Cod
Gadus morhua · Cod and relatives
Also called codling
Winter favourite that feeds in strong tides and coloured water, mostly after dark.
How to recognise it
- A single barbel under the chin.
- Three dorsal fins and two anal fins.
- A pale, curved line along each side, with a mottled olive to sandy back.
- The upper jaw sticks out past the lower one.
When and where
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Found over
- estuary channel, pier, rough ground, beach
- Baits
- lugworm, squid, peeler crab, mussel
Best from December to March. Rarely caught from the shore in summer.
Sources
- FishBase: Gadus morhua
- Cefas, Catchwise: A Survey of Marine Recreational Fishing Activity in England and Wales (2026)
- General UK sea-angling guidance (to be verified)
This profile is a draft: we're still checking it against published studies.