The skipper will often announce the depth where he's reading fish. Then it's a matter of concentrating your jigging efforts above, through and below the depths at which the bait is congregated. Let's say the fish are spotted 100 feet from the surface. Let out about 75 feet of line. Then stop the jig and smartly lift your rod tip, causing the jig and teaser combo to dart toward the surface, then falter and settle, much like a wounded baitfish.

Next, allow another 5 or 10 feet of line to slip from the reel and continue the procedure until you estimate that the jig is at around a depth of 125 feet. Begin a retrieve, stopping every 5 to 10 feet while working your rod tip. Continue this procedure until the jig is within 75 feet of the surface, and then begin sending it back down again. It takes patience and is admittedly tiresome, but when the cod have moved off bottom to feed on herring, it's the best way to go.

You'll be pleasantly surprised at the number of cod that will wallop a teaser. I suspect they're attracted to the jig, but then see the rubber tube teaser or fluttering squid and just can't resist it.

Codfish are absolutely delicious table fare. Those that weight 15 pounds or more are often referred to as "steakers" for they're of a size that lends to easily being cut into meal-size steaks, usually an inch thick. Smaller cod are best when filleted, with a fillet from each side of the fish. The white meat of the cod is firm with a very mild flavor. Cod can be prepared using any of your favorite seafood recipes.

My wife, June, loves codfish cakes, which are made by simply steaming chunks of codfish and then shredding it and combining it with mashed potatoes, some sautéed onions and egg. Make the mixture into a codfish cake utilizing 1/3-cup measuring of cod, and dust them in seasoned breadcrumbs. Deep fry until golden brown, and enjoy a treat that can't be beat. Surplus codfish cakes can be frozen, and then placed in Food Saver bags and vacuum packed for later use.

Codfish are on the comeback trail, make no mistake about it. So long as the population continues to increase, and if we maintain limited commercial and recreational fishing pressure, the species is likely to rebound fully. Optimist that I am, I believe that future generations will be able to enjoy catching and eating this delectable seafood treat for many years to come.