 Murray cod is one of the most revered species in our river system, treasured by our wrecked fishers. From Jan 1 to July 31 each year, recreational fishers are able to try their hand at catching and releasing one of Australia's largest freshwater fish species, the Murray cod. Now catching a Murray cod can be a challenging and exhilarating experience, I know. Now these big fish are slow to grow but have a long lifespan and due to their size and weight they can be quite difficult to handle. Primary Industries and Regents SA in consultation with Wreckfish SA has changed the rules to simplify the way you handle Murray cod once it's been hooked and ready to be released back into the water. Perse fisheries officer David Grant and Michael Wilson from Wreckfish SA demonstrate how it's done. There's a catch and release season for Murray cod which means that the public can enjoy fishing for this species but once caught the fish must be unhooked and released back to the water immediately. These restrictions are in place due to the stock concerns. Perse are in collaboration with Wreckfish SA and the Riverland community, releases cod fingerlings into the River Murray to boost the population numbers as a part of the Murray cod stock enhancement program. Annual closures during the breeding season and the catch and release season are in place to protect the Murray cod population numbers. New handling methods have been created to make it easier for fishers to unhook a Murray cod with minimum impact to the fish. Murray cod are fragile, particularly large ones and must be handled with extreme care and respect. So we've caught our Murray cod. We've got it here next to the boat and we've got it securely. Grab your pliers, get a good stronghold of the hook and pull it out. Now's a good opportunity to take your photos, remembering to only remove the head from the water. Once you've got your good photo, release the fish back into the wild to catch it again another time. By all means, enjoy the fishing. But please take these tips on board to ensure the great Murray cod is still the king of the inland waterways in a hundred years time. Wreckfish SA is an advocate for the catch and release season. Encouraging these new handling methods makes it easier for the public to enjoy fishing for Murray cod while preserving the wild populations. Catching and releasing a Murray cod is one of the most special fishing experiences you'll ever have. It's look, it's just incredible. These updated handling methods are designed to help you catch and release a Murray cod and safeguard the future of this magical fish.