Cod fishing question
 

I would like go Cod fishing out of Atlantic Highlands or Belmar sponsor boats next month. I would like to try jigging for them but have never done this before. Does anyone have any recommendations on what are the best jigs to use? What weights will I likely need? Is any color preferred? What about butterfly jigs or crippled herring? Pretty much all I know about Cod is that they are tasty so any information is appreciated. I have only caught Cod as an incidental catch when blackfishing.

Re: Cod fishing question
 

Call Dennis on the Russian Roulette, he'll tell you exactly what you need to bring. He has some dates posted for next month as well in the open boat section.

Re: Cod fishing question
 

Hammered gold diamond jig with a pink teaser. Works good for me

Re: Cod fishing question
 

I found this gem from years ago... nice one Lief. Try searching the subject on this board. There was a hooking study that showed that treble hooked jigs lead to higher mortality of the smaller fish. This was due I believe since the fish actually got snagged and injured. The paper may not have been published(yet?)as I couldn't find it....


http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30333

Re: Cod fishing question
 

I just got back from cod fishing out of montauk on Monday. I spent the whole trip jigging. I started off with a 10oz vikey with no luck I switched to a 10oz gold hammered with green teaser and proceeded to do pretty well. We were in 100-120' water. Once the wind picked up I had a tough time holding bottom. I was just about to switch back to a 17oz vikey but the trip was over.

Re: Cod fishing question
 

I second MrAC1980 recommendation. Denis on the Russian Roulette.

Re: Cod fishing question
 

Just my opinion it does not mean I'm right but I had limited success fishing down here in Jersey with Jigs. If they find fish on Herring or whatever other bait the fish are balled up on it works good. I found out on a trip that I wasted more time jigging while others were more into the fish on bait. I feel that when you first setup on a spot a jig may outperform bait but then it quickly switches over to bait. If your drifting open bottom the Captain will tell you to use a jig but most of our trips are on wrecks. It can get expensive loosing a few jigs that way for maybe a fish or 2.

Re: Cod fishing question
 

If all else fails try a weight, hook and a clam. Works fine.

Re: Cod fishing question
 

Like Doug said, if not on open bottom it will get expensive. Keep it up off the wreck and you may get some polack if around. If not clams kept still will get them every time. smaller hook on the bottom for ling and about a foot or two up for Cod. To far up and you'll be getting the dogs.

Re: Cod fishing question
 

I agree with Douglas never had much success jigging in jersey and I have been on some very good trips. Only cod fished jersey 4 times but have a combined 38 keeper cod to 30 lbs on those trips. Not one on a jig and I tried

Good luck