Double figure cod

[LiamNE]

After recently nudging my PB shore cod I am slightly more optimistic than usual that I might finally join the shore double figure cod club, although chances still being slim.

My previous PB cod of 7lbs came some years ago now -infact I was still growing at the time! I figured it would probably remain my PB until cod stocks properly recover and doubles become more common. A week ago I bagged myself a cod weighing at least 7lbs, not officially weighed unfortunately , with a couple more experienced fisherman telling me it was at least 8 so I settled for 7 ˝ which is about right I thought…I don’t think it was over 8 personally.

It was a great feeling reeling the fish in and from the moment I tightened my drag and felt the weight all I could think was – don’t come off, just don’t lose it whatever you do, definite cod, don’t come off.
Its weight was comparable to a 6-7lb cod I took a few weeks earlier aboard the boat and I thought to myself reeling in– at least 6, possibly up to 9 and maybe just maybe this could be a sneaky double! I knew it wasnt a double, but I had to dream!

Still chuffed with the fish, but that double still evades me and to be honest I don’t realistically think I will land one – not fishing the ground I usually do anyway between Hawthorn – Hartlepool, I very rarely hear of any being caught that size.


So, to those who have done the shore double – what advice would you give to those like me who are still trying? (and don’t say go to Norway )

[Pighunter]

Best advice I got given years ago was spend times at marks that regularly through double out if you put the time in you will at some point get one.

[Ian Alexander]

Best advice I got given years ago was spend times at marks that regularly through double out if you put the time in you will at some point get one.

I completely agree with this, some say that it's just luck but you can weigh the odds in your favour by fishing recognised big fish marks.
Some marks have a reputation for throwing up big fish, some off the top of my head are castle rocks, sharpness, cullercoats, the warriors, collywell, cambois, and they are only a few.
Some marks like the Tyne are more renowned for their bags of smaller fish.
If you want a biggie, fish a big fish mark with a big bait and concentrate hard on the Christmas period into February.
An old angler that I used to bump into regularly when fishing some of my favourite marks up in Northumberland a long time ago once told me "it's time for a big bait and a long wait".

Just my opinion, good luck. Ian.

[Kartonkel]

After recently nudging my PB shore cod I am slightly more optimistic than usual that I might finally join the shore double figure cod club, although chances still being slim.

My previous PB cod of 7lbs came some years ago now -infact I was still growing at the time! I figured it would probably remain my PB until cod stocks properly recover and doubles become more common. A week ago I bagged myself a cod weighing at least 7lbs, not officially weighed unfortunately , with a couple more experienced fisherman telling me it was at least 8 so I settled for 7 ˝ which is about right I thought…I don’t think it was over 8 personally.

It was a great feeling reeling the fish in and from the moment I tightened my drag and felt the weight all I could think was – don’t come off, just don’t lose it whatever you do, definite cod, don’t come off.
Its weight was comparable to a 6-7lb cod I took a few weeks earlier aboard the boat and I thought to myself reeling in– at least 6, possibly up to 9 and maybe just maybe this could be a sneaky double! I knew it wasnt a double, but I had to dream!

Still chuffed with the fish, but that double still evades me and to be honest I don’t realistically think I will land one – not fishing the ground I usually do anyway between Hawthorn – Hartlepool, I very rarely hear of any being caught that size.


So, to those who have done the shore double – what advice would you give to those like me who are still trying? (and don’t say go to Norway )

To stop all the guessing of weights on my boat, I purchased a nice digital (expensive) scale.

In the beginning, we weighed every single catch after all of us had a guess. We were and still are thoroughly surprised how big a 10lb cod is (and we caught a few since)

This year we caught 2 cod over 16lb and on both occasions, we were all totally convinced it was over 20lb...and we all consider ourselves very seasoned anglers.

My scales were subject of disbelief amongsts my mates, so that at home, I weighed water canisters of 5l, 10l and 20l and believe it, they were/ are dead accurate

[hound hunter]

Pighunters bang on for me,it's like carp fishing if your want a 40 then fish waters that contain a"40",like wise on the beach/rocks,some marks have the tendancy to throw up doubles quite often or more often than other marks.Near me there are 3/4 venues that offer a really chance,where some others,they offer quantity rather than quality