All species
UK shore species
Cod
Gadus morhua
Also Atlantic cod
PopularNightledger
Habitat
Open beaches after a blow, mixed ground, pier ends and deeper rock marks. Follows baitfish and crabs inshore in winter.
Season
Peak: Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb
Also possible: Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar
A heavy, mottled gadoid that shows from UK beaches and piers mainly in the cold months. Shore fish are often small ‘schoolies’; a double-figure fish is a proper winter result.
- Three dorsal fins and two anal fins
- A chin barbel
- A pale lateral line on a green-brown, mottled back
- A deep tail wrist compared with a whiting
Shore fish commonly 30–60 cm. Anything over 70 cm is a good shore cod.
- Colour
- Green-brown to sandy, mottled; pale belly; pale lateral line.
- Fins
- Three dorsals, two anals, square-ish tail.
- Mouth
- Large, with a chin barbel.
Ranked for this species, not as a universal law. Local crab runs and what is actually fresh matter more.
- LugwormThread the worm so the hook is hidden and the tail still moves. A bunch for bigger fish; a single for dabs.Strong target
- Black lugThread so the hook is hidden. A bunch, often bound, for a long chuck. Tougher than blow lug, so it survives the punch better.Strong target
- SquidA strip on a flapper; a whole small squid or a wrap over fish on a Pennel.Strong target
- Peeler crabPeel it, leave the catch-legs if you like, bind it on a Pennel so it survives the cast. Half a crab for wrasse, a whole for a hound.Good target
- MackerelA thin strip on a small hook; a side on a Pennel; a whole fish on a running tope rig.Good target
- RagwormHook once through the head so it wriggles. A whole king rag for bass; a small harbour rag for dabs.Possible target
- Pulley PennelA pulley lead with a Pennel hook length. The standard ‘I mean this bait’ rig for a winter or a ray session.Intermediate
- Pennel rigTwo hooks on one bait — one in the head, one in the body. The way to fish a crab, a squid wrap or a big worm.Intermediate
- 2-hook flapperThe default UK beach rig. Two snoods above a lead, baits off the bottom, easy to tie, easy to fish.Beginner
- Single-hook clipped-downThe bait is held against the leader with a bait clip so it flies as one and releases in the water. The way to punch a bait into a headwind.Advanced
- Pulley rigThe lead hangs on a pulley so a fish pulling up helps break the lead out. A rough-ground friend.Intermediate
Hooks: 2/0–6/0 for winter fish; size 1–1/0 if you are after schoolies on a flapper.