Tackle for cod fishing in the Barents Sea

Cod fishing on the White Sea

Fishing on the White Sea differs from fishing in other seas or reservoirs, this is due to climatic conditions.

The main features of fishing on the White Sea:

1. Cold water, even in summer.
2. The maximum water surface temperature in the hottest month does not exceed 18 degrees Celsius.
3. Complex bottom topography, as well as highly pronounced ebbs and flows.
4. Frequent changes in wind direction.
5. Mostly cold gusts of wind are observed, often stormy.
6. The average wave height is 2-3 meters.
7. The need to use several types of bait, including artificial ones.
8. The probability of catching a large cod is minimal.
9. The weight of such an individual varies from 750 to 950 grams.
10. Possibility of successful biting around the clock and even in bad weather conditions.

The length of cod in the White Sea rarely reaches more than 50-60 centimeters, with the smallest size observed in the summer.

For an untrained fisherman, fishing is quite difficult the first few times, so it is better to take an experienced person with you.

On the bottom fishing rod

For fishing in the surf zone, powerful 4–4.5-meter rods with a test weight of 200–250 g are used. Taking into account changing weather conditions, it is always necessary to have a supply of replaceable tips with you - from semi-hard to hard, but not soft, since this will make it difficult to catch fish. In calm weather a softer tip is used, in stormy weather a harder one is used.

It is best to install the rod on a high tripod so that the line touches the waves as little as possible. The tripod can be weighted with a load, which will give it greater stability during strong gusts of wind and jerks when biting.

Reels must be durable and have a corrosion-resistant coating so that they can be used to quickly and easily reel in and release line. It is better to choose models that are not too heavy and equipped with a reliable friction brake. On surf bottom fishing rods, use a fishing line with a diameter of 0.3–0.35 mm, and in areas with a rocky bottom and strong vegetation, it is permissible to use a larger fishing line.

Sinkers can be used both sliding (rounded) and stationary - most often lead castings, shaped like a satellite and having lugs made of elastic wire.

The best bait for catching cod on surf gear is polychaete sea worms: Nereis, sandworms and others.

They are put on a hook in several pieces. The hook must remain open, otherwise the worm will slide back down it. When fishing with sea worms, it is advisable to use removable leashes that are attached to the snap hook of the main fishing line.

Most often, a bite is judged by the vibrations of the rod tip. You need to hook with long pulls. At dusk, a glow-in-the-dark phosphor indicator is placed on the tip of the rod, and in calm, quiet weather, a bell can be hung from the fishing line or tip.

If there is a good bite, the cod swallows the hook deeply, and pulling it out right away can be very problematic. Therefore, experienced fishermen always have a supply of leashes that can easily be attached to the gear instead of the leash removed along with the fish.

Dishes made from fresh, not frozen, cod are valued all over the world.

Where to look for cod in the White Sea?

Due to the relief features of the White Sea, as well as its depth differences, the distribution of cod in different areas is not the same.

You need to look for such fish depending on several factors:

• Season: in winter and until the end of spring - mainly at depth or in straits, and also where there is movement of warm currents.
• all summer and early September - it is better to look for nearby coasts;
• closer to mid-autumn and before the beginning of winter - mainly near rocks or in crevices.

Interesting fact: June and July are the months in which the greatest bite is observed, but the fish caught are on average about 30 centimeters long.

Among experienced fishermen, it is believed that the most successful place is an area rising 2-3 meters above the sea surface.

At any time of the year, you should not try to look for cod along sandy beaches or in bays with a large predominance of foam; the individual especially does not like these areas of the sea. You can try your luck on Kandalaksha Bay - this is a favorite place for many fishermen.

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Boats

Our experts can conduct fishing, training, and master classes on boats that you will provide. But at your request, we can carry out fishing on our boats. We have at our disposal modern, high-speed boats of the RIB type with a length of more than 5 meters and equipped with engines of 70 - 100 hp, which allow you to quickly and comfortably move through reservoirs in search of promising places and active fish. The boats are equipped with modern and reliable equipment: navigation lights, navigators and echo sounders, as well as safety equipment. The boats have everything you need for comfortable fishing.

Tackle

We are often asked: “What kind of spinning rod, reel, what weight of jig heads and bait?” Let’s try to answer these questions in as much detail as possible, in relation to our fishing conditions, for different fish and different bodies of water. I would like to immediately note that we offer jig fishing from boats. As the many years of experience of Kaliningrad fishermen show, this type of fishing is most effective both in the bays of the region and in the sea. Therefore, in this article we will consider jig tackle. This type of fishing includes both the classic jig itself and its various variations: drop-shot, Carolina, Texas, rig, pull-out leash, etc. If someone wants to fish with other gear, then we hope he understands what he is doing and We leave the result to his conscience. The further description of gear relates specifically to jig fishing.

Spinning rods

Spinning rods for jig fishing from boats must have sufficient sensitivity and power, hook fish well and have an acceptable range. Let's dwell a little on the specific characteristics of spinning rods. We won’t hold an educational program; we’ll immediately outline the necessary characteristics for different fishing conditions. What jig rods have in common is their action; it should be fast (fast) or super fast (ex-fast), often manufacturers highlight the purpose of spinning rods and label them with the phrases “jig” or “drop-shot”. Also, the length of a jig spinning rod for fishing from a boat should be up to 240 cm; casting range is not important and it is more convenient to work with short rods. The power of the spinning rod is selected based on the trophies that are caught in the pond. Now let's look at other characteristics for different bodies of water and fishing conditions.

— In the spring, when the ice melts from the reservoirs, the water is still cold, the fish’s metabolism is weak, and feeding mainly occurs on small, weak fry. For bays, you need a spinning rod that is light or ultra light, whatever you like. But we recommend the light one, because... with warming and warming up of the water, it is possible to increase the weights of the heads to 10 - 12g. These same spinning rods are used in late autumn when the water temperature drops below 6 degrees. The test of spinning rods for baits for spring and late autumn fishing should be in the range of 2 - 12 g.

— After spawning and until late autumn, the fish are active, feed aggressively, and fairly large fish and growing fry become victims. In bays you can use medium light spinning rods with a bait test of 5 - 25 g.

— From July to October, pike perch is caught well in the Baltic Sea. The fish is hyperactive and feeds on fairly large prey. Fish bites often occur vertically under the boat. Wind and waves are often present. Therefore, the baits are large, the weight of the heads reaches 30 grams. and even more! Accordingly, you need a powerful spinning rod with a bait test of 15 - 40 g.

— We most often catch cod in the sea using a jig. Fishing almost always occurs while drifting. Significant depths also entail an increase in the weight of baits. For such fishing you will need a powerful spinning rod with a dough of 20 - 60 g.

Let's summarize: for jigging from boats in the Kaliningrad region, you need short, up to 240 cm, spinning rods, fast or ultra-fast action with power and bait testing that meet the fishing conditions listed above. Unfortunately, there is no universal solution and using a spinning rod for other purposes will not lead to the desired result, and overloading a light rod can damage it.

Fishing reels

With coils everything is much simpler. If you fish with light tackle, then it is possible to use reels of size 1000 - 2500 according to the Shimano classification; for medium-power spinning rods, reels of size 2500 are suitable for all cases of fishing in bays and rivers of the region. For sea fishing, it is advisable to use reels of size 4000, because They usually have increased strength and power. Manufacturers do not require recommendations for specific models and companies; everyone chooses for themselves based on comfort and money.

Braids

For jig fishing, only braided lines or cords, or simply braids, are used. For light fishing rods, braids with a diameter of 0.06 - 0.10 mm (PE0.4 - PE0.6) are used, for medium ones 0.10 - 0.16 mm (PE0.8 - PE1.2) are used, for cod fishing you can use 0.16 - 0.3 mm (PE1.2 - PE2.0). Here, too, one should be guided by wealth and desired comfort.

Jig heads, lures, carabiners, leashes, etc.

The most common equipment for jig fishing is a jig head and a silicone bait. Jig heads are used of all types, with hooks corresponding to the size of the bait. Cheburashkas with offset hooks are also used. Who prefers what? We think that we will not dwell on this aspect; everything here is clear and simple. They also use different types of jig rigs: Texas, Carolina, rig, drop-shot, diverting leash. Everything catches fish one way or another.

Silicone baits are used in different modifications and sizes depending on the season and fishing location. Thus, in early spring and late autumn in bays, baits of 2 - 3 inches are used, with warming of the water the size reaches 5 inches, rarely more. We catch pike perch in the sea with large baits and silicone worms, the size of which reaches 10 - 12 inches. Silicone rippers are mainly used, but pike perch and pike perch do not disdain twisters, worms and other modifications that the fishing industry throws out every year. Cod likes jigs the same way as pike perch. More precisely, let's say this: everything that the pike perch does not want to bite on migrates to the cod box.

We recommend using carbines for catching pike perch and pike perch as small as possible, but for cod the size does not matter. Our expert guides do not use metal or fluorocarbon leaders, however, when fishing on a rocky bottom with shells, the latter will not harm.

Also, we will not consider here jig baits such as ratling, vib, etc. Experiment if you wish.

Tackle for catching cod with pilkers

The simplest method of catching cod for inexperienced fishermen is fishing with pilkers using the vertical lure method. Jigs are large, heavy spoons. For such equipment you will need a powerful sea spinning rod with a dough of 100 - 500 g. Large, powerful baitcasting reel. Braid with a diameter of 0.3 - 0.4 mm is desirable; fishing line is also suitable in a pinch, because... fishing is simple. Well, the pilkers themselves weigh from 100 to 400 grams. Also desirable are “garters” of three to four hooks on a fishing line, which are placed between the jigs and the main fishing line. The carbines used are large and powerful.

We remind you: if you do not have your own gear, we will provide any gear necessary for a specific fishing trip.

Cloth

You need to dress for the season. It is better to dress warmer than the weather suggests, rather than vice versa. Mandatory rules: waterproof shoes, waterproof and windproof outerwear, we pay special attention to this point, because in a boat on the move it can be cold even in warm weather in the summer, precipitation can occur, mittens or gloves are required... You also need a headdress according to the season, in the summer a cap with a visor is required. Sunglasses are highly recommended. Anti-sun cream.

Meals on board

When going fishing you need to take something to eat, a thermos with hot tea and drinking water.

At your request, we can provide meals on board the boats.

When to catch cod on the White Sea?

On the White Sea, cod fishing is guaranteed in any season, each has key features and distinctive points:

• Fishing in winter and spring: the possibility of biting the heaviest individuals;
• most often you come across a fish of about 900 grams, this is considered large in size for the White Sea;
• maximum predominance of cod at depth or in underwater crevices;
• It bites best on a combination of organic and artificial baits.

Knowledgeable fishermen claim that on the White Sea the most fruitful periods for biting are as follows:

• from late April to mid-May - especially near the coast;
• from the first days of June to mid-October - at a distance of 150-200 meters from the shore.

Interesting fact: the bite is lowest during the period when there is a rise in cold waters from the depths, so it is advisable to refuse fishing on these days.

Fishing from a boat or from the shore?

Fishing can be done quite successfully both from the shore and from a boat. Basically, experienced fishermen prefer to fish on motor boats; this makes it possible, in case of low bite in one area, to move to another area.

On the White Sea, fishing from boats has some characteristic features:

• it is necessary to move away from the shore by more than 200 meters, this allows you to not depend on the tides;
• it is required to use fishing lines exclusively with a diameter of 0.5-0.7 millimeters;
• you need to give preference to fishing gear and choose hooks made of brass;
• with the arrival of cold weather, be sure to move closer to the stone ridges, and in warm weather, choose an area near the rocks;
• move to a depth of at least 10-12 meters and where there is a strong current.

Many fishermen note that fishing for cod from the shore will bring more expected results, especially from the end of May to mid-August, the main thing is:

• fish during high tide;
• change bait as often as possible;
• cast with several fishing rods, preferably long in size;
• be located next to rocks;
• choose the time for fishing from 6-7 am until noon.

In early May, and if the spring is warm, then from the end of April it is better to fish from the shore, since at this time the cod approaches the very coast.

Cod fishing: search for fish, gear used, choice of catchable baits

A coveted trophy for fans of sea fishing is cod. This large fish is capable of delivering a lot of unforgettable moments while fishing. Hunting for trophy fish requires knowledge of its habitat and feeding habits. Fishing for cod requires the fisherman to be able to assemble strong gear, as well as stock up on catchy baits. What else is interesting about cod, and where can you catch it?

Habitats

Cod is a cold-loving fish species. Therefore, a fishing enthusiast will have to travel to the north. Cod fishing is a popular hobby in the waters of the White, Baltic, Barents and Kara seas. Accordingly, territorial species of this fish are distinguished (Baltic, Arctic, White Sea cod).

Due to the high value of meat, commercial cod fishing is also actively carried out in the White Sea. Therefore, amateur fishermen can learn about fish accumulation areas from professionals. This predatory fish prefers to hunt in coastal waters, so there is no point in moving further than 0.5 km from the shore. Moving along the coast, you should look for faults and depressions where it is convenient for a predator to set up ambushes. In such places, cod successfully hunts for herring, sprat or smelt.

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A good cod bite is observed during high tides. The fish form large schools moving along the sandbanks.

As for the fishing depth, the optimal range will be from 20 to 50 m. At shallow depths small fish usually bite, but at around 100 m there are single large individuals.

Cod fishing is most successful in the cold season. You should go fishing in late autumn, and the last successful expeditions take place in February. In the last month of winter, fish gather in schools and go to the sea to spawn.

You can fish all day long. Cod is guided by the shine of fish scales, so it feeds during daylight hours.

Tackle for cod fishing on the White Sea

Successful fishing directly depends on correctly selected gear. In general, it is possible to fish with various options of float rods, spinning rods and other things.

When choosing gear, there are several points to consider:

1. Buy a medium-sized rod , but very durable, which can withstand many casts.
2. The ideal length of a spinning rod for cod is from 1.8 to 2 meters.
3. The weight of the tackle should be heavy , otherwise there will be difficulties when pulling out cod.
4. It is better to take a multiplier reel designed for sea fishing, otherwise after the first contact with water it will rust and will be unsuitable for further use.
5. In the summer, it is more advisable to abandon bottom tackle in favor of a short spinning rod or feeder.
6. When fishing with a spinning rod, you need to have a large amount of different bait with you, since with this type of gear there is a risk of losing or breaking the bait.
7. Use the equipment as simple as possible , a fairly reliable fishing line and hook.

A single hook is used to minimize the likelihood of snags and further loss of the spoon. It is better to use fishing line with a diameter of 0.5 - 0.8 millimeters.

In the White Sea it will not be possible to catch a trophy specimen, even if you use the latest and improved gear

Lures

The daily diet of cod consists of small fish or shellfish, so when choosing a bait option, you must take this factor into account.

It bites well on many natural baits, especially:

• medium and large sized sea worms;
• pieces of herring;
• capelin;
• small sea bass;
• shrimp;
• shellfish

Advice: the main thing is that any bait is fresh, so you should look for it before you start fishing.

It is allowed to fish with artificial baits, sometimes the bite on them is not inferior to most natural ones, but you should only choose bright and shiny colors, preferably with many threads.

You can make spinners yourself - for them it is better to use red or white colors and a tee No. 12-14.

If the bite is passive, you should try combining artificial and natural bait on one hook.

Fishing tactics

For a fruitful bite, it is important to maintain a clear sequence in fishing, otherwise, even the presence of a large number of individuals in the sea will not bring the planned result.

Fishing tactics include several stages:

1. Throwing the tackle to the maximum possible distance, the most optimal is considered to be from 14 to 25 meters.
2. It is better to cast in several places at once, especially when fishing from the shore.
3. Pulling donkeys, spinning rods and other things a short distance towards the boat or shore.
4. Lowering the bait to the very bottom, then making 5-6 light but quick strikes to attract fish.
5. Raising the bait approximately 40-50 centimeters from the bottom surface.
6. If the bait is left on the bottom, the cod may not notice it.
7. Periodically perform gentle twitching of the tackle, optimally at intervals of 10-15 minutes.
8. Confident fishing immediately after the bite and further sharp hooking.

Interesting fact: the cod bite is sudden, so any relaxation during fishing will lead to the fish breaking off.

It is easier to carry out hooking together, in this case the chance of not missing the prey is much higher. In any case, even in the absence of bites, it is necessary to constantly monitor the presence of bait. Cod has a unique ability to unnoticed by the fisherman to pull any bait off the hook.

Advice: it is better to check the presence of bait every 30-40 minutes.

vyn › Blog › Fishing on the Barents Sea - Teriberka (part 3) 18+

By tradition, here are a few videos for the previous parts:

Fishing on the Barents Sea - Teriberka (part 3) 18+
Chapter 4. Fishing on distant islands.
After my departure with Evgeniy, the gathering of the second part of the team was a chaotic throwing of various rubbish, brought with us from Moscow, first to Latchetti, and then to the captain’s Niva. The captain's objections about the lack of need for so many tackles and baits were categorically not accepted. As a sedative, a glass was given to the owner (in exchange for another trunk placed in the car). An hour later, shouting, swearing and kicking each other, the group spilled out into the street and rushed to the garage behind the captain’s ship. Taking into account the reserve of morning strength, the ship was dragged out of the garage, hitched to the Niva and after 10 minutes was already in the waters of the local port. The captain's ship deserves a separate story, because... made by order and of a special design. In fact, it was RIB, i.e. aluminum 6 meter boat, to which inflatable cylinders are attached in a circle. The transom of the boat was monstrously reinforced, because... the original design assumed a 50 hp engine, but it was necessary to hang the existing 4-stroke Suzuki monster with a reserve of 90 hp. The bottom of the boat consisted of several compartments separated from each other, some of which had (as it turned out later initially had) buoyancy blocks (to make the vessel unsinkable), some of the compartments could be filled with water to reduce pitching when anchoring and fishing. According to the captain, the stupidity of the designers at the plant did not allow all his ideas to be realized and the boat had to be completely rebuilt on its own. At the same time, most of the equipment for the boat was also purchased and installed independently, due to the plant’s reluctance to supply things from Aliexpress. All buoyancy blocks were thrown out, and the compartments were connected to each other. The insides of the compartments are supplemented with 2 Chinese pumps with a capacity of 100 Chinese liters per minute, one of which turned on independently, and the second forcibly from a button. To objections about the need for buoyancy blocks, the captain responded with an ironclad argument: “I’m still fucking alive, so fuck it, everything’s done,” and commanded, “Load the fuck up.” After 10 minutes, the engine growling merrily, the ship rushed towards Kildin Island at a speed of 50 km/h.

Having passed Deer Island and yelled “Now we’ll give a fuck on cruise control,” the owner fished out 2 rubber bands from both sides of the steering column and hooked them onto the steering wheel. Rocking monotonously on the waves, the team fell asleep. Igor, who woke up from splashes flying in his face, initially did not realize the changed situation. The fact is that the boat, which had previously moved along the wave, was now moving perpendicularly. The direction of movement also changed. The boat went further and further into the open sea between Kildin and Oleny. However, the captain, calmly sitting at the helm with a straight back and not smoking a cigarette, did not cause concern. Igor patted Cap on the shoulder... Cap fell face first into the steering wheel... and woke up. Muttering something about the different lengths of the cruise control rubber bands, someone's mother and the cod with which someone entered into an intimate relationship, the owner of the boat began to slow down the gas. Igor, sadly looking at the cluster of boats 4-5 kilometers behind the transom, between which they probably passed a couple of minutes ago, went to wake up the fishermen.

20 minutes later, having returned from neutral waters to the Russian Federation, the boat took up place at Kildin. Vova, being ready, released a 700 gram jig, painted in cheerful clown colors, into the water. After 15 seconds, the captain, not finding any supporters of improving his health, took a sip from the flask. Sniffing the sea air and thoughtfully looking at the people systematically unwinding the gear, the captain shook the flask, looked keenly into the neck, assessing the volume, and drank 200 grams of selected samovar tincture with a second sip. Inquiring about the amount of alcohol on the boat, the captain muttered contentedly something about 2 hours and began distributing tips on catching cod. After some time, Vovin’s never-silent coil quieted down. After which, wildly swearing in cognate words starting with the letters “fucked up,” Vova began to heel overboard, grabbing the guardrail with one hand and holding the spinning rod bent at 180 degrees with the other. The owner yelled “get the fuck out of him, otherwise the halibut will drag him into the pussy.” Grisha, shouting, “Let’s do it now,” dragged Vova into the boat. The railing rope, tearing out the glued holders, remained in Vova’s hand. Together, relying on the strength of the half-millimeter cord, the halibut, which turned out to be a 17-kilogram cod, was dragged into the boat in 15 minutes.

An hour later, saying that now was “a fucking time for collecting mussels,” the captain directed the ship to a certain bay known only to him. Why the hell did the whole team need mussels and what to do with hundreds of kilograms of shells, no one even thought at that time. Taking a dozen garbage bags, the gang moved along the cleanest sandy beach to storm a small river 20 centimeters deep. Doubting the mental abilities of his comrades, taking a horizontal position, Uncle Igor volunteered to guard the boat. 2 HOURS! 2 fucking hours, 5 people searched the entire bay for the presence of any living creatures.

Snow, rocks and sand. The only difference from the ordinary landscape was sand... without a single trace of shellfish.

Blitz tips:

• any equipment used must be durable; select equipment only suitable for fishing in salt water;
• It is more advisable to first catch a small sea bass or capelin and then use them as bait;
• if there is no bite, try casting with artificial bait;
• when hooking fish, any relaxation should be excluded;
• in winter it is better to use shellfish or worms as bait;
• Be sure to take warm clothes with you due to the unpredictability of the weather.