Beau O’Mara pictured with the goliath cod.
A quiet Sunday morning turned into an unforgettable moment for well-known Yass community figure Barry O’Mara and his son Beau, after the pair landed a massive 125cm cod during a father-and-son fishing trip.
The duo were casting lines just after sunrise at Good Hope on the Murrumbidgee River when they hooked the impressive fish.
“It was about 7:20am, just after daylight,” Barry said. “The fish measured 1 metre 25 centimetres and was heavy close to 50 kilograms.”
Despite the size, Barry and Beau did what they always do: snapped a photo and released it back into the river. “You couldn’t eat a fish like that too fatty,” Barry explained. “I catch and release all my cod, even the small ones. It’s important to do the catch and release, especially with the big ones they’re the breeders.”
Fishing is more than a pastime for Barry it’s a passion. He tries to get out every second weekend during winter and recently caught a 1.10m fish just the weekend before.
The moment also carried a bit of family nostalgia. Barry recalled being around ten years old when his father caught a big fish in nearly the exact same location.
“It was very similar, not far away within about half a kilometre of where Beau and I were,” Barry said. “Dad was trolling and Beau was casting, but it really brought back memories.”
When asked if it could have been the same fish, Barry laughed. “Probably not we looked it up. A fish that size is usually around 25 to 45 years old. My father caught his in the early ‘70s, and while it may not have been quite as big, it was definitely over a metre.”
The day served as a powerful reminder of the bonds forged through shared experiences and of the importance of sustainable fishing.
“To be with Beau, it was an experience I’ll never forget,” Barry said. “We’ve always practised responsible fishing. You only take what you need. I believe in catch and release no matter what the species so the fish are there for the next time, and the next generation.”
-Liam Stuart
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