Pacific Cod
Pacific cod are a cold-water bottom fish found along British Columbia's coast, from the Strait of Georgia out to the open Pacific.
They're not the flashiest target, but they're accessible from shore or boat, eat well, and give anglers a genuine reason to drop a jig to the bottom.
Charter boats out of Campbell River, Ucluelet, and Sooke regularly put clients on them as a secondary target alongside salmon and halibut.
Scientific Name: Gadus macrocephalus
Also known as Gray cod, grey cod, grayfish, Alaska cod, true cod
- Brown to gray on the back with dark spots or mottled patterning on the sides, fading to a pale belly — easy to distinguish from lingcod by the softer coloration and rounder body.
- Three separate dorsal fins and two anal fins, with a prominent chin barbel (whisker) longer than the eye diameter in adults — the barbel is the quickest field ID.
- Most fish caught recreationally run 2–8 kg; the species can reach 22+ kg and over a metre in length, though fish that size are uncommon inshore.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the North Pacific; in Canada, found along the entire British Columbia coast, from the Strait of Georgia and Burrard Inlet north through Haida Gwaii and into the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
- A bottom-dwelling species that lives on the continental shelf and upper slopes, typically between 100–400 m, though it moves shallower — into the 10–50 m range — in certain seasons and inlets.
- Prefers sandy, muddy, or mixed-bottom habitat; less tied to hard reef structure than rockfish or lingcod.
Key Locations
- Campbell River and Discovery Passage (BC) — charter boats here target cod alongside salmon on deeper structure in the passage.
- Ucluelet and the west coast of Vancouver Island — offshore grounds put anglers on cod while targeting halibut and salmon.
- Sooke and the southern Strait of Juan de Fuca — accessible inshore cod fishing from the southern Vancouver Island coast.
- Burrard Inlet (Vancouver area) — deeper holes and sandy areas near Mannion Bay and the Capilano River mouth hold fish accessible to shore and small-boat anglers.
Specific Spots
- Deep holes and sandy flats in sheltered inlets — Burrard Inlet's deeper channels and areas near the Capilano River mouth are known BC spots where cod hold on the bottom.
- Drop-offs at the edge of the continental shelf concentrate fish; charter boats target these transitions where sandy bottom meets deeper water.
- Current breaks near underwater structure — points, channel edges, and the mouths of inlets — where cod wait for forage to wash past.
Pacific Cod FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Pacific Cod?
Jigs in the 100–300 g range, white, pink, or chartreuse, are the go-to for deep-water Pacific cod; drop to bottom, lift, and let it fall. Knife-style and butterfly jigs both produce.
When is the best time to fish for Pacific Cod?
Fall and winter, cooler water temperatures bring cod into shallower inlets and make them more accessible from smaller boats and shore. Spring, fish are active post-spawn and feeding; charter boats along the west coast of Vancouver Island see good numbers before summer salmon season takes over.
How do you catch Pacific Cod?
Most BC anglers encounter Pacific cod as a secondary catch while bottom-fishing from charter or private boats, dropping jigs or bait rigs to the seafloor in inlets and offshore grounds.
What do Pacific Cod eat?
Bottom-oriented feeders that eat clams, worms, crabs, shrimp, and juvenile fish, this mix means both bait and jigs work, since you're imitating whatever is crawling or swimming near the seafloor.
Where do Pacific Cod live?
Native to the North Pacific; in Canada, found along the entire British Columbia coast, from the Strait of Georgia and Burrard Inlet north through Haida Gwaii and into the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
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