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Overview

How to target

Poor Cod
Species ID: poor-cod

Poor Cod

Poor cod are small gadoids often mistaken for pouting. From UK shores they show in numbers in autumn through early spring, especially along the south and west coasts, around piers,...

🌊 Tide: flood 💨 Wind: onshore 📅 Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best tide

flood

Moon

neap

Season

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Wind

onshore

Max weight

0.45 kg

Day vs night

Day 40%
Night 85% (best)
Poor cod are small gadoids often mistaken for pouting. From UK shores they show in numbers in autumn through early spring, especially along the south and west coasts, around piers, harbour walls, rough-to-mixed ground and kelp edges. They sit tight to structure in small shoals and respond well to a flooding tide and a bit of colour in the water. Fish small, scent-rich baits—ragworm, lug, mussel, prawn or thumbnail strips of mackerel or squid—on size 4-8 hooks and light snoods on 2-3 hook flappers or short loop rigs. Keep baits small and right on the bottom; short traces help keep presentations neat. In sheltered venues a 2-3 oz lead is plenty. Bites are fast and rattly; let them develop before lifting into the fish. After dark is most reliable, but daylight sport is possible on neap tides. Expect pouting, whiting, dabs and small codling as bycatch. Handle carefully and return promptly, as most fish are small.

Temperature

6–14°C

Depth range

2–50 m

Baits

  • Ragworm 9/10
  • Mussel 8.5/10
  • Squid 7.8/10
  • Mackerel Strip 7.2/10
  • Sabiki 6.8/10

Rigs

  • Three-Hook Flapper 9.2/10

    Ideal from piers/harbours over mixed ground. Three small hooks (size 4–8) with tiny worm, mussel or fish slivers cover the bottom layer where poor cod feed and keep baits just off snaggy ground.

  • Paternoster (Shore) 8.6/10

    Simple, tangle-free bottom rig for rough or mixed ground. Short snoods lift small baits above kelp/rocks, perfect for small gadoids like poor cod along walls and breakwaters.

  • Feathers / Sabiki 7.4/10

    Small sabikis, preferably baited with tiny worm or fish slivers, excel under piers and in harbours for shoaling poor cod. Jig gently or leave static with a light lead.

  • Running Ledger 6.8/10

    When bites are shy in calm water, a light ledger with a short snood and size 6–8 hook presents a small bait tight to the seabed with minimal resistance. Best on cleaner patches near structure.