Blue Cod

Blue Cod (Parapercis colias)

Blue cod are one of the easiest fish to shoot. They are controlled by their appetite and will come right up to you. They will generally sit like in the two photo’s facing right at you making it hard for you to get a good shot without destroying the fillet or damaging your shaft as it goes through the fish.

Blue Cod will eat anything that is locally available making them very susceptible to any burley. Once food has been established they will hang around the area. Blue Cod are known to bite of the end of your spear shaft and even the end of your finger if you hold it out.

They are more common south of the Cook Straight but can be found all around New Zealand.

They can grow up to 65cm in length and the legal limit is 30-33cm and daily bag limit from 30 to 10 depending on your area. Follow the link to view your local fisheries management area.

They live on the bottom around reef structures, patches of gravel/sand and around weed. Generally found in the shallows but can be caught line fishing up to depths of 100m.

Very nice eating fish with clean white flesh.