Norwegian record Atlantic cod: 41.72 kg

About Atlantic cod

The Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is the classic Norwegian sea fish. Look for the chin barbel, three dorsal fins, two anal fins and a clear, pale lateral line. Colour depends on where it lives: greenish grey, brown or reddish with darker mottling on the back and a light belly. Its range spans the North Atlantic, and in Norway it occurs along every stretch of coast, from the shallows down to several hundred metres. Besides resident coastal cod, Norway has the migratory skrei, which grows up in the Barents Sea and spawns off Lofoten in late winter. Cod are opportunistic hunters of small fish, crabs, shrimps and worms. They can exceed 1.8 m and 50 kg, although most catches are far smaller. Jigs, soft lures and bait all work, and the winter skrei season is a highlight. Depleted coastal cod in the Skagerrak and Oslofjord are protected by strict rules. Norwegian Red List 2021: Least Concern (LC).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Fiskeridirektoratet, Wikipedia

• Habitat: Saltvann
• Best month: Juli
• Red list status: LC (2021)

See the species guide

Biggest Atlantic cod in FishComp

22.1 kg (53 % of the record) by Mads Hoiland. See the catch

How to register a Norwegian record

1. Norwegian sport-fishing records are registered with Villmarksliv, not with FishComp. Read the rules before you do anything else with the fish.
2. Records are based on weight and approved by a jury. You give the weight and length, where it was caught, the gear you used and any witnesses.
3. Keep your photos and notes from the catch. Logging it in FishComp does not register a record.