Best Time for Cod Fishing

[Matt]

Maybe Relentess or a couple other members can help answer my question. When is the ebst time of year to go out and catch some Cod, Pollock, and Haddock? Thanks for the responses.

[RELENTLESS]

Matt.

Each time of the year provides diferent oppotunities.In April as long as the water is warm enough cod fish move into Stellwagen Bank and will either hit a jig or bait. The fish are nice markets in the 10 LB range but the quantity is usually good. In May we do the same but often catch plenty in shallow water in an area of off the cape which offers a chance to steam a liittle ways off and score on nice haddock. As we get into the summer months the bite is not as quick but the fish seem to be a little bit larger and we are in much deeper water. In the fall as the water gets cooler things heat up again adn large spawning cows move back in in November. Remember next Nov, we will not be able to target these fish.

In summary each month offers opportunities and we alltake advantage of them. I hope this answers your questions.

Dave
www.relentlesscharters.com (http://www.relentlesscharters.com)

[Matt]

Thanks Relentless for the response. Regarding the sentence "Remember next Nov, we will not be able to target these fish." is that due to the new fishing regulations? I wasnt sure that it did or didnt come into effect.

[Toad]

that spring to early summer, and early winter are the best times for the ground fish. You can catch them all year long but after the dog fish start moving in from late spring, till the move out late fall the fishing is not as mush fun because your catching too many dog fish inbetween the cod, haddock, pollock, wolfie's etc.

Just my opinion after 45 years of going out on the charters.

When my Dad first started taking me out of Rockport in the 50's they didn't even use fish poles. They gave you a spool of line and you hand hauled the fish up!

[fisker24/7]

i went out last friday on the yankee fleet all i caught were two cusk

[JayW]

Relentless is it true that Wolfish tastes like lobster? I heard on a tv show that these nasty looking creatures actually taste really good.

[Toad]

Wolfy's, in my opinion are the best tasting ground fish we have off of our coast here in New England. Lobster? I don't know about that but I like they way they taste.

[roncarr]

Bpapi I ask a lot of poeple about fish recipes and one guy told me about a dish that tastes like lobster take a fillet salt peper each side put it in tin foil and put a stick of butter seal it and bake the whole stick of butter depends on size of fillet I tried it on striper it did kinda taste like lobster but you put a stick of butter on anything it will probably taste like thatBeerchug

[RELENTLESS]

I agree with Toad, Wolffish are excellent because of what they eat. The jaws are very powerfull and they eat any crustation they want. Anything that eats clasms, scallops and lobster will taste good and remember the meat has a great whit texture to it. Monkfish tails is often referred to Poor Man's Lobster.

Ron, yes the comment about November is because of the regs. We (recreational anglers) will not be able to retain cod in the regulated mesh area in the Gulf of Maine Nov - Mar next year. The area is roughly north of Highland Lighthouse on Truro. Recreational anglers took around a 33% reduction in mortality woth FW 42.

Thanks,

Dave