Codling
Last Updated October 2022
Codling are not difficult to catch when they’re out there in front of you. However understanding your venue and knowing the best state of tide will give you an advantage. Most of the shore caught fish are in the 2lb to 4lb range. Larger fish are much more scarce and far more difficult to find.
Generally codling like a fairly strong tidal movement. This doesn’t mean you wont catch fish at slack water periods at either high or low but the period around 3hrs after low and again about 2hrs after high water are often the best times to catch a few fish. This isn’t a hard and fast rule simply my own experience and that gleaned from reading postings where people have had the most success. Always worth remembering, as Rex Hunt (Aussie fishing presenter) says “the fish don’t read the same books as us” so always expect the unexpected.The guidance here is aimed at what you need to give you the best and most consistent chance of catching a few fish. If your lucky you may get that almost once in a lifetime double figure fish.
Philip Corbett with a nice 6lb Cod on his first visit to Otterspool - Dec 2020
Codling like large estuaries such as the Mersey, the Humber, the Severn Estuary (Bristol Channel) and while codling can be caught off beaches with clean clear water the estuaries with their coloured sediment laden waters and abundant supply of crabs offer the most consistent fishing day or night.
Codling like snaggy ground weed covered rocks and stones where they’ll search for their favourite food crabs. They also be found around mussel beds. Codling can be caught on mussel but they are most likely searching amongst them for the crabs that will be found there
Baits
Peeler crab is the prime bait for codling. Either fished as a single large bait or used in a cocktail with worm it’s a must have bait to give you the best chance of a fish or two. Lug worm (black or blow) is another favourite bait. Worm is usually as a cocktail with squid or several worms fished with a wrapping of squid around them and held in place with baiting elastic. Don’t be afraid to fish large hooks up to 5.0 as even a 2lb codling is quite capable of taking a fairly large bait, codling have a huge shovel of a mouth! Most anglers when targeting codling will elect to use a pennel rig to allow a large bait to be presented. This approach is especially important in coloured waters where fish locate food by scent rather than sight.
Tackle
In the estuaries distance casting isn’t always required. There’s always a lot of weed and debris being washed along and the sea/river bed is often quite snaggy. When faced with this type of fishing I prefer to fish a heavy 35lb mono straight through to avoid the problems of weed building around a leader knot and getting stuck in the top eye of the rod. Also the heavier line increases the chance you be able to pull free from any snags.
Jay Pickup with a brace of Mersey cod.
The author with an Otterspool codling.
Anthony Harrison with an Eastham codling.
Last Updated October 2022
Codling are not difficult to catch when they’re out there in front of you. However understanding your venue and knowing the best state of tide will give you an advantage. Most of the shore caught fish are in the 2lb to 4lb range. Larger fish are much more scarce and far more difficult to find.
Generally codling like a fairly strong tidal movement. This doesn’t mean you wont catch fish at slack water periods at either high or low but the period around 3hrs after low and again about 2hrs after high water are often the best times to catch a few fish. This isn’t a hard and fast rule simply my own experience and that gleaned from reading postings where people have had the most success. Always worth remembering, as Rex Hunt (Aussie fishing presenter) says “the fish don’t read the same books as us” so always expect the unexpected.The guidance here is aimed at what you need to give you the best and most consistent chance of catching a few fish. If your lucky you may get that almost once in a lifetime double figure fish.
Philip Corbett with a nice 6lb Cod on his first visit to Otterspool - Dec 2020
Codling like large estuaries such as the Mersey, the Humber, the Severn Estuary (Bristol Channel) and while codling can be caught off beaches with clean clear water the estuaries with their coloured sediment laden waters and abundant supply of crabs offer the most consistent fishing day or night.
Codling like snaggy ground weed covered rocks and stones where they’ll search for their favourite food crabs. They also be found around mussel beds. Codling can be caught on mussel but they are most likely searching amongst them for the crabs that will be found there
Baits
Peeler crab is the prime bait for codling. Either fished as a single large bait or used in a cocktail with worm it’s a must have bait to give you the best chance of a fish or two. Lug worm (black or blow) is another favourite bait. Worm is usually as a cocktail with squid or several worms fished with a wrapping of squid around them and held in place with baiting elastic. Don’t be afraid to fish large hooks up to 5.0 as even a 2lb codling is quite capable of taking a fairly large bait, codling have a huge shovel of a mouth! Most anglers when targeting codling will elect to use a pennel rig to allow a large bait to be presented. This approach is especially important in coloured waters where fish locate food by scent rather than sight.
Tackle
In the estuaries distance casting isn’t always required. There’s always a lot of weed and debris being washed along and the sea/river bed is often quite snaggy. When faced with this type of fishing I prefer to fish a heavy 35lb mono straight through to avoid the problems of weed building around a leader knot and getting stuck in the top eye of the rod. Also the heavier line increases the chance you be able to pull free from any snags.
;)
Jay Pickup with a brace of Mersey cod.;)
The author with an Otterspool codling.;)
Anthony Harrison with an Eastham codling. Prime Baits for codling!
Peeler Crab
Fresh or frozen both as good
Fresh or frozen both as good
Squid
Frozen Squid
Frozen Squid
Black Lug
Frozen or Fresh doesn't seem to matter
Frozen or Fresh doesn't seem to matter
