We’ve had a few enquiries recently about the best hook size to use when fishing for cod. When I’m cod fishing from the beach I prefer to use a size 3/0 hook. Cod have incredibly large mouths and are capable of eating very large baits. Don’t worry about presenting too large a bait, being scavengers cod will engulf anything from medium size fish like whiting to whole crabs without any trouble. Infact the larger your bait the better chance you have of a cod finding your hook, as the scent trail will be a lot stronger.
Larger hook sizes, like a size 5/0 or even 6/0, can be used, however these are usually reserved for extremely large baits which are difficult to cast from the beach and probably better suited to fishing from a boat. If you stick to either a size 3/0 or even 2/0 baited hook, you’ll be able to present a good sized bait which can be easily cast, bettering your chances of finding a cod. At the other end of the scale, smaller hooks can be used, but with caution. Cod are a very strong fish. A smaller hook size just might not be strong enough to hold the fish once hooked. If you’re targeting a specific fish like cod, its best to use the appropriate tackle.