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Sea fish

Atlantic cod

Gadus morhua

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Atlantic cod
Habitat
Kayalık · iskele · açık su

Choose your region

The information changes with the region you choose.

Where is Atlantic cod caught?

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South West coast fishing spots

143
South West coast
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A listed spot is not a guarantee of a catch.

South West coast

Season and suitable conditions

Check the season information for the region you chose.

Peak months: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec

Season information is no guarantee of a catch.

Best times of day

When in the day it bites best, month by month.

  • Active at night
  • Good at night

In November

  1. Dawn 75

    1 h before sunrise → 1.5 h after

  2. Midday 35

    1 h before midday → 1 h after

  3. Dusk 80

    1 h before sunset → 1 h after

  4. Night Best 90

    0.5 h after sunset → 1 h before sunrise

Moon phase

Effect of the moon on night fishing; the scores compare the phases.

  1. New moon 75
  2. First quarter 60
  3. Full moon 55
  4. Last quarter 60

Best phase: New moon

Windows across 12 months

Best times of day J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dawn 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75
Midday 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35
Dusk 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80
Night 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90

Windows follow sunrise and sunset; clock times change with place and date. Scores are relative within the month: 100 is the best window of the day.

3 sources · confidence medium

Habitat

Where it lives and in what kind of water: ranges compiled by the research.

Depth

0–600 m

mostly 150–200 m

Water temperature

-1.5–23 °C

ideal 8–12 °C

Salinity

Also enters brackish water

5–35 ‰

Shore types

  • Sandy beach
  • Cove / inner bay
  • Rocky shore
  • Breakwater / jetty
  • Pier / quay
  • Around marinas
  • Headland
  • Promenade / seafront
  • Mixed shore
  • Shingle shore
  • River / stream mouth
  • Inside harbours
  • Cliff / steep shore
  • Harbour mouth
  • Strait shore
  • Reclaimed shore
  • Shoal / reef

Bottom

Lives close to the bottom

  • Sand
  • Sand and gravel
  • Gravel
  • Rock
  • Sand, gravel and rock
  • Seagrass
  • Seaweed

Ranges from FishBase, AquaMaps and the literature; a general tendency, not a hard limit.

Confidence: shore type high, temperature high

Bait and tackle suggestions

Recorded baits and fishing techniques.

Bait by month

Baits documented for shore fishing, month by month and by water clarity.

In November

Natural baits

Lures

By water clarity

Bottom scent / lateral-line hunter — Searches the bottom with barbels, smell and lateral line. Has the edge in murky water.

Clear Visibility: over 8 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Squid · Very suitable Usually in this water: Live or very fresh worm, shrimp, mole crab; small hidden hook; sunset and night first. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Weak Usually in this water: Only where it is known to work locally: scented soft plastic or worm, dragged slowly along the bottom. Colour: Silver, Blue-green back, White
Slightly coloured Visibility: 4–8 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Squid · Very suitable Usually in this water: Worm and shrimp; fresh mussel. First lure: Metal jig · Suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic; bead attractor (for flatfish). Colour: White, Silver, Blue-green back
Moderately coloured Visibility: 2–4 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Lugworm · Very suitable Usually in this water: Bloodworm, mussel, sardine; worm and squid cocktail; the most productive water. First lure: Metal jig · Very suitable Usually in this water: Scented soft plastic with scent gel; bead attractor. Colour: White, Silver
Murky Visibility: 1–2 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Razor shell · Very suitable Usually in this water: Heavy scent: a cocktail (worm with squid or fish), crab; on the bottom. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Suitable Usually in this water: Not recommended; if you must, scented soft plastic. Colour: White
Very murky Visibility: under 1 m
Natural bait First natural bait: Razor shell · Suitable Usually in this water: Oily fish and worm cocktail, crab; big pieces, refreshed often. First lure: Jighead + soft swimbait · Weak
12-month bait calendar
January
Natural baits: Lugworm, Squid, Mussel, Razor shell Lures: Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
February
Natural baits: Lugworm, Squid, Mussel, Razor shell Lures: Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
March
Natural baits: Peeler crab, Lugworm, Squid Lures: Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
April
Natural baits: Peeler crab, Lugworm, Squid Lures: Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
May
Natural baits: Peeler crab, Lugworm, Squid Lures: Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
June
Out of season
July
Out of season
August
Out of season
September
Natural baits: Lugworm, Peeler crab, Squid, Mussel Lures: Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
October
Natural baits: Lugworm, Peeler crab, Squid, Mussel Lures: Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
November
Natural baits: Lugworm, Squid, Mussel, Razor shell Lures: Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait
December
Natural baits: Lugworm, Squid, Mussel, Razor shell Lures: Metal jig, Jighead + soft swimbait

This is the usual pattern; the water and weather on the day can change it. Colour is fine-tuning: bait type, size and action come first. Confidence: natural high, lures medium. Colour and presentation guide

Fishing rules

The regulation holds no separate minimum size or closed season entry for this species. The provisions for Türkiye as a whole apply.

Before you go, check local area and method restrictions.

Species profile

Atlantic cod
Scientific name
Gadus morhua
Water type
Saltwater
Other names
Atlantic cod

Frequently asked questions

Which seas is Atlantic cod found in?

In our records Atlantic cod appears in these seas: North East coast — England, East coast — England, South East coast — England, South coast — England, South West coast — England, North West coast — England, North Sea — Germany, Baltic Sea — Germany, North Sea — Netherlands, North Sea — Belgium, South coast — Norway, West coast — Norway, Møre and Trøndelag coast — Norway, Nordland coast — Norway, Troms coast — Norway, Barents Sea — Norway, West coast — Sweden, North Sea — Denmark, Kattegat and Skagerrak — Denmark.

In which months is Atlantic cod at its peak?

Peak periods by sea: North Sea — Germany November–February; Baltic Sea — Germany November–February; North East coast — England November–February; East coast — England November–February; South East coast — England November–February; South coast — England November–February; South West coast — England November–February; North West coast — England November–February; North Sea — Netherlands November–February; North Sea — Belgium November–February; South coast — Norway October–March; West coast — Norway October–March; Møre and Trøndelag coast — Norway February, March, April, September, October, November; Nordland coast — Norway February, March, April, May, September, October, November; Troms coast — Norway February, March, April, September, October, November; Barents Sea — Norway February, March, April, September, October, November; West coast — Sweden October–March; North Sea — Denmark October–March; Kattegat and Skagerrak — Denmark October–March.

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