Species › Europe, UK & Ireland · Saltwater › Atlantic Cod

Saltwater

Atlantic Cod

Gadus morhua · Cod, Codling, Skrei

Water temp
39–54°F
Peak season
Nov–Mar
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
98 lb 12 oz (44.79 kg)
Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua Cod-2b-Atlanterhavsparken-Norway.JPG)

Photo: Hans-Petter Fjeld · CC BY-SA 2.5 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Atlantic cod are mottled olive, brown or reddish fish with a pale lateral line, a single chin barbel and three dorsal fins. They live from the shoreline to 2,000 ft (600 m) across the North Atlantic, from the Barents Sea and Norway to Iceland, the British Isles and the Gulf of Maine. Cod feed on the bottom and in midwater on crabs, worms, sandeels, herring and capelin, and they run in large shoals that follow the cold water. European stocks have been heavily fished, but Norway's winter skrei migration still produces 40 lb+ (18 kg+) fish and makes cod the headline species for northern European boat and shore anglers.

Typical size3–10 lb (1.5–4.5 kg); 20–32 in
Trophy25 lb+ (11 kg+); 40 lb+ in northern Norway
Table fareExcellent — flaky white fillets, the benchmark for fish and chips

Where & when

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In Norway the peak is January–April when spawning skrei pour into the Lofoten fjords; UK shore cod fishing is a late-autumn and winter game, while summer offshore wrecks hold fish year-round.

Lofoten Islands, NorwayWorld-famous winter skrei run; 50 lb+ codSørøya, NorwayNorthern island known for 60–100 lb codWhitby, United KingdomNorth Sea wreck and rough-ground cod

How to catch

Pirk and shad jiggingDrop a 10–20 oz pirk (metal jig) or a heavy jighead with an 8–10 in shad to the bottom over banks and wrecks, then lift and drop in long sweeps. Fish hold within a few yards of the seabed, so re-find bottom after every few lifts as the drift moves you.
Shore ledgering with baitFrom rock marks and surf beaches in autumn and winter, cast a pulley or clipped-down rig baited with lugworm, squid or peeler crab into gullies and kelp edges. Fish after dark on a flooding tide and hold the rod, because cod bites are a slow heavy pull.

Gear

Rod7–8' 20–30 lb class boat rod, or 12–13' beachcaster
Reel6000–8000 spinning or 20–30 lb class multiplier
Line30–50 lb braid; 40–60 lb mono rubbing leader

Lures

Metal pirkLarge soft-plastic shadJigging lead-head with muppet

Baits

LugwormSquidPeeler crabMackerel strip

Regulations

Recreational cod fishing in the EU and UK is governed by minimum sizes and, in some areas such as the Baltic and Kattegat, daily bag limits or closed seasons that change yearly; Norway limits tourist fish exports by weight. Check the national rules each season.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: 98 lb 12 oz (44.79 kg) — Isle of Shoals, New Hampshire, USA, 1969 (Alphonse Bielevich). State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to catch cod in Norway?

Late February through April is prime, when mature skrei migrate from the Barents Sea to spawn around Lofoten and northern Norway. Fish average 15–25 lb and 40 lb+ cod are caught daily on jigs in 100–300 ft of water. Summer still produces good numbers of smaller resident cod in the fjords.

Bite forecast — Atlantic Cod

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Atlantic Cod.

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