Cod species guide • Sea fish • Very easy (3/10)

Cod junior fishing guide

Gadus morhua

A clear, plain-English guide to cod for parents, coaches and juniors. See where they live, the best starter tackle, simple bait choices and a three-step plan to help young anglers catch their first one safely.

🎣 View starter tackle setups 📋 Log a Cod catch
Junior-first & welfare-aware • 3-step beginner plan • UK venues & seasons
Skill & size • Seasons • Beginner baits

Skill level

Very easy (3/10)

Perfect for first-ever fishing trips with young juniors.

Best time

Spring–Autumn

Pick mild, settled days for junior sessions.

Typical size

2–6 lb common inshore; much larger offshore.

Always match hooks, nets & lines to expected fish size.

Cod

Beginner baits

Black lugworm, Blow lugworm, Cockles …

Keep it simple — small hook baits, little-and-often feeding.

Typical venues: Rough ground, wrecks
Scroll down for detailed tackle setups, methods and parent-friendly guidance.
Catch your first cod with confidence

Catch your first Cod in 3 steps

A simple, repeatable plan juniors can follow with help from a parent, coach or older angler.

  1. Step 1

    Choose simple winter cod marks

    Codling can be targeted from safe beaches, piers and rough-ground marks. Always prioritise marks with easy access and minimal snag risk for juniors.

  2. Step 2

    Heavier gear and bigger baits

    Use stronger beach rods, shockleaders and pulley or flapper rigs with size 1/0–3/0 hooks. Fish worm, squid or crab baits into gullies and along rough ground.

  3. Step 3

    Discuss safety on rough ground

    Teach juniors about swell, weed and snags. Emphasise using headtorches, keeping back from the edge and fishing with a partner in the dark.

Tackle setups that work

Designed with juniors and fish welfare in mind. Start with an IDEAL or GOOD setup for easier casting and safe unhooking.

👉 Swipe sideways to view different setups.

Beachcaster

Beginner tip: Teach safe casting with no one behind, and keep juniors away from the waterline in rough conditions.

IDEAL

Rod: 12–13 ft beachcaster or surf rod (4–6 oz rating).

Reel: 6000–8000 size fixed spool reel or medium multiplier.

Line: 15–18 lb mono with 40–60 lb shockleader.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Two-hook flapper or clipped-down rig"
  • "Size 1–2/0 hooks depending on target"
  • "Grip leads in strong tide"]

Extras

  • ["Rod rest"
  • "Headtorch"
  • "Disgorger and long-nose pliers"]

Standard beach / surf setup for flatfish, whiting and general shore fishing.

Surf Rod

Beginner tip: Teach safe casting with no one behind, and keep juniors away from the waterline in rough conditions.

IDEAL

Rod: 12–13 ft beachcaster or surf rod (4–6 oz rating).

Reel: 6000–8000 size fixed spool reel or medium multiplier.

Line: 15–18 lb mono with 40–60 lb shockleader.

Terminal tackle

  • ["Two-hook flapper or clipped-down rig"
  • "Size 1–2/0 hooks depending on target"
  • "Grip leads in strong tide"]

Extras

  • ["Rod rest"
  • "Headtorch"
  • "Disgorger and long-nose pliers"]

Standard beach / surf setup for flatfish, whiting and general shore fishing.

About the Cod

Cod are classic white-fish with a chin barbel, mottled flanks and a powerful body. They are prized by both shore and boat anglers for their fighting ability and food value.

Junior tip

Use a simple pulley or flapper rig with worm and fish cocktails over rough ground. Strong tackle and a good leader are essential.

Logged a Cod recently?

Add a catch report so juniors can see where they’re being caught, which baits work and how your tackle was set up.

Submit a catch report

Want to discover more species? Browse the full species guide.

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Fish Health & EA Advice

Linked conditions and guidance for Cod.

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