cod close to Gansett shore - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Jim in CT · 11-15-2015, 06:40 PM

I did a tautog trip out of Pt Judith today. First stop was just off the mouth of the Narrow River, not quite a mile offshore. Had a decent pick of tog and sea bass, when I hooked what I hoped was a 10 pound tautog, but was a nice legal cod. Caught one other there. I wasn't even thinking about cod for this trip.

Is this rare?

Making stock for tog chowder right now, using a tog carcass and a seabass carcass,

niko · 11-15-2015, 06:50 PM

Used to catch cod from shore pretty regularly north of the cape before the stocks crashed. Don't know how common it is down there though
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Clogston29 · 11-15-2015, 08:25 PM

I've caught them in the surf in ma, usually in spring. From what I've read/heard it used to be possible to get them in surf in ri late fall and winter. With stocks now, I'd say it's rare.
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Nebe · 11-15-2015, 09:08 PM

Guys used to fish Q with atom 40's early early spring and catch cod. Also used to get them in matunuck /deep hole on clam bellies.
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Guppy · 11-16-2015, 06:37 AM

Couple years ago early spring put in at Brant Rock hit every rock pile I seen on the chart all the way up to outside barhston,,,, not a touch

tlapinski · 11-16-2015, 08:04 AM

Every fall they are regularly landed by anglers seeking tog in close to shore off the RI coast. It is nowhere near what it used to be, I have pics of cod in excess of 60 pounds landed from shore in SoCo, but it is still a welcomed by catch.

Every year I say I am going to give it a go, and every year I come with another excuse not to go. But it's stories like this one that keep it in the back of my mind... http://www.thefisherman.com/index.cf....1BfiayGb.dpbs

MakoMike · 11-16-2015, 08:29 AM

If you read the Frances Fleet reports they say they catch them almost every day.

DZ · 11-16-2015, 08:30 AM

For the past half dozen seasons its been more commonplace to catch them while fishing for tog near shore... but not from shore. Like Toby mentioned there was a time long ago when we targeted them from shore - best months were always late February through March. Quonny beach in south county, Sachuest Point in Middletown were the most popular locations. All nighttime action - fishing clams or squid on the bottom. My late casting partner Zeke Silva's largest surf fish for many years was a 41 pound cod from Sachuest. When he hooked it we thought he surely had an early cow bass. Nothing like illuminating a large cod in the wash with your neck light. Most fish were market size - under 10 lbs.

Rob Rockcrawler · 11-16-2015, 10:32 AM

How bout we try to plan a cod fishing outing this spring. I don't know what tides or moon phase they prefer. Lets pick a date with favorable conditions and give it a shot.

piemma · 11-16-2015, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Rockcrawler

How bout we try to plan a cod fishing outing this spring. I don't know what tides or moon phase they prefer. Lets pick a date with favorable conditions and give it a shot.

Oh I'm in Rob. Years ago my old partner RJ and I fished for Cod on the beach West of Quonny in Feb. We never got any but it was a way to break up the Winter.

DZ · 11-16-2015, 11:07 AM

Lets face it there is not much to attract cod that close to shore in the dead of winter. Conditions we looked for were immediately after a good surf or hard onshore wind. Those conditions would expose and wash up surf clams which set up a natural chum slick would then serve as a reason for the cod to come close to shore. When the wind died out or turned northerly we fished. Two rods apiece spiked with fish finder bottom rigs and 5/0-7/0 hooks. Used a coleman lantern for light and hand warmth. Normally fished just after dark until 8-10pm or so.

MAKAI · 11-16-2015, 11:11 AM

Late 70's and early 80's did pretty good on market cod from the surf on PI.....miss that tasty fishing.
Barrel fires and cod, good times.
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Jim in CT · 11-16-2015, 11:18 AM

Here is the cod caught by my good friend, less than a mile from shore. Other one we caught was almost a carbon copy. Had a nice mix of cod, tog, and sea bass on the c-devil, a great 6-pack boat and crew.

Nebe · 11-16-2015, 12:21 PM

what a beautiful fish.
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Jim in CT · 11-16-2015, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebe

what a beautiful fish.
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It really is, isn't it?. How I wish I could have experienced the good old days. The one I caught yesterday was my first ever.

Nebe · 11-16-2015, 01:43 PM

Go to Iceland ... Cod galore up there.
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scottw · 11-16-2015, 03:00 PM

just got a picture from a buddy with a nice cod taken from his kayak, not far from shore locally this morning.....you should get out the Eben

Nebe · 11-16-2015, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottw

just got a picture from a buddy with a nice cod taken from his kayak, not far from shore locally this morning.....you should get out the Eben

For reals ?!

Oh man. I should. I should... However I am in glass making frenzy mode until January.
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scottw · 11-16-2015, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebe

For reals ?!

Oh man. I should. I should... However I am in glass making frenzy mode until January.
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yeah, he was pretty psyched, first from his yak

DZ · 11-17-2015, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottw

just got a picture from a buddy with a nice cod taken from his kayak, not far from shore locally this morning.....you should get out the Eben

4 ounce Hopkins NoEqls jigged when drifting between the R2 and R4 bouys were the ticket for cod back when I was permitted to fish in a boat