Northeast - Cod InShore?

Not looking for spots, just wondering if anyone has been catching anything decent a mile or two off the shore in the south shore area. Going out this Sunday and want to know if I'd be wasting my time bottom fishing. The Mrs. is preggos so I don't want go offshore and be unreachable. I usually fish inshore between 3rd cliff and Green Harbor. I know the stripes are around but would love some cod for dinner.

We were catching cod at the bell off Green Harbor that were just short. 21" We weren't targeting them, but you definitely could have scratched up a few if we had focused on it.

21" isn't just short anymore, 19" will do :thumbsup:

21" isn't just short anymore, 19" will do :thumbsup:

Keeping a 19" Cod is just pathetic...:(:(:(

Keeping a 19" Cod is just pathetic...:(:(:(

Absolutely right...if you have to measure it...it's too small.

absolutely right...if you have to measure it...it's too small.

agreed x3!

Just because a fish is legal doesn't mean it's a "keeper" in my book. If you think so then you agree with the govern"mental" data on fishing regulations.

Every throw back is a chance at a larger fish next time.

Upsizing tackle is a great way to keep from catching small fish. Why hook them just to toss them?

Upsized tackle may produce less numbers, but generally produces quality fish.

agreed x3!

Just because a fish is legal doesn't mean it's a "keeper" in my book. If you think so then you agree with the govern"mental" data on fishing regulations.

Every throw back is a chance at a larger fish next time.

Upsizing tackle is a great way to keep from catching small fish. Why hook them just to toss them?

Upsized tackle may produce less numbers, but generally produces quality fish.the bigger fish are in the deeper water{250'+}

The thread was about catching cod for dinner with his pregnant wife a mile or two off the beach.
Huff n puff all you want but 19" is legal.

I know of a couple of 26" cod caught in 60ft of water out in front of GH. You might be better off flounder fishing in close but if it is cod that you are after you should be able to boat a few in close.

geeeezzzzz tough crowd....

You will scrape up a few for the dinner table near shore....and yes if 19" is legal then take a few have fun and enjoy

I'd rather go for the flounder. In my experience the cod inshore in 100' of water are usually soft domestic fish that taste like crap...just my opinion. The big steaker cod that are usually caught this time of year...I think they taste like crap too. A nice 10-12# cod is the perfect size for the table. Again...just my opinion. If you really want tasty fish and don't wanna go far....flounder is where its at...in my opinion with your limitation on distance the best quality are the flatties.

And the big fish in the deep water thing (250')...at times...yes. Not always. Depends on the time of year, bottom, bait, and surrounding structure.

I thought it was primarily driven by when the draggers show up (this time of year)?

I thought they drove the cod further off-shore (um, deeper)? NO?

A 19" cod will make a great bait for bluefin tuna.:thumbsup:

Thanks for the replys I'll give it a shot for a couple hours and see what I come across in my normal spots that I usually only fish towards the end of the season. I have never fished for fluke/flounder but LOVE the taste. Time to hit the google machine and learn the basics, it can't be harder to learn than offshore fishing right?

Flounder fishing is a no brainer. I use the small spreader bar rig with the flounder hooks that have the yellow bead attached. Tip the hook with about 1/2in of seaworm and bounce it around any sandy area. You will have to work through a motherload of Skate but it is worth it.

A 19" cod will make a great bait for bluefin tuna.:thumbsup:


Even better.
If you have the permits to sell,
A tank full of live 19 inch cod is great to the buyers who transport them in tanks to restaurants .

Even better.
If you have the permits to sell,
A tank full of live 19 inch cod is great to the buyers who transport them in tanks to restaurants .

Yum. Wormy cod surprise!

i thought it was primarily driven by when the draggers show up (this time of year)?

I thought they drove the cod further off-shore (um, deeper)? No?

as the water warms, the cod seek deeper water

The water temp outside of GH was 57 degrees yesterday. Won't be long before the inshore cod are few and far between.

Well results were productive..for bottom fish anyway. Headed out of Damon's Point in the morning, shot out to the 3 mile line and nailed the macs right away. They were heavy, but tiny micro macs with only a few large to medium mixed in. TONS of pollen in the water, but we filled the live-well and started bottom fishing in our normal inshore spots. 1 line with diamond jig with clam on the teasers, 1 line with butterfly jig, and one with red colored deadly dick, with a battery flasher jig on top (an experiment) interesting enough the line with the deadly dick and flasher out fished the other 2 lines 3-1 in numbers and caught all but 1 of the keepers. Threw back 1 19"/20" and one real skinny 23", and the cod fairy's repaid us, kept a nice 30 inch, and two fat 26 inch. (all rock cod very dark in color). With dinner on ice we headed toward 4th cliff. Wanted to see if there was any bait further in so dropped the sabiki lines back in and couldn't even get the lines past 20 feet without having 5-6 bay polluck on every line. We then headed into one of our holes in the river and live lined the incoming till about 4:00 PM. Zero keepers but still a lot of fun. All the filets I brought home had zero worms which was good and they made a darn good dinner. Success inshore!