Read the article with FishingTheSpot: the cod fish
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See the fishing tripsThe Cod fish
March, April, October and November
35 cm
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The Cod fish belongs to the Gadidae family. The Cod fish measure between 50 and 90 cm on average but can reach 1.80 metres for 40 kg and a maximum weight of 95.5 kg in some specimens. It can live up to 25 years. It reproduces from February to April. The female can lay 500,000 eggs. It can be fished all year round but productivity is better in March, April and October, November.
Its elongated body is covered with small scales. The muzzle is relatively elongated, slightly prominent, conical and obtuse. A large mouth with the posterior edge reaching one third of the eye. There are many small teeth in each jaw. Presence of a barbel under the jaw. It has three dorsal fins and two anal fins. The pale lateral line is curved in the first 2/5 of the body. The body cavity is lined with a grey or silvery membrane and has small black, brown or red spots on the sides and back. The color varies according to the habitat and diet.
The cod fish lifestyle
The cod fish is a very voracious animal and is described as an opportunist because it is able to feed on everything it can catch. In the larval stage, it feeds on zooplankton. Specimens up to about 50 cm in size feed on various crustaceans, fish larvae and mollusks. After reaching this size, they look for prey such as herring, capelin, sand lance, rockfish and other fish. They are also fond of squid, tunicates, marine worms, mollusks and echinoderms and can even eat their own young.
Spawning areas are well defined geographically, with egg laying occurring in February, March and April. The female lays 500,000 eggs per kg of weight.
The Cod Fish habitat
The Cod fish reside mainly in marine waters near the bottom, although they can be in open water when they pursue their prey to the surface. It can be found from the pelagic zone to a depth of 600 meters. It is also found in brackish waters. There is an overall movement towards inland waters in summer and offshore in winter. Cod are found on or near sandy, rocky or shell-shelled bottoms.
This species exists on both sides of the North Atlantic. On the eastern side of the Atlantic, its north-south distribution extends from Iceland to the Bay of Biscay. On the western side of the Atlantic, the species is found in coastal waters until the agreement of the continental shelf.
The Cod fish angling
Cod can be fished all year round, however, better results are observed in March, April, October and November: the colder the weather, the closer the cod get to shore. To increase your chances of capturing them, choose night outings.
Frequently fished with bottom trawl, pelagic trawl, longline and net, cod is also caught by line.
When surfcasting, laying, supporting, drifting, jigging, three baits are preferred: soft crab, arenicoles and mussels. In terms of lures, soft, metallic and feather lures can also be very effective.
