06/06/2026
Club Record Murray Cod at Lake Eildon
Catching Murray cod at Victoria’s premier impoundment, Lake Eildon, is a challenge at the best of times—particularly during daylight hours. So when one of PNAC’s favourite sons, Nikola Jugovic, landed a magnificent cod well over the metre mark, it was a moment worth celebrating. After more than 50 years chasing these iconic fish, Nick had finally broken the curse he often joked Lake Eildon held over him and, in the process, bettered his previous personal best of 83cm.
Nick set off from the Preston Northcote lodge just after sunrise, armed with a few yabbies and plenty of worms. The yabbies were kindly supplied by Kevin Bamford. After launching around the Goughs Bay area and sounding several likely spots, he eventually settled on a particularly snaggy location near a log between two stands of trees. One rod was baited with worms and the other with yabbies, each cast into opposite stands of timber. After a small nip to ward off the cold, Nick settled in to wait. Before long, after briefly nodding off, he was jolted awake by the yabby rod buckling over and line peeling away.
After playing the fish for some time, Nick found himself badly snagged. Rather than panic, he let some line out and waited, hoping the fish might move free. It surged off again, but once more became hung up. Thinking quickly, Nick opened the bail arm and set the rod aside, giving the Murray cod every chance to unsnag itself. Thankfully, that tactic worked. The fish moved into open water and Nick took the opportunity to reel in his second rod, untie the boat and follow the fish so he could continue the fight more safely. After several tense runs, the cod finally came alongside the boat. When Nick saw the size of it, the adrenaline really kicked in. Questions raced through his mind: how was he going to land it, would it fit in the net, could he lift it, and where was the brag mat?
Nick first tried to net the fish himself, but his net was simply too small. After several unsuccessful attempts, he began calling out to Phil and Andrew Brandi for help. Fortunately, Daniel Trafford, who was trolling nearby, heard the commotion and came to assist. Daniel’s larger net did the job, and at last Nick was able to take in the full scale of the fish of a lifetime lying safely in the mesh.
With the brag mat ready and a wetted towel prepared, Nick—with help from Daniel—managed to lift the fish aboard, measure it, take a few quick photos and return it safely to the water. Daniel then did the honours of supporting the cod boatside until it was strong enough to swim away. Congratulations to Nick on an unforgettable capture and release, and on what is sure to be a pending club record.
