How To Catch Any Fish
  How To Catch Any Fish
  • Home
  • Species Guides
    • Saltwater Fish >
      • Barracuda >
        • Great Barracuda
        • Pacific Barracuda
      • Barramundi
      • Bass >
        • Calico Bass
        • Sand Bass
        • Spotted Bay Bass
        • White Sea Bass
      • Billfish >
        • Black Marlin
        • Blue Marlin
        • Pacific Sailfish
        • Striped Marlin
      • Black Drum
      • Bonefish
      • Groupers >
        • Broomtail Grouper
        • Goliath Grouper
        • Leopard Grouper
        • Tropical Cods
      • California Sheepshead
      • Dorado
      • Emperor Fishes
      • Giant Needlefish
      • Halibut (California)
      • Halibut (Pacific)
      • Lingcod
      • Mackerels >
        • Cero Mackerel
        • King Mackerel
        • Pacific Sierra
      • Napoleon Wrasse
      • Pink Salmon
      • Redfish
      • Rockfish
      • Snappers >
        • Barred Pargo
        • Golden Snapper (Fingermark)
        • Green Jobfish
        • Mullet Snapper
        • Mutton Snapper
        • Pacific Cubera Snapper
        • Red Bass
        • Yellow Snapper
        • Yellowtail Snapper
      • Sheepshead
      • Silver Salmon
      • Snook
      • Speckled Trout
      • Tarpon
      • Trevallies and Jacks >
        • African Pompano
        • Amberjack
        • Blacktip Trevally
        • Bluefin Trevally
        • Brassy Trevally
        • California Yellowtail
        • Giant Trevally
        • Jack Crevalle
        • Longnose Trevally
        • Queenfish
        • Rainbow Runner
        • Roosterfish
      • Tuna >
        • Albacore
        • Bonito
        • Dogtooth Tuna
        • Skipjack Tuna
        • Yellowfin Tuna
      • Wahoo
      • Yelloweye Rockfish
    • Freshwater Fish >
      • African Tigerfish
      • Arctic Grayling
      • Arowana (South American)
      • Bass >
        • Hybrid Striped Bass
        • Largemouth Bass
        • Peacock Bass
        • Rainbow Bass
        • Smallmouth Bass
        • Striped Bass
        • White Bass
      • Catfish >
        • Blue Catfish
        • Channel Catfish
        • Redtail Catfish
        • Suribim Catfish
        • Vundu Catfish
      • Clown Knifefish (Featherback)
      • Dolly Varden
      • Jacunda
      • Jaguar Cichlid
      • Machaca
      • Muskellunge
      • Panfish >
        • Bluegill
        • Crappie
        • Central American Cichlids
      • Payara
      • Pike
      • Piranha
      • Sardinata
      • Sheefish
      • Trout >
        • Brown Trout
        • Lake Trout
        • Rainbow Trout
      • Walleye
      • White Sturgeon
      • Wolf Fish
  • Tackle Guide
    • Lure Reviews >
      • Bomber Fat Free Shad
      • Heddon Super Spook
      • Heru Bobara Lure Review
      • Heru Cubera Popper
      • Sebile Stick Shadd
      • Surface Iron Review
      • Yo Zuri Crystal Minnow Review
    • Recommended Baitcasting Reels
    • Recommended Spinning Reels
    • Recommended Saltwater Conventional Reels
    • Recommended Freshwater Rods
    • Recommended Saltwater Rods
    • Recommended Line and Leaders
    • Recommended Terminal Tackle
    • Recommended Lodges and Guides
    • Fishing Apparel
  • Fishing Advice
    • Gear Selection
    • Fishing Knots
    • How to Release Fish
    • Lure Fishing
    • Bait Fishing
    • Tackle Tips
    • Pound for Pound Fight Ratings
    • Miscellaneous Tips
    • Seasickness
    • Getting Kids Into Fishing
    • California Party Boat Fishing
    • Float Tube Fishing
    • Fishing Travel Tips
    • Preventing Insect Bites
    • Spear Fishing Link
  • Trip Reports
    • US and Canada >
      • God's Lake Canada - Pike, Trout, and more
      • Colorado Trouting
      • Admiralty Island, Alaska Lings and Things
      • Lake Tawakoni - Catfish and Stripers
      • Shallow Water Bull Redfish - Louisiana
      • Lake O the Pines Texas Crappie
      • Cocodrie Louisiana Marshes
      • Alaska Sportsman's Lodge - Rainbows, Salmon, and Bears
      • South Florida Freshwater Exotics
      • Aniak River, Alaska - Trout, Salmon, Sheefish
      • Calcasieu and Venice Louisiana - Redfish and Trout
      • Southern California - A Summer of Party Boat Fishing
      • White River Arkansas - Brown Trout
      • Dry Tortugas, Florida - Massive Reef Variety
      • Boca Grande - Goliaths and Much More
      • Hawk Lake Ontario - Bass, Pike Walleye
    • Central America >
      • Quepos Marlin and Roosterfish
      • Drake Bay, Costa Rica - Inshore Quick Trip
      • Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica and Punta Burica, Panama - Offshore and Inshore
      • Osa Peninsula Costa Rica - Inshore Pargo and Roosters
      • San Quintin, Mexico - Yellowtail and Calico Bass
      • Cebaco Bay, Panama - Inshore Popping and Jigging
      • Rio Indio Nicaragua - Tarpon, Rainbow Bass, and More
      • Lake Agua Milpa Mexico - Family Bass Trip
      • Puerto Vallarta - Marlin, Mahi, Tuna, Pargo
      • Puerto Vallarta - Big Offshore Giants and Pargo
      • San Quintin, Mexico - White Seabass and Barracuda
      • Puerto Vallarta - Roosterfish Mania and Freshwater Bass
      • Puerto Vallarta - Inshore/Offshore Slam
      • Puerto Vallarta - Summer Inshore Monsters
      • San Evaristo Mexico - Baja Inshore Variety
      • Rio Parismina, Costa Rica - Tarpon
      • Mariato Panama Fall Giants
      • Mariato, Panama Inshore Bonanza
      • Mariato, Panama - Wind and Tuna
    • South America >
      • Colombia - Amazon Peacocks and Payara
      • Trinidad Tarpon Madness
      • Colombia Pacific Coast
      • Amazon Bolivia - Big Payara and Variety
      • Amazon, Brazil - Peacock Bass, Wolffish, and Catfish
      • Amazon Brazil - Peacock Bass and Exotics
    • Australia and the Pacific >
      • Burdekin, Australia - Big Barramundi and Reef Variety
      • Great Barrier Reef Australia - Insane Reef Variety
      • Aitutaki, Cook Islands - Giant Trevally Popping and Napoleon Wrasse
      • New Caledonia - Popping Giant Trevally
      • Marshall Islands- Remote Reef Exotics
    • Africa and the Middle East >
      • Tanzania Offshore
      • Tanzanian Tigerfish
      • Oman GTs and Inshore Variety
  • About/Contact
  • Videos
    • How To Videos
  • Best Places to Fish
    • Aitutaki
    • Amazon
    • Belize
    • Bolivia
    • California
    • Costa Rica
    • Florida
    • Great Barrier Reef
    • Mexico Fishing - Baja
    • Panama
    • Puerto Rico
    • Puerto Vallarta
  • Trophy Gallery
Picture
The author's Malabar Cod, distinguished from the similar Estuary Cod by it's black spots
Tropical Cods
Genus Epinephelus
Home
Other Species

Tropical Cod Description

I'm using the catch-all term "Tropical Cods" to describe the hundreds of different species of tropical groupers within the genus Epinephelus that in many parts of the world where they are found such as Australia are referred to as "Cods"  (Note: they are not at all closely related to the fish that are commonly known as Cod in the North Atlantic and other areas).  I have not caught many of these species, but they are similar enough to group together for the sake of convenience.

Most if not all of these cod species are aggressive predators and strike lures and baits with abandon.  Their mouths are very large relative to their bodies and they try to cram as much as they can into them.  Despite that, they are sometimes maligned as sportfish due to their un-glamorous appearance, slimy skin, and in some cases bad smell.  They also don't make blistering runs or sexy jumps when hooked.  However, they hit extremely hard and immediately try to bury you in the rocks.  They are not pushovers.  If you give the big ones an inch, they will give you a breakoff in the rocks.  They are never far from structure.

Many cod start out as juveniles living in estuaries and then move out to deeper reefs as adults.  Many of these juveniles (and some occasionally absurdly large adults) are caught trolling and casting in estuaries.  Later in life, many of them can be caught casting and bottom fishing out on the reefs.

Many cod, especially smaller ones, are excellent eating, although you probably want to throw the large ones back.  I was fishing in Australia once and there were sharks all around us trying to eat every fish that we hooked except the big cod.  They left those completely alone.  That probably tells you something.

Tropical Cods Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 6 out of 10 on the Saltwater Scale

Tropical Cods, like most groupers, make a mad dash for their rocky homes when hooked.  That initial run is very powerful, and you need to do everything you can to keep them from getting to the rocks and breaking you off.  However, their initial runs are not as powerful as some other groupers on a pound for pound basis.  After their initial run, they usually come in pretty easily.


Tropical Cods Culinary Rating - High

They are slow growing and not super numerous, so I generally release them.  I have never eaten one that I can remember, but I'm told some species are delicious.

Tropical Cod Tackle

People rarely target cod; they are usually bycatch.  However, if you want to target big cod you should not mess around with light tackle unless you plan to donate most of it to the local reef.  Go with heavy gear.  Cod don't have a lot of stamina; the whole fight is won or lost in the first 10 seconds usually.  Click here for tackle recommendations.

Tropical Cod Techniques

Tropical Cods are caught in a variety of ways and it is a little difficult to generalize for all of the species.  Some common ways they are caught are bottom fishing with bait and lure casting around reefs and inshore structure.

Tropical Cod Lures

Soft plastics work well for all cods that I have caught.  You can work paddle-tail swimbaits around structure or near the bottom and get ready to pull hard if something grabs it.  A variety of jerkbaits and other lures will work.  Frankly, whatever lure you want to use, if you can put it in front of the cod and make it look kind of fishy they will probably hit it.  However, the key is to fish very close to the structure where they live.  These are ambush predators, not open water speedsters.  If you are not occasionally getting hung up on the structure, you are probably not fishing close enough.

Tropical Cod Baits

I have never fished for them with bait but I imagine they would be hard-pressed to refuse any live baitfish presented near them.  I'm guessing that many dead baits like squid will work for most any species as well.  These guys are not picky eaters.

Where to get the big Tropical Cod

Australia is home to many species of cod, both on the Great Barrier Reef and in other parts of the country.

Click the video below for the catch of a big cod from start to finish:
Picture
One of the better looking cods - the prized Blue Maori Cod
Picture
Cod have enormous mouths relative to their size and are not afraid to try to swallow anything that will fit.
Picture
The author's friend Gary with a Flowery Cod caught on a stickbait in New Caledonia
Picture
The Peacock Rockcod, also known as the Peacock Grouper. Not very big, but tasty. This one fell for a soft plastic in New Caledonia.
Picture
A strikingly-colored cod caught in Australia
Picture
Cod have big mouths and big appetites, even at a young age.
Picture
A small Camouflaged Rockcod, another commonly caught Cod. Distinguished from the similar Flowery Cod by, among other things, the black splotch between its soft dorsal and tail fins.