How to Fish for Cod

Once so abundant that their numbers seemed limitless, cod have played such an important role in the marine environment that the species was the subject of an entire book -- "Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World." While commercial cod fishing has fallen on hard times, sport anglers can still find plenty of the fish to grapple with. Atlantic cod range across the North Atlantic from Norway to Nantucket, and their Pacific cousins swim in waters from the Pacific Northwest to Japan. With the right instruction, even beginning fishermen should be able to land a descendant of those world-changing fish of times past.

Things You'll Need

  • Medium-duty saltwater rod
  • Medium-duty reel
  • 30- to 50-lb.-test line
  • Terminal tackle (varies)
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Instructions

  1. Offshore

    • 1

      Fish deep. Cod are bottom-dwelling fish that prefer cold-water depths from 200 to 360 feet in the summer and deeper -- 295 to 440 feet -- in the winter. You are unlikely to find them deeper than about 650 feet (about 200 meters), however. This isn't a hard and fast rule, but if you have access to a boat, you'll increase your chances of landing a big cod by heading to deeper water.

    • 2

      Use the right bait. Cod will eat just about anything that lives on or near the bottom, but some of their preferred meals are crabs, clams, mussels, shrimp and worms. Adult cod also pursue schooling fish like mackerel and herring. Don't fish small baits -- they're unlikely to entice a hefty cod. Worms need to be at least a foot long. You can also try lures and jigs.

    • 3

      Drop your line near a structure -- wrecks are a preferred habitat. So are rocky and gravel bottoms. Cod will be in among the rocks and dense kelp beds. You're unlikely to find them on a sandy bottom.

    • 4

      Rig your tackle appropriately. You'll need weight to send your bait down and the right-size hook to go with it -- use a treble hook or 10/0 or larger hook for jigging. Sinkers should be 8- to 20-oz. Stick to a medium-action rod, 5 to 8 feet, one designed for large fish up to 50 lbs.; a 30-lb. rod is the minimum option. Choose line rated at 40- to 50-lb. test. Terminal tackle should include a wire leader.

    • 5

      Bring extra weights, hooks, leaders and other terminal tackle. You'll be fishing the bottom around structure, so almost inevitably you'll wind up losing some gear.

    Inshore

    • 6

      Find the right area for inshore fishing. Scout around -- ask around -- for close-in locations with the kind of structure cod prefer -- old wrecks or close-in reefs and water that's at least 100 feet deep.

    • 7

      Fish at the right time. Inshore fishing is likely to be best in early spring, but can vary by location. Check locally.

    • 8

      Modify your tackle. You can use lighter-weight tackle for spring fishing inshore -- 15- to 20-pound test line and a smaller reel. Smaller hooks in the 3/0 to 6/0 range will work.