ive fished fished the harbour didnt find it snaggy bally i think your beter using just normal weights not grippers as there is a lot of rock out there but i have seen other use grippers as for rigs i make my own up .
ill have to draw a diagram ive never blanked on it or failing that if i get a few snaggs i just use a weight on a slider and i single hook ive caught my biggest of cod on that setup

ade

oh and as for bait i think lugs the bait

 

Cocktail baits have always worked for me.
Combinations of; lugworm, ragworm, mussel, razorfish, squid and mackerel.
Fish them on pennel rigs using good quality hooks, my preference is for 4/0 Vikings.
Tie your rigs up so that the hooklength (40lb) comes off the trace (50lb) a couple of inches above the rotten bottom link, and keep the rotten bottom itself (20lb)quite short. Stick to at least 30lb mainline.
This keeps your bait hard on the bottom where the cod will be feeding.
Plan your trip around the weather reports.
If it's been rough for a few days look to fish the Harbour, Bally's or the cliffs on a rising tide.
If it's been calm for days beforehand plan to go to the rock marks and aim to fish down to low tide and some of the flood. beware of being cut off on exposed marks by the incoming tide, always make sure that you retreat safely before gullies flood behind you.
Bigger tides are better for either option.
I haven't found the ground too snaggy at the harbour, but I'd still go with the rotten bottoms as there are one or two snaggier areas.

 

I'd have to disagree with adey on the weights, I'd always use grippers unless I'm fishing the rock marks and its really calm.
I forgot to mention that it's generally better fishing in to darkness, especially if it's been calm.

 

cheers ade i might not be able to get lugs but i will be able to get rags will they just be as effective?
cheers. the slug.

 

There are plenty of clear areas where snagging is not a problem, but they don't seem to have any cod in 'em either. Most reports of good fish come from the snags,and most of the anglers that are consistently catching have recommended using grip leads . The thinking is the lead doesn't move and end up in crevices,it works for me. I've found the snags and don't loose much gear,however I'm not catching much either!!!so you takes your choice of where you go. I've been making the mistake of trying to cast a long way out and missing a lot of the marks,like all forms of fishing you need to put some hours in to aquire the edge and be consistent. I'm doing as much watching as I am fishing and getting more sucessful with each visit.

 

cheers burnie.
what area did you find to be the most productive, we are going up on the 11 of feb probably overnite so we intend to fish into the darkness and probably the next morning for a few hours so hopefully it will be a productive affair
i dont think theres much point in just going from glasgow for a few hours then heading back so overnite it is....cheers the slug..

 

seaslug ... Codfishing is all about timing , be there when the fish are(swell,coloured sea,right tide for the mark) and you will get a fish or two ... bait is important but timings crucial ... albeit you sometimes get a kamikase cod or two that will sometimes turn up anywhere, too maximise your chances try and get out fishing in the above conditions ... cheers :thumbs: :thumbs:

 

Jizers so right, the best baits and best marks add up to nothing if the fish aint there. You should have a plan "b", just in case the conditions are not right.Follow the reports on this site, many anglers will change location an hour before if the conditions are wrong.Swell on the sea and Arbroath is the place , no swell then low water marks give you a better chance of finding a fish in the kelp. February is getting towards the poorer end of the season unless we get an easterlie blow.