At these times the best method for taking fish is to use squid baits on a 6o Oshaunessy hook lowered to the bottom by a 1 pound lead. If unsure don’t go.
The small imitation worms or fish are lowered to the bottom with a six ounce weight and wound to mid water before being lowered again if a fish hasnt taken. However, this recovery was short lived as commercial cod catches were soon increased. The Third Cod War concluded in 1976, with a highly favourable agreement for Iceland; the United Kingdom conceded to a 200-nautical-mile … North east rock anglers use the stiffest of rods often between 12 and 14 foot in length – rods to look at include those from A 6 ounce lead (grip lead for sandy areas or a plain lead for the rocks) attached to a pulley rig or standard paternoster type rig is the way to go.
The best baits are often squid and lug worm. Large hookbaits will cut down on casting distance. Once a codling reaches 3lb, it is big enough to be trapped by the commercial gill net mesh and that's when a dramatic decrease in numbers occurs.4.
As the seas around the UK begin to warm up the vast majority of larger mature cod will begin to make the migration to the colder Scandinavian and Nordic waters.
Cod are found throughout Europe, although as explained below they do migrate within European waters. Called a ‘slink’ among other local names diseased and emaciated cod are not suitable for eating, so check your fish over before taking it for the table. Best time to target the fish is at night because, like most fish, cod venture closer to the shore in darkness because they feel more secure, as do the small fish that they eat. Dashing off to the hottest cod beach is pointless if your casting skill and range does not allow you to pass the breakers.
In many parts of Britain there is a ‘spring run’ of cod as they feed even more voraciously than usual before making their journey northwards.
From rough ground marks the pennell pulley is a good choice as it also allows clipped down baits to be cast a good distance, and the pennell design means that any fish which are hooked are more likely to be landed.As well as hunting other fish cod use their huge mouths to scoop up all manner of food from the seabed.In terms of baits peeler crabs are an excellent cod bait (although anglers have to use frozen as fresh peeler is unavailable in winter) with blow lugworm, black lugworm and squid and mussel baits also considered top winter cod baits.
A 4, 5 or 6Peeler crabs, lugworms, ragworms, squid, mussels, hermit crabs and razor fish are only a few of a multitude of excellent cod baits for the shore and rock angler. Read a full article on North Sea cod stocks Cod are a highly sought after by anglers from both shore and boat.Cod can be found across every different type of seabed, meaning they can be caught from a wide range of fishing marks across the UK. You will require a headlamp if fishing after dark.Various accessories are needed, such as terminal tackle, a knife, scissors, bait cotton, spare line, hooks, links and swivels.