Top cod lures for late fall fishing
- Vertical jigging spoons (2–6 oz) — great for pulling bites in deeper basins and around structure. Try bright chartreuse or pink/white, with a glow coating for low light. Short, controlled hops near the bottom or along ledges will trigger reaction strikes.
- Squid skirts and soft plastics on lead jigs — classic go-to for cod and rockfish. Use luminous skirts or glow colors in dim light. A lead jig with a soft body or skirted rig (often sold as Rock Cod Squid Rigs) covers multiple species and is especially deadly around wrecks and reefs.
- Tube lures (tube teasers) — effective for offshore cod and lingcod alike, especially when bounced along the bottom or trolled slowly. Look for tube lures with stainless hooks and mixers of glow or mixed colors.
- Metal spoons and trolling spoons — cast or slow-troll along the bottom to cover water quickly. Bright gold, silver, or hot pink patterns work well; add a little trailing soft plastic for extra action.
- Jig heads with soft plastics — 2–4 oz jig heads paired with grub or paddle-tail plastics in pink/white or glow colors. Dragging these along the bottom is a confidence-builder when cod are hugging structure.
Techniques & setup tips
- Late fall weather considerations: water cools quickly, daylight shortens, and fish stack along ledges, drop-offs, or offshore structure. Focus your efforts around wrecks, reefs, and steep drop-offs; plan for calm windows or steady wind days to maintain good jig control. Glow colors shine in dim light, and larger, slower presentations can out-slow finicky fish.
- Use a fluorocarbon leader (12–40 lb) for abrasion resistance and stealth near sharp structure.
- Try a mix of methods: vertical jigging for depth on calm days, then switch to slow-trolled spoons or tube lures when wind ramps up.
- Vary retrieve speed: start with a 1–2 second pause between short jig taps, then speed up if bites stay scarce.
Want a quick win? check this cod-lure primer:
Gear-ready picks (fishing-related):
- 5 Packs - 3" Fishing Rock Cod Rig Twin Bulb Squids Rockfish Bait Soft Lure -5 Colors- Pink, Purple, Blue, Red/Black, Glow in The Dark
- Ling Cod Squid Rigs,10 Packs with Luminous Skirts, for Deep Sea Saltwater Fishing, Ideal for Lingcod, Rockfish & Halibut
- Rock Cod Squid Rigs, 10 Pcs Glow Luminous Skirts for Deep Sea Saltwater Fishing, Ideal for Rockfish, Lingcod, Halibut & Bottom Fishing
- Classic Striped Bass Tube Lures Trolling Tube Fishing Lures Cod Rig Tube Teasers with Stainless Steel Hooks Swivel for Offshore Trolling Bass Cod Big Game Fishing (Mixed Color-10pcs, 10/0)
- Saltwater Squid Fishing Lures, LED Fishing Lures Lighted Glow Squid Lure Jigs Soft Trolling Squid Lure Deep Drop Flashing Lights Offshore Lures for Halibut Lingcod Mackerel Tuna
Go get em out there! Stay patient, read the water, and adjust colors and depths with the moving seasons. Late fall can be tough but rewarding when you ride the current and present a lure that mimics the local forage just right. Tight lines and happy boating! 🐟🎣💥
