THE COD - Gadus morhua
The cod with its large head, mottled reddish brown sides and whitish under side, is easy for the angler to recognise. This fish has a mouth like a vacuum cleaner and searches the sea bed for it food. Although not a fussy eater the cod being a predator mainly prefers a fish diet.
In the early stages of winter the cod feed vigorously in preparation for spawning, and this makes them a good winter target for the angler.
Then between January and April the cod move into the deeper water of there spawning grounds. This is were the female lays millions of eggs close to the sea bed and then fertilized by the mail. The eggs then drift slowly to the surface and drift with the current until they hatch. Sadly only a small percentage of these eggs will ever survive to become adult cod. But enough do to start the cycle over again.
Only the heavy fishing of this fish for the food table is threatening stokes. After about a year the codling, young cod move inshore to shallower nursery areas, were here they feed and grow before returning to deeper water to start the breeding cycle all over again. Cod are mainly bottom dwelling and thus shy to daylight, so it is under cover of darkness or after a blow when the cod will move in close to Shaw, and this makes these times the prime time to catch this spices.
