Saltwater · Year-round in northern inshore water; best in winter through the ice and in late summer

Greenland Cod

Gadus ogac

The Greenland cod is the Labrador and northern inshore cod of Newfoundland waters, staying closer to shore than Atlantic cod. Broader-headed and darker than its Atlantic cousin, it is caught from boats, wharves and rocky shores in cold northern bays.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

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Aug

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Oct

Nov

Dec

Greenland Cod — Photo: Michael Bakker Paiva, CC BY 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Broad, blunt head — noticeably wider than Atlantic cod's
Darker, more heavily mottled brown-green body
Stout body with three dorsal fins and two anal fins, as in all true cods
A chin barbel and a pale lateral line
Fins darker and less pale-edged than in Atlantic cod

Habits

Stays inshore year-round, rarely moving far offshore
Feeds on capelin, shrimp, crabs and small fish near bottom
Uses cold, shallow rocky bays and inlets
Spawns in winter in inshore water
Grows more slowly than Atlantic cod in colder water

Distribution

St. John's, NL · Newfoundland & Labrador★ Primary

Québec City, QC · QuebecOccasional

Anchorage, AK · AlaskaOccasional

Where to find them

Rocky bays and wharves along the Labrador coast
Northern Newfoundland inshore grounds in late summer
Sea-ice edges and ice holes in northern bays in winter

Where they live

Labrador and northern Newfoundland inshore watersCold rocky bays and fjord-like inletsNearshore kelp and rock bottom in shallow to moderate depths

How to catch them

Bottom jigging from a boat Boat

Rig: Medium boat rod, metal jig or jig tipped with capelin worked just off rocky bottom in inshore bays

Bait/lure: Metal jigs, capelin

Key tip: Keep the jig within a foot or two of bottom and lift slowly — these cod feed low and inshore.

Bait fishing from shore and wharves Shore

Rig: Medium surf or pier rod, baited bottom rig with clam, squid or fish strips cast from rocky shore or a wharf

Bait/lure: Clam, squid, fish strips

Key tip: Fish the deepest water you can reach from shore at high tide, when cod move in to feed.

Best baits & lures

Jigs tipped with capelin or squidBaited bottom hooks with clam or fishMetal jigs worked near bottom

Techniques for Greenland Cod →

Baseline setup

Rod: Medium 7-8 ft boat or shore rod
Line: 20-30 lb braid or mono
Terminal: Metal jigs, bottom rigs, strong cod hooks

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 12-24 in; large fish to about 30 in

On the table

Very good — white, flaky cod flesh, closely comparable to Atlantic cod.

Similar species

Atlantic CodAtlantic cod is paler and narrower-headed and ranges widely offshore; Greenland cod is darker, broader-headed and stays close to shore in Labrador and the far north

Arctic CodArctic cod is a much smaller, slender high-Arctic fish with a deeply forked tail; Greenland cod is a stout true cod several times its size

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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