Winter Cod Essentials - How to catch Cod from shore in the UK

A wee guide from Edinburgh Angling Centre's Sea Angling Guru, former Scottish Internationalist Gordon Lyall who is getting prepped for his winter Cod campaign. Whether you’re chasing prizes in matches like the St Serf’s £1000 Single Cod Comp on Boxing Day or just looking to catch a feed for the freezer and enjoy a session over the colder months there are some essentials you need to consider.

"The winter Cod season usually runs from Mid-October up until sometime in February, as the larger, mature fish will migrate inshore to feed prior to spawning. 

We normally associate rougher weather with optimal cod fishing conditions as the harsh seas stir up the sea bed and makes feeding more plentiful. As such, tackle for this type of fishing needs to be capable of fishing in these conditions; rough ground rods tend to be 12-14ft, cast up to 8oz as a heavier lead will be needed to hold bottom in rough seas, and benefit from a stiff action due to more reliable bite detection, as softer rods will bounce when your line is hit by waves.

Heavy braid (60lb+) on a Fixed Spool reel with a strong drag system is a common choice these days for many winter anglers as it enables you to fish heavy enough to pull out of snags without compromising on casting distance, due to braid's low diameter.

Heavier leads will be used to hold bottom (up to 8oz) in these conditions and as such a shock leader will be required. The general rule of thumb is 10lb of shock leader for every 1oz of lead, so 8oz lead = 80lb shock leader.

Check out our extensive COD FISHING TACKLE GUIDE

Research Marks

You’ll often be fishing at short range, targeting gulleys and other features so huge casts aren’t required on many of our favourite Cod marks. When you are fishing at distance swap out for clip down rigs that ensure good presentation of your rig on the seabed.

Many anglers will make a trip to their chosen marks at low tide, to get a better understanding of the area and where fish may lie at the higher tides. You’d be surprised how often the fish are right at your feet, with many anglers simply casting straight past them.

Rigs & Bait

Cod have a huge mouth and an appetite to match so I favour larger baits often on a Pennel Rig. Bait elastic is absolutely key here you want a neatly presented bait that doesn’t mask the hook-point to ensure that you’re not missing bites. Wrapping the bait for a secure cast, allowing a scent trail to ooze out and keeping clean hook point will make the most of each session. 

With baits, a good strong scent is crucial! When fishing in rough seas and dirty water, anything you can do to attract fish to your rigs will increase your odds. Baits like as Crab Cart, Lugworm and Shellfish such as mussel are the usual favourites. Fish them in a cocktail always paying attention to the hook point and don’t be afraid to experiment. It can also sometimes pay dividends to cast out a whole mackerel fillet in search of that bigger specimen.

DAM Intenze Thermo Suit LINK

Clothing

The best times and conditions for Cod fishing are going to be uncomfortable for most so dress accordingly with thermal layers/suits, proper waterproof clothing and suitable footwear paired with heavy socks will aid you in staying out in these harsh conditions. Wherever you’re fishing a good quality headlamp and some spiked boots are what we would consider essentials for this type of fishing, as it can be dangerous clambering over slippy rocks at nighttime!

Kinetic Raften Spiked Boots  and Quality Headlamps
Perfect for fishing on the rocks

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