Atlantic Cod Fishing

Atlantic Cod

A group of Atlantic cod, headed for the kitchen. }

Recreational fishing for cod occurs year-round, although the peak activity is during the late summer in the lower Gulf of Maine, and during late autumn to early spring from Massachusetts southward. A cold winter may cause spring and early summer water closer to shore to be cold, and this may produce cod in shallower waters.

Traditionally, cod fishing was practiced over rough bottoms, but most Atlantic cod fishing today takes place on wrecks. Those far offshore tend to produce the better fishing and larger specimens. Far offshore, off Georges Bank for example, is the province of long-range party boats, some of which run for five hours to reach desired areas.

In the shallow nearer water, the early fishing—when the cod first show up and are aggressive and abundant—is productive on 10-ounce diamond jigs. This tactic may be useful into the winter if there’s plenty of live bait around, but baitfishing is the typical winter strategy. In shallower waters, 8 to 16 ounces of lead are best, as these heavier weights are necessary in the strong tide conditions. Anchoring is possible when there’s less current, but most of the time anglers will drift. Skimmer clams are the primary baits, usually fished on high-low rigs and sometimes combined with a tube bait or hooked soft-plastic bait. Jigs are also sometimes combined with a second, upper, lure (plastic or small bucktail), which is especially worth doing when small sand eels are present.

In deeper water, heavier jigs and weights are necessary; live-bait sinkers running up to 32 ounces are the norm, and all fishing is done via drifting. Bottom depths vary from 120 to as much as 200 feet. Fresh baitfish is a necessity. Skimmer clams are the main item, but squid is also used. Bait is provided on party boats, but private boaters must have an ample supply of their own. Some cod anglers will shell a bushel or two of skimmer clams a day before going cod fishing and then salt them in buckets overnight to toughen them so they will stay on the hook.

Because cod are bottom fish, the trick is getting and staying in the right places. The angler must find the weight that will position the rig on the bottom in the given conditions while keeping a little slack in the line. This method enables the angler to detect a strike while the bait is drifting. Jigging does not have to be done right on the bottom, with the jig bouncing off it, but the jig should be fairly close to the bottom. Given the weight of jigs used and the depths attained, many cod aficionados prefer low-stretch lines. Dacron line was favored in the past, but these days the newer thin-diameter microfilaments are popular. Conventional tackle is the standard gear, and 4/0 reels are the norm.

See: Cod and Hake.