Pouting or Poor Cod

[tonybolton]

Can anyone tell me the definitive way to tell the difference between a Pouting and a Poor Cod, I have seen a couple of references on the web to there being a difference in the eye position and a slightly different shape at the top of the spine, but i've also seen Small Pouting referred to as Poor Cod. So does anyone know?!?? Is there a surefire way of telling?

[welsh wizzard]

yes they are two different fish mate. take a look here:

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/pages/pouting.html

and

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/pages/poorcod.html.

hope this helps a little

[tonybolton]

Understand that they're two different fish, but other than the slightly different body profile I can't tell the difference, interestingly especially when you compare the piccie of a poor cod with a small pouting - look identical to me - we have this one posted as an example of a poor cod in our species id section.

Poor cod

don't think that's a poor cod based on the piccie? My head hurts.

[Gremlin]

Looks more like a 'red' cod or a pout to me???
If it's a poor cod (not!), it's a new record!

Once you've caught both (unfortunately; except in a species hunt!), you'll get to know easily.

WW's pics are better.

The bars on the body are usually a giveaway (pout), while the slimmer body and larger (in proportion) eye indicate a poor cod.

Your picture Tony, is not a good example of a PC

Ada

[welsh wizzard]

nope its not a poor cod in your pic mate, its a red cod

[tonybolton]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Your picture Tony, is not a good example of a PC

Ada

That's they piccie we've got posted in the species section of the forum to identify a poor cod, will suggest it's changed.

As an aside is the poor cod as common as pouting around the solent?

[welsh wizzard]

not sure about the solent but where i live they are. hence the reason so many get confused over them

[NICK R]

Poor cod lose more scales when handled..

[Gremlin]

Go to somewhere like Bullocks Patch (E Solent) in the summer and you would find pesky pout and poor cod together; probably 10 pout to every poor cod.

[tonybolton]

Cheers all, will need one for the species hunt, but will hopefully get one whilst fishing for something else, the prospect of targetting pouting and poor cod, is not a session that i'll be looking forward to.