C O D . . . . O P I N I O N S R E Q U E S T E D

Ok folks, North Down is not renouned for its huge catches of Prime Autumn/Winter Codling, and I believe the reason for this is lack of people who are willing to get out there and give a damn good thrashing, So, In the works are Plans to absolutely flog hell outta one of my local Macky Basher/Pollack float Boy Marks to try like fik to extract some decent codling! I'm going to follow Dave Barhams example, Crab + Lug baits, Size 4/0 Hooks, Pennel Pully Rigs, 30lb Line straight Through...

SO what I wanna know from you lot is... DO YOU REALLY THINK ITS WORTH IT???
I mean, I'd really like input from People like Ronald Surgeoner, DTMCC, and H Rocks, I know Ronald can extract exceptional Cod from the Antrim Coast, But can It be done from Down??!!! and If Not... WHY NOT? I mean, the fish are only a Couple of Hundred Yds offshore during the Summer, So they're bound to stray in now and again under cover of darkness/Over High Tide to look for food.

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Personally, I'd go for 60+ lb line, minimum, on snoods/terminal tackle.

Cods aren't frightened off by the line, and you might get lucky enough to hook up a lunker.

Good luck.

Oh, by the way, Ada (H.A.) from the other place is trying to get in touch with you. :D

this year again I will be trying to find the winter cod....
last year I got two "small" en's, and I also have my fishing partner Bobby now with some good gear that can fish the hard stuff.

I will be working from St John's point "N" towards Ardglass and as any boby has fished here before should know that this is leg smashing ground.

But!!!! If I do connect with some thing above 5oz I will post


dave

PS
k2, watch that fella Ada, he a droll case, HA stands for Heyhung Angler,
and tanglerat still owes me "wife" a signed copy of TSF

A signed copy of TSF? Why, does someone think I'm famous or something! :lol: :lol:

k2 might be interested heading out after the cod some night myself ,always thought orlock point would be worth a try .
Alot of our fish on the north coast are caught during a good northerly gale biggest problem is finding somewhere safe enough to fish of ,but the bigger fish def seem to move inshore at these times ,especially if you can get high water late on at night .
A good bait is lug and mussel whipped on with plenty of bait elastic to form a sausage shape , i've been known to use upto 15 lugworm and a handful of mussel in one bait all whipped together on a 6/0 pennel rig .
big baits are def the way to go if you want good fish only problem is you dont get to many fish in a session .

Sorry for butting in like this your sausage is intriguing me :shock: . In another post I queried how these monsters are presented. If I understand correctly the bait elastic acts like a skin holding it all together and the pennel rig holds it in place top and bottom.

Learnt how to make them a couple of years ago when fishing at the sea wall in monkstown . basically you grab a handful of bait ,worms and mussel , lay your line down through the centre with hooks either side and starting at the bottom wrap bait elastic around the ball of bait ,(not to tightly) until you form the rough shape ,you then pull your bottom hook into the bait ,wrap more elastic around the bait pretty tightly making sure your hook point is not masked ,then to finish of slide the top hook down to the top of the bait put a couple of wraps of line around the hook shank and hook it through the top of the bait .
sounds complicated but with a bit of practise becomes easy enough .
another good bait is the blown lug you normally throw away keep these seperatly from your good lug ,use them as above can prove deadly ,thats what i caught my pb cod on .

Ronald,

thanks for that. I must try it out as I have the a few pennel rigs made up albeit with 3/0 hooks.

Ronald, If you've ever been to Millisle (Straight down the Coast Roads from Bangor You may have noticed a Big Rock in the Middle of a Field.... Which leads to a rocky Point, I believe Off the right hand side of this Point is relatively deep water, What also makes this spot appealing to me is, A couple of years ago I worked on 'The Brothers' the Angling boat out of Donaghadee, There are certain areas of reefy ground (NOT TOO FAR OFFSHORE), That we have plucked Cod to around 8lb off.... Now, The Ground pretty much stays the same the whole way in by my reckoning, So I think this MAY be a hidden Gem.

As for Orlock head.... When I was a Kid and set the float too Deep at the Head I used to pick up small t**d coloured Cod....

Wouldnt like to be there tonight!!!

best of luck with it K2. it might be a little disheartening to begin with but think of the rewards if you get it right! i have fished one or two spots that anglers never bother with and have found them productive at times. unfortunately (!) my fishin buddy took a nice 4lb+ wrasse (a nice fish by dublin bay standards) from one such spot here during the summer when i couldn't go! hard to be happy for him! it is an absolute joy when it pays off.

I do a lot of winter cod fishing on the North Devon coast. Only advice I can really give is to use heavy line, 60lb+, if you do manage to hook into one you dont want it coming off. Dont be scared to use big baits and hooks, if youve ever seen a big cods mouth youll know why, its like a dustbin. Ive been useing 8/0 or 10/0 meat hooks and big crab/squid baits. If you get chance get out there in a big storm, always find around here that the rougher it is the more cod you pick up. Next tide after a big storm always seems to produce as well.

Good luck

Cheers for the Extra info lads.... Here's hoping!!!

There'll be New Pics and Videos uploaded onto my site today, Maybe worth a look/