Cod

 

Gadus Morhua    

Cod is the most important commercial fish in the UK and the most important winter fish for the angler but because of over fishing and the north sea temperature rising stocks are under increasing pressure. Now it seems that sand eels like the sprat one of the main food sources for cod and many others is under threat by commercial fishing taking masses of these bait fish to be processed for fish meal. There is little the angler can do to help apart from taking only what you need and returning as many as possible and not eating to many cod and chips.    

Tactics

Shore  fishing for codling and cod is strait  forward with peeler crab, mussel, squid and lug worm  being the main baits be cod can be taken with nearly any bait they can even be taken with pirks and feathers. For bigger fish you may need to cast over the codling and whiting. I have found that a clip down rig with florescent beads and sequins baited with lug worm with squid tip to be very effective. You will have to use heavier tackle and bigger bait when targeting the bigger fish this is where the pennel rig come in to its own.

Bait

Peeler crab, mussel, squid, sprat, herring, lug worm and about anything else even other cod.

Eating

We all know how good cod is to eat.

 

Please only take what you need