Cod
Gadus morhua
Cod (Gadus morhua) is a saltwater fish found in UK waters. Mixed and rough ground, wrecks and deeper water; comes inshore to beaches and piers in winter. Whether you can keep one depends on local rules — check before you do.
- Max length
- 150 cm
- Max weight
- 40 kg
- Water
- Saltwater
- How often
- Common
Updated
What it looks like
A heavy-bodied fish with three dorsal fins, two anal fins and a single obvious barbel under the chin. The colour varies enormously with habitat — greenish, sandy brown or deep red-brown, mottled above and pale below. The lateral line is a clear pale curve.
That chin barbel is the quickest identification: cod have a prominent one, the closely related pollack and coalfish do not.
How to catch one
Bait
Lugworm, squid, peeler crab and large fish baits.
Rig
A pulley rig or single-hook flapper with a strong hook, fished over rough ground.
When
After a blow, when the surf has stirred food off the bottom. Night fishing is often better.
Where
Rough ground, gullies and the edge of coloured surf.
Season: Autumn and winter for shore fishing, especially after a storm.
Easy to confuse with
pollack
Pollack have no chin barbel, a protruding lower jaw and a dark lateral line that kinks sharply.
coalfish
Coalfish are darker with a straight white lateral line and no meaningful barbel.
Questions anglers ask
- When is the best time to shore-fish for cod?
- Autumn and winter, particularly during and just after a storm when coloured surf brings food into the wash.
- How do I tell cod from pollack?
- The chin barbel. Cod have an obvious one; pollack have none and show an undershot jaw.
