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How to catch Atlantic cod

Gadus morhua Linnaeus, 1758

About Atlantic cod fishing

The Atlantic cod belongs to the cod family Gadidae and features a robust fusiform body with a characteristic pale lateral line running along its flanks, variable green or brown mottling, and a terminal mouth. Growing up to two hundred centimetres in length and ninety-six kilograms, this benthopelagic species inhabits marine and brackish waters from the shoreline down to six hundred metres along the continental shelf. It forms schools over rocky grounds, gravel beds, and soft bottoms, migrating seasonally between feeding and spawning areas. As an opportunistic omnivore, it feeds on various fish, crustaceans, and molluscs. Anglers highly value this powerful marine predator for its strength and sporting qualities in northern European coastal waters.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    100 cm TL

  • Market value

    Medium

  • Habitat

    Brackish, Saltwater

  • Season

    Spring, Autumn, Winter

  • Also known as

    Bacalao, Bacaleau, Baccalao, Baccale, Baccalo, Bank cod

Atlantic cod

Caudal shape

More or less truncate caudal fin shape helps identify the species.

Mouth position

Terminal mouth position aids in distinguishing this cod.

Spots

More than one spot pattern visible across the body.

Barbels

Single unbranched chin barbel characteristic of cod.

Atlantic cod fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    100 cm TL (max 200 cm TL )

  • Typical weight

    5.5 kg (max 96 kg )

  • Preferred temperature

    0.5–10.3 °C

  • Depth

    0–600 m

  • Longevity

    25 years

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    65.4

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Peak

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Active

  • Midday

    High sun

    Low

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Low

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Peak

  • Night

    After dark

    Active

When to fish for Atlantic cod

01
January
02
February
03
March
04
April
05
May
06
June
07
July
08
August
09
September
10 Now
October
11
November
12
December

How to catch Atlantic cod

Tips for catching Atlantic cod

To target Atlantic cod successfully, focus your efforts during the colder autumn and winter months when large fish move into shallower coastal structures, wrecks, and rough ground. Bottom fishing with sturdy boat rods or heavy surfcasting gear works exceptionally well when baited with fresh lugworms, squid strips, or whole fish baits like mackerel sections. Work your baits slowly across the seabed where cod forage for crabs and small fish. Low light conditions around dawn and dusk, as well as turbulent water after heavy weather, often trigger aggressive feeding behaviour. When fishing over clean ground or near drop-offs, bouncing heavy jigs or shad lures vertically can produce powerful strikes from cruising specimens.

Other names for Atlantic cod

Local and alternate names anglers use for Atlantic cod.

  • Atlantic cod
  • Straits fish
  • Snub
  • Semi-dry
  • Saltfish
  • Pink fish
  • Madeira
  • Labrador cure
  • Bacaleau
  • Bacalao
  • Tom-cod
  • Baccalao
  • Jigger fish
  • Baccale
  • Lap tail
  • Baccalo
  • Newfoundland fish
  • Bank cod

Best equipment to catch Atlantic cod

Compare fishing methods for Atlantic cod — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 5.5 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for Atlantic cod

Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.

How Atlantic cod migrates — Oceanodromous

Migrates within the sea between spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, and never enters fresh water. Follow its seasonal shifts along the coast and offshore.

How Atlantic cod migrates — Oceanodromous 1. Eggs: Laid on the spawning grounds. 2. Larvae: Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds. 3. Juveniles: Grow up in sheltered nursery waters. 4. Adults: Range widely over the feeding grounds. 5. Spawners: Return to the spawning grounds each season.
Spawning grounds Nursery grounds Feeding grounds

1 Eggs

Spawning grounds

Laid on the spawning grounds.

2 Larvae

→ Nursery grounds

Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds.

3 Juveniles

Nursery grounds

Grow up in sheltered nursery waters.

4 Adults

Feeding grounds

Range widely over the feeding grounds.

5 Spawners

→ Spawning grounds

Return to the spawning grounds each season.

It stays in the sea and never runs up into fresh water.

Hover or tap a number to read each stage.

Diet and behavior of Atlantic cod

  • Diet

    Top predator

  • Feeds by

    Hunts animals

  • Hunts

    Dawn · Dusk

  • Feeds over

    Soft bottom · Hard bottom · Intertidal · Seagrass

  • Social

    Schooling

  • Main prey

    Baitfish · Bottom prey · Plankton

Prey and predators of Atlantic cod

Prey is what Atlantic cod eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.

That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.

Prey

What it eats

Predators

What hunts it

Where Atlantic cod lives

Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.

Habitats
Brackish, Saltwater
Depth zone
Sublittoral, Bathyal
0–600 m
Usually 150–200 m
Water column
Benthopelagic
Just above the bed

Where this species lives

Where to fish for Atlantic cod

Mapped fishing spots where Atlantic cod is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.

Outer Harbour

AberdeenshireAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Peterhead Bay

AberdeenshireAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Sandford Bay

AberdeenshireAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Firth of Clyde (Upper)

Argyll and ButeAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Loch Etive

Argyll and ButeAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Loch Fyne

Argyll and ButeAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Loch Goil

Argyll and ButeAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Loch Leven

HighlandAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Loch Long

Argyll and ButeAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

River Humber

East Riding of YorkshireEnglandUnited Kingdom