Cod / Codling close to shore

just wondering is it true cod come closer to shore in the winter

and if so does anyone know why ???

I read once it was because they are a cold water species, and when winter arrives the shallow waters cool faster than the deeps. Possibly that's right.
However I think it is simply a migration to crop the food in shallow waters at the end of summer when it is plentiful there.

As said above. Water temperature. Here is a good site to keep an eye on temperatures from various bhoys around the country:

http://www.marine.ie/home/publicationsdata/data/buoys/

Ive noticed that the water is still in around 13degrees (global warming maybe?) which is (as far as im aware) still good for Mackerel so wouldnt be surprised if they are still showing up. Not sure what the best temp is for Cod/Codling. Maybe someone with a bit of knowledge will fill us in....

to eat cod go where the food is plain and simple thats why you find them pushing up rivers ,they eat crabs and shrimp till they are ready to burst and dont mind the brackish water if its got food in it,they tend to come close enough to allow us beach anglers a pop at them in rougher weather or on big tides

wud love to catch a big cod from the shore .Fairly new to sea/shore angling , suppose its all about location and the right time of year???. i have caught some really small codling from helvic pier last winter

east coast marks are throwing up cod by all accounts

as in the above some nice cod along the north wexford marks

day off today gonna try catch myself a cod

Hi. Newcomer to this board. Can you use mackerel for cod / codling from shore ? Thanks

Can you use mackerel for cod / codling from shore ? Thanks

You can but dont expect to catch anything apart from whiting and coalfish - best bait by far is fresh peeler crab, and will by far out fish frozen crab.
Big lug baits are also good.
Prawns, mussels and razor can be used but I would always opt for crab if fishing an estuary.
Lug and razor would be good for beach fishing.

Some anglers use squid but recently I was having difficult getting crab so to conserve my limited supply I was fishing one rod with squid the second with crab, I didn't have a single bite on the squid, but once the codling came on the feed it was a bite a cast on the rod with the crab.

and other than collecting fresh peeler crab where can you buy it from around courtown area, thx, and rockhunter you must be the king of cod fishing with your recent reports.

thanks rockhunter. see you are a magpie also. i know where to buy frozen peeler but where can you get fresh peelers this time of year to buy ? in cork/east cork area ??

what about King rag i know where to get these. but would it be worthwhile for cod ? have used them for bass.

there are fresh crab on ebay but the price is £1 each. 50peeler - £50 need a big pocket

thanks rockhunter. see you are a magpie also. i know where to buy frozen peeler but where can you get fresh peelers this time of year to buy ? in cork/east cork area ??

what about King rag i know where to get these. but would it be worthwhile for cod ? have used them for Bass.

Try Dan at Halfway tackle great shop.

there are fresh crab on ebay but the price is £1 each. 50peeler - £50 need a big pocket

I am from up around your neck of the woods - can peelers be handy enough collected from the shore at this time of the year? I assume theres bound to be a few decent places along the Foyle - anywhere with weed and rocks?