Atlantic cod

Heavy-bodied with three dorsal fins, two anal fins, a single chin barbel, a pale curved lateral line and a speckled olive to reddish-brown back.

5–20 lb.

Over 5 ft and 100 lb in the past; big fish are rare today.

Herring, sand eels, squid, crabs, shrimp and clams.

Schools over rocky bottom, ledges, banks and wrecks in cold water.

Found from Delaware & New Jersey, New York, Long Island & Connecticut, Rhode Island & Massachusetts and New Hampshire & Maine. Rocky bottom, ledges, banks and wrecks in cold water: the Gulf of Maine, Stellwagen, Jeffreys Ledge and Cox Ledge, reaching New Jersey wrecks in winter.

Rocky bottom, ledges, banks and wrecks in cold water: the Gulf of Maine, Stellwagen, Jeffreys Ledge and Cox Ledge, reaching New Jersey wrecks in winter.

80–300 ft.

On or near the bottom in 80–300 ft.

Best in the cool months near shore and all year on the deep offshore banks; seasons and closures apply.

Daylight.

A light current lets you hold bottom and keep the jig in the zone.

Calm seas — most of this fishing is far offshore in the Gulf of Maine.

Fresh clams, herring and squid.

Diamond and butterfly jigs (8–16 oz) with a red or green teaser fly above.

Medium-heavy jigging or bottom rod with a conventional reel.

6/0–8/0 hooks or 8–16 oz diamond jigs with a teaser.

50–65 lb braid.

50–60 lb mono.

Drift or anchor over hard bottom and jig just off the bottom, or fish clams on a two-hook rig.

When cod are closed, the same jigs and spots catch haddock and pollock you can keep — learn to tell them apart on deck.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Mild, white, flaky — the classic fish and chips, chowder and baked cod.

Dress warm and wear a life jacket — the water is cold even in summer.

Strictly limited: Gulf of Maine cod has very short recreational seasons and small bag limits set by NOAA Fisheries, and southern New England and Georges Bank have their own rules. Check the current rules before keeping any cod. Saltwater licenses and limits are set by each state (VMRC, NJ Fish & Wildlife, NYS DEC, CT DEEP, RI DEM, MA DMF, NH Fish & Game, Maine DMR) and by NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission — check the current rules for your state before you keep fish.

Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.