh yabbies or scrub worms into deep water gaps for Golden Perch. Early morning sessions before swimming and boating traffic starts deliver peaceful fishing and active bites.
- BAROOGA RECREATION RESERVE BANK: Public bank access on the NSW side featuring steep clay drop-offs and fallen timber logs. Drop live freshwater shrimp or yabbies straight down beside submerged log laydowns for Golden Perch and Silver Perch. Note that fishing from this NSW bank strictly requires a valid NSW recreational fishing licence.
- QUICK'S BEACH RIVER RESERVE: Secluded sandy river bend upstream featuring deep water channels and heavy snags. Cast heavy 1oz spinnerbaits or chatterbaits into swirling eddy water where current seams meet. This current junction acts as a prime ambush point for roaming Murray Cod.
- COBRAM BRIDGE PYLONS: Concrete pylons supporting the highway bridge that hold resident native fish. Drop fresh yabbies or scrub worms straight down beside the concrete pylons on a simple running sinker setup. Fishing during early morning hours minimizes disturbance from passing road traffic.
- DEAD RIVER BEACH RESERVE: Quiet forest reserve west of town offering miles of uncrowded riverbank casting. Walk the bank casting 100mm hardbody lures or surface plugs parallel to submerged logs at dusk for Murray Cod. Sturdy footwear and caution are required when walking steep, muddy river slopes.
Offshore
- THOMPSONS REACH TIMBER LAYDOWNS: Massive red gum trunks resting in deep water along the outer river channel in 5 to 8 meters depth. Position your boat up-current using an electric motor anchor-lock and pitch 5/8oz spinnerbaits or 120mm soft plastics into the timber heart. Allow your lure to sink deep into the snag structure before starting a slow retrieve.
- BAROOGA BENDS DEEP CHANNEL: Long winding river bends featuring steep clay drop-offs and undercut banks in 6 to 9 meters depth. Slow-troll wooden hardbodies or vertical jig heavy soft vibes along the undercut clay ledges for Golden Perch and Murray Cod. Monitor your fishfinder to track bottom contours and locate snag piles.
- QUICK'S REACH SANDBAR MARGINS: River stretch featuring wide shallow sandbars that drop sharply into deep river holes. Cast surface lures or shallow wakebaits close to submerged log jams during warm summer evenings for Murray Cod. Navigating this narrow stretch requires watching for floating logs and shallow sandbars.
- COBRAM DEEP HOLE: An underwater clay depression dropping to 8 meters depth near the main town reserve. Anchor on the upstream edge of the hole and drop fresh yabbies or large scrub worms on heavy ledger rigs for Golden Perch. The deep water provides shelter for big fish during hot summer days.
- TOCUMWAL BENDS APPROACH: Upstream river stretch bordering red gum forest backwaters packed with fallen timber. Drift slowly using an electric motor casting soft vibes or spinnerbaits into timber gaps for Golden Perch. Vertical jigging live shrimp along heavy stump bases yields consistent feeds of perch.
Hot Spots
- Thompsons Beach: Famous sandy river beach offering premier land-based casting for Golden Perch and Murray Cod.
- Thompsons Reach: Deep river channel packed with massive fallen red gum laydowns holding metre-plus cod.
- Barooga Bends: Secluded river stretch featuring steep clay banks and heavy timber for boat trolling.
- Cobram Bridge Pylons: Deep concrete structure in the heart of town providing shelter for resident Golden Perch.
- Quick's Beach: High-nutrient river bend creating an exceptional surface casting zone for Murray Cod.
Local Bait Tips
- FRESHWATER SHRIMP: Collected using fine-mesh shrimp traps submerged along riverbank roots and reed beds, baited with soap or meat. Keep alive in an aerated bucket as the premier bait for river Golden Perch.
- FRESHWATER YABBIES: Harvested using legal open-top drop nets baited with meat in shallow farm dams or river backwaters. Store on damp sea-sponge or wet newspaper in a cool container. Thread through the tail for Murray Cod and Golden Perch.
- SCRUB WORMS: Dug from damp clay riverbanks and garden soil following rain. Thread whole worms onto size 6 hooks for targeting Golden Perch, Silver Perch, and Redfin around deep clay banks.
- BARDEE GRUBS: Collected from decaying gum logs and stumps along dry river flats where legally permitted. Thread whole grubs onto snelled hooks as a traditional, highly prized bait for trophy river Murray Cod.
Boat Ramps
- Thompsons Beach Boat Ramp, Cobram:
Thompsons Beach Boat Ramp is located off Rockliff Way at Thompsons Beach on the Murray River in Cobram. The facility features a concrete launching slab providing access to deep river channels adjacent to Australia’s largest inland sandy beach. Amenities include paved trailer parking, public toilets, shaded picnic shelters, and walking trails.
Bait and Tackle
- COBRAM BAIT & TACKLE: Station St, Cobram VIC 3644 | Phone: (03) 5872 1455
Basecamp & Accom
- RACV Cobram Resort: 154 Station St, Cobram VIC 3644 - Ph: (03) 5871 9700
- Cobram Oasis Holiday Park: 141 Campbell Rd, Cobram VIC 3644 - Ph: (03) 5872 2372
- Barooga Golf View Motel: 10 Snell Rd, Barooga NSW 3644 - Ph: (03) 5873 4444
Emergency & Safety
- Moira Shire Council / Transport NSW Maritime: 44 Station St, Cobram VIC 3644 - Ph: (03) 5871 9222 / Emergency 000 - VHF Ch 16 / UHF Ch 40
