RI cod trip

[makokeith]

Going to RI for cod this weekend. I have never been north for cod so I have no idea what to expect. I have a bunch of 6-10oz jigs I made but I am not sure about bait set ups. How far apart for high low rigs and how high up for teaser? Also should I add any glow beads or such? Any advise appreciated.

[reefsquater]

If you really want to jig, throw a couple heavier ones in the bag, 12, 16 Viking jigs or other bling.
Pink glo worms are a popular on the bait rigs, hi-lo should be just that, the low 8 inches or so, the high 30 inches or so. Try some different colors too, the blue white, pink white.

Oh, make sure to bring some heavy weight, it would be great if you get to fish with 10 oz but I would have a supply of 16 and 20 too.

[sam18014]

If your going with island current let them rig u up

[fishinanalyst]

most use simple hi lo rig with the bottom hook up to 6-10 inches off the bottom and the top hook about 15--30 inches off the bottom.

sometimes dogs are a real pain and it's best to just go one hook near the bottom. add jewelry if it gives you confidence, i haven't seen any appreciable difference.

water off of block island is around 100 to 130 ft if even that. so if not much current, you can use lighter jigs down to 6-8 ounces. lighter jigs will keep you swinging longer, but be preapred to fish up to 16 ounces.

what day are you going, i'm trying to decide whether i do the 3.5 hr drive to snug harbor or a 1 hr drive down to brielle for saturday.

i'm batting 1 for 4 on my block island cod runs this year. 3 bad trips out of rhode island and 1 good trip out of montauk. the problem with this fishery is that it's not very consistent. even after reading a string of postive reports, you go up there and the fishing can be bone dry.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by makokeith

Going to RI for cod this weekend. I have never been north for cod so I have no idea what to expect. I have a bunch of 6-10oz jigs I made but I am not sure about bait set ups. How far apart for high low rigs and how high up for teaser? Also should I add any glow beads or such? Any advise appreciated.

Keith

This is typically not wreck fishing. You are typically drifting over "piles" or "pods" of fish that are actively feeding on herring or mackerel. They have the feed bag on and are getting ready to spawn. These fish are not line shy and will agressively engulf large (7/0-8/0) hooks baited with clams and can be taken on jigs as well.

Sounds easy, right??? It is if you are prepared. You need to be prepared because the "bite" does not last all day long in most cases. Without the proper gear and rigs you may only end up with a few cod, instead of your limit. You may use what you like and these fish can be hooked on almost anything, but to be more efficient and productive I recommend the following.

Rod
I recommend a heavy 8ft 30-60lb cod rod or the like.

Why? This is not light tackle fishing and you are on a Party boat. You will be using 10-20 oz. sinkers.
These fish are generally under 20lbs and most are 5-10lbs. You want to be able to lift these fish into the boat, unhook them and send the rig back down. You need a heaver rod for that and in some cases you will be dealing with double headers.

Reel

I recommend a Penn 4/0 sized reel loaded with 40-50lb mono. line or 65-85lb braid. This reel will match the rod you are using and make life easy for you.

Why? Cranking up two ten pound cod with a twelve ounce sinker from 100-160ft of water with this type of reel makes it that much easier. Why the heavier braid??? In the cold, it is much easier to untangle 85lb braid, take my word for it.

Rigs

Again for the most part, you will be drifting on pods or piles of cod. When drifting or in a currrent, I recommend a two hook rig with swivels attached to the hooks. (see tangle free cod rig below) The rig is aproximately 40 inches long and has two 8/0 O'Shaunessy hooks equiped with 8in curlytail grubs in pink, white, chartreuse or blue and white. The hooks are looped onto 6inch droppers 18 inches apart and 80lb test mono is used.

Why? The swivels prevent any twisting of the rig while fishing and cod will twist while being brought to the surface. The less time dealing with "fouled" rigs, the more fishing time. The swivels will also allow a natural presentation of the bait and the curly tail grub will provide enticement.

Note...Bring traditional cod rigs as well. Often the boat will anchor when the bite slows and in those cases a rig without all the bells and whistles may work better.

Jigs

When the action slows I have found jigging to be productive. Bring 10-24oz hammered and Viking jigs tied on 80lb leader with a teaser. I have seen much success with a sliver and blue teaser on the bottom hook of the jig as the flash imitates a mackerel or herring.

Leif

[PaBeerGuy]

Originally Posted by Leif

Keith

This is typically not wreck fishing. You are typically drifting over "piles" or "pods" of fish that are actively feeding on herring or mackerel. They have the feed bag on and are getting ready to spawn. These fish are not line shy and will agressively engulf large (7/0-8/0) hooks baited with clams and can be taken on jigs as well.

Sounds easy, right??? It is if you are prepared. You need to be prepared because the "bite" does not last all day long in most cases. Without the proper gear and rigs you may only end up with a few cod, instead of your limit. You may use what you like and these fish can be hooked on almost anything, but to be more efficient and productive I recommend the following.

Rod
I recommend a heavy 8ft 30-60lb cod rod or the like.

Why? This is not light tackle fishing and you are on a Party boat. You will be using 10-20 oz. sinkers.
These fish are generally under 20lbs and most are 5-10lbs. You want to be able to lift these fish into the boat, unhook them and send the rig back down. You need a heaver rod for that and in some cases you will be dealing with double headers.

Reel

I recommend a Penn 4/0 sized reel loaded with 40-50lb mono. line or 65-85lb braid. This reel will match the rod you are using and make life easy for you.

Why? Cranking up two ten pound cod with a twelve ounce sinker from 100-160ft of water with this type of reel makes it that much easier. Why the heavier braid??? In the cold, it is much easier to untangle 85lb braid, take my word for it.

Rigs

Again for the most part, you will be drifting on pods or piles of cod. When drifting or in a currrent, I recommend a two hook rig with swivels attached to the hooks. (see tangle free cod rig below) The rig is aproximately 40 inches long and has two 8/0 O'Shaunessy hooks equiped with 8in curlytail grubs in pink, white, chartreuse or blue and white. The hooks are looped onto 6inch droppers 18 inches apart and 80lb test mono is used.

Why? The swivels prevent any twisting of the rig while fishing and cod will twist while being brought to the surface. The less time dealing with "fouled" rigs, the more fishing time. The swivels will also allow a natural presentation of the bait and the curly tail grub will provide enticement.

Note...Bring traditional cod rigs as well. Often the boat will anchor when the bite slows and in those cases a rig without all the bells and whistles may work better.

Jigs

When the action slows I have found jigging to be productive. Bring 10-24oz hammered and Viking jigs tied on 80lb leader with a teaser. I have seen much success with a sliver and blue teaser on the bottom hook of the jig as the flash imitates a mackerel or herring.

Leif

Listen to Leif, he knows his cod.

[PeteyHD]

Definitely bring at least 16oz jigs and dropper loop about 2 feet up. Nothing fancy just a curly tail teaser up top should work for jigging. High low rig for bait should also work if you want to chuck some clams.

[makokeith]

Thanks for all the advise guys. Nice write up leif! Leaving the dock 3am sat on the frances fleet. Will use all advise above to get me some fillets

[tautog]

I usually do a hi lo with 5/0s up there. Most of the cod are under 15lbs and there is a good bycatch of ling and 2lb bergalls that are harder to catch on large hooks. Seems like 50/50 shot of very good trip vs. scraping just a few out up there.

[makokeith]

Trip was a bust. One keeper cod on the totally packed boat. Two ling and a bergal. The two ling were my two buddies, one each. Haha. Conditions were perfect and the crew were great, capt. Looked all over but this trip sucked. Not even a lot of garbage fish. Not worth the forty hours of no sleep.