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.
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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!
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