THE winter cod season is in full swing with big numbers of codling showing in all areas.

Most fish are 40cm plus with a good showing of slightly bigger fish – the best baits are squid and lug.

There are still plenty of thornbacks around with good fish up to 12lb in most inshore spots.

These fish will stay inshore until the water temperature drops but if we get another mild winter then we will continue to catch them – the best baits are squid, mackerel and crab.

The piers are fishing well for codling, whiting, thornbacks and pout and the best tides are the flooding springs with best baits squid and lug.

Offshore is still slow for the better cod with too many dogfish but once the water temperature drops this will push more better cod in.

Prospects are superb with the Estuaries producing the best cod fishing for 20 years.