How to catch Poor cod
Trisopterus minutus (Linnaeus, 1758)
About Poor cod fishing
The poor cod is a small marine fish belonging to the cod family Gadidae, featuring a fusiform body that is red brown dorsally and paler below, paired with a pronounced chin barbel and a dark blotch at the base of the pectoral fin. Growing typically around twenty centimetres and up to forty centimetres in maximum length, this benthopelagic species inhabits coastal waters from shallow depths down to four hundred metres over muddy and sandy substrates across the eastern Atlantic. It forms small shoals, feeding primarily on benthic crustaceans, small fish, and marine worms, and serves as prey for seals, cetaceans, and larger predatory fish. Although frequently encountered as an accidental bycatch by sea anglers, it is harvested commercially for fish meal and human consumption in southern Europe.
-
Difficulty
Medium
-
Average size
20 cm TL
-
Market value
Medium
-
Habitat
Saltwater
-
Season
Spring, Autumn, Winter
-
Also known as
Poor-cod
Pectoral fin blotch
Dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin identifies poor cod.
Chin barbel
A well developed chin barbel is present under the lower jaw.
Caudal shape
The caudal fin is more or less truncate in shape.
Poor cod fishing facts
Characteristics
-
Typical size
20 cm TL (max 40 cm TL ) -
Typical weight
0.2 kg (max 0.7 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
7.2–13 °C -
Depth
1–440 m -
Longevity
5 years -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Commercial?
-
Vulnerability score
37.3
Best hours
-
Active
Dawn
First light
-
Low
Morning
After sunrise
-
Low
Midday
High sun
-
Low
Afternoon
Late day
-
Peak
Dusk
Last light
-
Peak
Night
After dark
When to fish for Poor cod
How to catch Poor cod
Tips for catching Poor cod
Anglers targeting small gadoids on rough to mixed ground or kelp edges should use light tackle equipped with miniature hooks and slender snoods to account for the species modest dimensions. Presenting small, scent-rich baits right on the seabed during a flooding tide yields the most consistent results, particularly after dark or under overcast conditions when these schooling fish forage more actively near structure. Keeping traces simple and lightweight ensures quick detection of fast, rattling bites while minimising tackle losses over snaggy substrates. Catches peak during the cooler months as fish move closer inshore.
Other names for Poor cod
Local and alternate names anglers use for Poor cod.
-
Poor cod
-
Poor-cod
Best equipment to catch Poor cod
Compare fishing methods for Poor cod — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 0.2 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.
Bottom Fishing
Presenting bait or rigs on or near the lake or sea floor.
85% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
ultralight · 1.8 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
1.3 kg · 0.125 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
4 kg · 0.2 mm · 80 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Hook
Circle hook
A circle hook turns in the mouth and usually finds the corner of the jaw. You do not strike hard — you come tight. It includes freshwater.
Sized for a typical fish
4
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Best lures and baits for Poor cod
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
01
Worm
- Bottom Fishing
Rounded anterior end containing the mouth used for anchoring the bait on the hook.
02
Lugworm
- Bottom Fishing
Fleshy, segmented body provides substantial scent and natural appeal for bottom fish.
03
Squid
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated muscular body holds internal organs and secretes scent in the water.
04
Mackerel
- Bottom Fishing
Distinctive wavy dorsal stripes provide high contrast and flash underwater.
Where Poor cod spends the year — Non-migratory
Stays in the same waters year-round. Look for it on the same grounds rather than timing a run.
1 Eggs
Same water all year
Laid on the home grounds.
2 Juveniles
Same water all year
Grow up close by.
3 Adults
Same water all year
Keep to a small home range.
4 Spawners
Same water all year
Spawn on the same grounds, with only short moves.
Hover or tap a number to read each stage.
Diet and behavior of Poor cod
-
Diet
Carnivore -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Dusk · Night -
Main prey
Baitfish · Plankton · Bottom prey
Prey and predators of Poor cod
Prey is what Poor 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 Poor cod lives
Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.
1–440 m · usually 15–200 m
Where this species lives
Poor cod photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.
Where to fish for Poor cod
Mapped fishing spots where Poor cod is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.
