Cod Fishing

I love warm off shore fishing, but due to a cancellation I got invited on a cod trip this Sunday. Never cod fished, leaving Snug Harbor Rhode Island at 5 am. Any input would be appreciated. And yes we will have beer.

Not sure what you want us to add. Sounds like you have your bases covered.

I use Norwegian cod jigs and fish the lumps and bumps on the bottom in the fall. Usually outgoing tide and bouncing it off the bottom. We tip the hooks with a plastic glo-pink shrimp for better visibility down there. We have also used clams above a weight. The weight is usually tied on with a weaker mono to a swivel below the hook in case it gets hung up. A chart with a few marked "wracks" to be fished over should hold well and a depth finder is helpful. Good luck. Definitely envious of ya. Bring thermal skivvies.

Here is a pic of a Norwegian jig.











Aw crap, try this one.

Thanks I will try them both

you lucky bastid, you.......

Have fun, buddy. I expect some pics (and a fillet or two)!

I grew up on Long Island, every year we would cod fish out on Cox's ledge. 12 hours out to the ledge 12 hours fishing 12 hours back in, some of the best times I had with my Dad. You would hook a big cod, get it to the surface and a BIG shark would follow it up and bite it in half while you watched. Love to fish for big fish, Dad caught the second largest drum fish ever caught in Chesapeake Bay, they migrate up from Africa into the bay then back to Africa to spawn. Oh yea the fish was a few ounces under 100 lbs after sitting in the boat all day, had they realized it was so close to the record they would of went in and it probably would of been a few pound heavier easily breaking the record. and dress warm it gets cold out there.

Defiant check your marine forecast before you head to Snug Harbor, right now theyre calling for NW winds of 25-35 knots with gusts to 40, thats gale force conditions and seas will be running 6-12 feet in the area youll be fishing. As far as tackle, use the norwegian jig merrimak suggested with another hook a few feet above it with a white,purple or pink jelly worm on it. 90% of the fish hit the worm, the jig mostly acts as a sinker. Just drop to the bottom and crank 10 slow turns of the reel. If you dont get a bite repeat. If your going on a charter or head boat the mates will hook you up with whatever is the hot rig of the week. If you have rain gear you should wear it along with rubber boots. If not just wear your best cold weather work clothes. Oh and dont worry about a long boat ride,it doesnt take 12 hours to go to cox's even if the boat is going in reverse.

Update that forecast, NW 35-45 knots,seas 9-14 feet,freezing spray. I was supposed to leave on a fishing trip saturday night but we pushed it back till monday night, that forecast is NASTY.

With that forecast I think I will stay home Thanks for the advice will keep you posted.

Codfishings been good theyll bite on a fishable day no sense in getting your ass kicked

I agree

Sunday 2/17
Tomorrows forecast from Bouyweather.com

Morning

Gale warning with dangerous seas. Small craft advisory. Use extreme caution. Moderate short period wind waves.
Winds: NNW 32 to 43 knots
Seas: N 8 feet at 5 sec.

Afternoon

Gale warning with dangerous seas. Small craft advisory. Use extreme caution. Moderate short period wind waves.
Winds: NW 34 to 46 knots
Seas: NW 8 feet at 6 sec.

Stay home and drink the Beer

Only break in the wind for the first half of next week is monday night thru tuesday morning,then coming on hard west tuesday afternoon.At least that will keep the pressure off the cod for a few days.

dammit I was looking forward to some fillets......
Stay home, brother. It ain't worth your life, that's for sure. Like Scols said, no sense gettin yer ass kicked out there in that boat, they'll be there to bite another day....

Winter fishing can be frustrating because of the lousy weather, especially if you have a mon-fri type job. All the stars have to be aligned to get decent weather on the weekend. And even days that are really nice inland can be lousy on the water. Hopefully defiant will get his trip in,the cod have been pretty decent size this year, a bit better than the past couple.

That was easy, the trip was cancelled, hope it gets rescheduled