Cod Season in the UK: When to Fish for Cod
By Alex Clayton · Updated 2 November 2026
The cod fishing season UK anglers talk about runs from autumn into winter. In most of England the first fish usually show from mid-September into October, the best sport typically comes from November to Christmas, and most fish have gone by February. In Scotland and the North East, cod can be caught from the shore all year.
Region and weather shift those dates, and a big tide after a blow often matters more than the calendar. Below are the month-by-month pattern, a region table, session timing and the size rules. Rigs and baits live in the cod fishing guide.
When Does Cod Season Start and End? A Month-by-Month Guide
Cod are in UK waters all year. “Cod season” really means the months when the bigger fish come within casting range.
Smaller, immature cod live inshore year-round, which is why summer shore catches are mostly small fish. Mature cod move south from colder northern water in autumn, and that arrival is what anglers mean when they say the cod are in.
| Month | What typically happens |
|---|---|
| September | First fish in some areas, usually from mid-month onward |
| October | Numbers rise with the first big autumn tides |
| November to December | Peak of the cod season in the south and east |
| January | Fish still about until late in the month |
| February to March | Mostly gone except in the north; a possible east coast spring run from mid-March to early May |
North Western IFCA puts the start a little later on its coast: it says cod fishing usually begins in October or November, when cod return to UK waters.
For most English shore anglers, the best month for cod fishing is November or December. The table shows the typical pattern reported by anglers, not official dates, and a mild autumn can push everything later.
If you only have a few sessions, put them between the first big October tides and Christmas.
Cod Season by Region: Scotland, the North East, East Coast, South and North West
Advice written for the Yorkshire coast is little use on the Sussex shingle. The cod season UK anglers enjoy depends on where they fish, and it runs longer the further north you go.
| Region | Typical shore window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland and North East England (roughly North Yorkshire northward) | Year-round | Autumn and winter still bring the bigger fish |
| East coast of England (Lincolnshire to Essex and Kent) | Autumn into winter, peak November to Christmas | A spring run from mid-March to early May has been reported, though it has become less apparent in recent decades |
| South and South West England | Autumn and winter | No firm dates in the sources checked; broadly follows the month-by-month pattern above |
| North West England (Cumbria to Cheshire) | Usually from October or November | Timing given by North Western IFCA |
| Wales and Northern Ireland | Varies by coast | Local tackle shops and club records are the best guide |
The North West row comes from an official authority, North Western IFCA. The other rows come from angling sources, mainly a 2021 Sea Angler feature and British Sea Fishing, not survey data. Use them as a starting point, then adjust once you hear what your local marks are producing.
On the south coast, local catch reports from tackle shops and clubs will tell you more than any national calendar. If your coast has a short cod window, the winter sea fishing guide covers what else is about in the cold months.
Why Cod Come Inshore in Autumn
The cod you catch in November are often not the fish that were on the mark in July. Smaller resident fish give way to bigger migrants, and knowing why helps you read conditions instead of a calendar.
Three things drive the change:
- Migration of mature fish. Adult cod move south and inshore from colder northern water as autumn sets in.
- Cooling water. Falling sea temperatures are the usual trigger for that movement, so a mild autumn can delay it.
- Food stirred up by rough seas. Autumn gales churn the seabed and dislodge crabs, worms and shellfish, drawing cod close in to feed.
The end of the season has its own logic. North Western IFCA says cod usually spawn from December to June, which likely explains why numbers thin out after midwinter as fish move offshore to breed.
For identification and biology, see the cod species guide. Bass work to a different timetable, so read the bass season page if you fish for both.
Timing a Cod Session: Tides, Weather and Darkness
Plenty of anglers fish the right month and still blank, often on a flat, neap-tide evening.
Tides. The building tides in the three or four days before the biggest springs are widely rated as the best. To spot that build, see how to read tide tables.
Weather. The classic chance comes just after a storm, as the wind drops but the sea is still coloured and rough. Never fish exposed rocks or steep shingle in a big swell, and check the wind and swell forecast before you set off.
Darkness. Night tides and the hours around dusk often fish best. A common plan is to start about two hours before high water and fish on into dark.
Picking your session:
- Check your region’s window in the table above.
- Find a tide building towards springs.
- Look for a blow that is easing, with swell safe for your mark.
- Plan to be fishing at dusk or after dark.
- Check the size rules for your district before you keep a fish.
Cod can be 50 yards (about 45 metres) or more out, so distance matters. Rigs, baits such as lugworm, crab and squid, and casting are covered in the cod fishing guide.
If the forecast shows a blow easing on a building tide after dark, go.
Cod Size Limits and Bag Limits for Sea Anglers
Can you keep that cod? In the English IFCA districts checked, the answer starts with one number: 35 cm.
| Authority | Cod minimum size | Source |
|---|---|---|
| North Western IFCA | 35 cm | NW IFCA cod page |
| Kent and Essex IFCA | 35 cm | Minimum sizes page and byelaw |
| Eastern IFCA | 35 cm | MCRS booklet |
The scope matters as much as the figure. Kent and Essex IFCA’s byelaw applies to any person, recreational or commercial, and its angling page says undersize fish must be returned immediately. Whether a size rule binds shore anglers elsewhere depends on that district’s byelaw, so check yours, and measure every fish before you decide to keep it.
No national recreational cod bag limit turned up in the official sources checked. The North Western IFCA page mentions none, and the GOV.UK technical conservation rules cover commercial fishing rather than anglers. Check your local IFCA and the MMO before keeping fish.
Outside England, different bodies set the rules: the Marine Directorate in Scotland, the Welsh Government in Wales and DAERA in Northern Ireland. Check with the relevant authority rather than assuming English IFCA rules apply, and check before keeping cod from the Irish Sea or Celtic Sea. For the wider picture, see sea and freshwater fishing seasons and rules.
Under 35 cm, it goes back. Over it, check your district before keeping anything.
Cod Stocks and Why Returning Fish Matters
ICES, the scientific body that advises on North Atlantic fish stocks, advised zero catch for 2026 for all three North Sea cod substocks, with the southern substock the weakest (ICES advice). That is scientific advice for the fishery as a whole, not a rule on anglers.
It still puts the cod season in context. With cod usually spawning from December to June, late-winter fish are often heading off to breed. Keeping one for the table is your choice, but with stocks under this much pressure, returning most of what you catch is the sensible default.
If you release a cod, unhook it quickly, keep it wet and get it back promptly.
Frequently asked questions
When do cod come inshore in the UK?
Cod come inshore in autumn. The first fish usually show from mid-September to October, with the peak from November to December in the south and east. In Scotland and the North East they can be caught from the shore all year. These are typical patterns from angling sources, not fixed dates.
What is the best month for cod fishing in the UK?
November and December are the best months for most of England. Within them, aim for a tide building towards springs, a sea still rough after a blow, and fishing into dark. See Timing a Cod Session above for the full checklist.
What is the minimum size for cod?
Cod must be at least 35 cm in the English IFCA rules checked: North Western, Kent and Essex, and Eastern. Whether that covers shore anglers depends on each district's byelaw. Outside England, check with the relevant national authority before keeping a cod.
Is there a bag limit on cod for shore anglers?
No national recreational cod bag limit was found in the official sources checked. That does not rule out local measures, so check your local IFCA and the MMO before keeping fish, or the relevant authority in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.