Side by Side

Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua

Typical: 22–34 in, 4–15 lb

Quickest tell: A pale curved white lateral line plus a clear chin barbel and overhanging upper jaw separate cod from the dark-lined, thumbprint-marked haddock and the jutting-jawed, forked-tailed pollock.

• heavy body, color variable (greenish to reddish-brown) with many small spots
• pale, gently curved (arched) white lateral line
• prominent single chin barbel
• three dorsal fins and two anal fins
• squared-off tail; upper jaw overhangs the lower

Full Atlantic Cod guide — season, gear and rules →

Pollock Pollachius virens

Typical: 20–32 in, 4–15 lb

Key field mark: A greenish back, jutting lower jaw, near-absent chin barbel, and a clearly forked tail separate pollock from the barbeled, square-tailed cod and haddock.

• olive-green to brownish back, silvery sides
• three dorsal fins and two anal fins
• pale, only slightly curved lateral line
• projecting lower jaw with a tiny or absent chin barbel
• distinctly forked tail (unlike cod's and haddock's squared tail)

Full Pollock guide — season, gear and rules →

When Each Is Running July — current month highlighted

Where Atlantic Cod and Pollock Overlap

Both run in Northeast — that is where telling them apart actually matters.

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