{"id":5459,"date":"2019-03-19T14:29:41","date_gmt":"2019-03-19T13:29:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/?p=5459"},"modified":"2026-04-07T09:01:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T09:01:59","slug":"cod-vs-haddock-all-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/cod-vs-haddock-all-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Cod vs. Haddock: All You Need to Know for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><p><a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/fish\/cod?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=5459\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cod and <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/haddock-fishing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Haddock<\/a> are two of the world&rsquo;s most popular food fish. From fish and chips to pies and tacos, these tasty Groundfish are in many of our favorite foods. But what&rsquo;s the difference between the two species? How do you recognize Cod vs. Haddock? Which one is more sustainable? Learn the answers to all these questions and more.<\/p><h2 id=\"cod-vs-haddock-identification\">Cod vs. Haddock Identification<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153021\/Cod-vs-Haddock.jpg\" alt='A comparison of Cod vs Haddock, showing how to tell them apart. Cod is above, Haddock is below. To the left, text reads \"1. Lateral Line: light on Cod, dark on Haddock. 2. Body color: green-brown on Cod, dark grey on Haddock. 3. Front Dorsal Fin: Rounded on Cod, tall and pointed on Haddock. 4. Body Size and Shape\" Cod are bigger and rounder, Haddock are smaller and slimmer.\"' class=\"wp-image-5466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153021\/Cod-vs-Haddock.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153021\/Cod-vs-Haddock-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153021\/Cod-vs-Haddock-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153021\/Cod-vs-Haddock-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153021\/Cod-vs-Haddock-200x133.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p><p>Cod and Haddock are close relatives, so they look pretty similar. However, there are a few easy ways to tell them apart:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Lateral lines:<\/b> Both fish have lines down their sides. Cod have a white or cream line, while the line on a Haddock is dark grey or black.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Body color:<\/b> Cod and Haddock have different colored skin, especially on their upper half. Cod have speckled, grey-brown skin, Haddock are dark grey or black.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Front dorsal fins:<\/b> Haddock have a long, pointed front dorsal fin. All the dorsal fins on Cod are roughly the same length.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Body size and shape:<\/b> Cod are generally bigger and fatter than Haddock. Cod fillets are also thick, while Haddock fillets are thin and flat.<\/li>\n<\/ul><div class='featured-charters-container' data-trigger='featured-charters' data-destination-id='1675' data-destination-title='Cape Cod' data-perpage='4' data-currency='USD'data-filter-field='fishFilter'data-filter-value='cod'data-headline='Top Cod Fishing Charters in Cape Cod'data-add-type='m'><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 id=\"cod-vs-haddock-taste\">Cod vs. Haddock Taste<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"961\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153022\/Cod-vs-Haddock-taste.jpg\" alt=\"A portion of fish and chips, with fries fish, french fries, and mushy peas. Cod and Haddock are the most traditional fish for this meal.\" class=\"wp-image-5464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153022\/Cod-vs-Haddock-taste.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153022\/Cod-vs-Haddock-taste-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153022\/Cod-vs-Haddock-taste-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153022\/Cod-vs-Haddock-taste-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153022\/Cod-vs-Haddock-taste-200x133.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p><p>Haddock and Cod can be fun to fish for, but there&rsquo;s one real reason people catch them: They&rsquo;re delicious. Both fish are from the same family and they live in similar waters, so they probably taste the same, right? Not quite.<\/p><p>Cod has a more mild, clean taste. Haddock is more flavorful and &ldquo;fishy.&rdquo; However, the difference between Cod and Haddock is more about shape and texture than taste. Cod fillets are thicker and firmer. They&rsquo;re great for grilling or searing because they don&rsquo;t overcook as easily. Haddock fillets are thinner and more fragile. They cook through quickly and are ideal for frying.<\/p><h2 id=\"is-cod-or-haddock-more-sustainable\">Is Cod or Haddock More Sustainable?<\/h2><p>Sustainability is a common concern these days, and rightly so. Choosing <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/sustainable-fish-all-you-need-to-know\/\">sustainable fish<\/a> isn&rsquo;t just good for the oceans, it supports communities that are managing their fisheries responsibly. The most sustainable way to enjoy fish is to catch it yourself. This way, you&rsquo;ll be using techniques with little or no by-catch, and will only catch as much fish as you want.<\/p><p>If you feel like grabbing some Groundfish, the best fishing starts just north of Boston, in historic port towns like <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/MA\/gloucester?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=5459\">Gloucester<\/a>, and goes all the way up to Labrador in Canada.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-5463\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153023\/Cod-vs-haddock-fishing.jpg\" alt=\"A group of anglers dressed in blue shirts and caps. The anglers are sitting at the back of a charter boat holding up some Haddock that they have just caught\" class=\"wp-image-5463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153023\/Cod-vs-haddock-fishing.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153023\/Cod-vs-haddock-fishing-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153023\/Cod-vs-haddock-fishing-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153023\/Cod-vs-haddock-fishing-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/03\/14153023\/Cod-vs-haddock-fishing-200x133.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Catching your own fish is more fun and more sustainable than buying it in a shop.<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>A lot of commercially-caught Cod and Haddock is unsustainable. Atlantic Cod, in particular, is often overfished. However, it varies with where and how the fish was caught. As a general rule, look for line-caught fish with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.msc.org\/what-we-are-doing\/our-approach\/what-does-the-blue-msc-label-mean\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MSC Blue Label<\/a>. If you want to be sure your fish is sustainable, the Monterey Bay Aquarium&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.seafoodwatch.org\/seafood-recommendations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Seafood Watch<\/a> has guides for all common food fish in the US.<\/p><h2 id=\"which-is-better-cod-or-haddock\">Which is Better, Cod or Haddock?<\/h2><p>Cod and Haddock are both delicious, it just depends on how you cook them. They look pretty similar, but they&#8217;re easy to tell apart once you know how. Both species are overfished in many places, particularly in the Atlantic. Choose sustainably-sourced fish, or head out and catch your own for the freshest taste and the smallest impact on the oceans.<\/p><p><em>What do you prefer, Cod or Haddock? What&#8217;s your favorite way to cook each fish? Do you catch them yourself? Let us know your thoughts and tips in the comments below &ndash; we love to hear from you!<\/em><\/p><p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cod and Haddock are two of the world&rsquo;s most popular food fish. From fish and chips to pies and tacos, these tasty Groundfish are in many of our favorite foods. But what&rsquo;s the difference between the two species? How do you recognize Cod vs. Haddock? Which one is more sustainable? Learn the answers to all [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":5464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1475],"tags":[529,352,530,388,434],"class_list":["post-5459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fish-facts","tag-cod","tag-fish-as-food","tag-haddock","tag-sustainable-fishing","tag-versus"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cod vs. Haddock: All You Need to Know for 2026 - FishingBooker Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/cod-vs-haddock-all-you-need-to-know\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cod vs. Haddock: All You Need to Know for 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A simple guide to all you need to know about Cod vs Haddock. 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Cod and Haddock are the most traditional fish for this meal."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/cod-vs-haddock-all-you-need-to-know\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Cod vs. Haddock: All You Need to Know for 2026"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/","name":"FishingBooker Blog","description":"Fishing trip inspiration, travel guides &amp; tips","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"FishingBooker","url":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/07\/14141055\/logo-white-bckblue-1200px.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2022\/07\/14141055\/logo-white-bckblue-1200px.jpg","width":1200,"height":578,"caption":"FishingBooker"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FishingBooker","https:\/\/x.com\/FishingBooker","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fishingbooker\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/fishingbooker\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCO3ivVJwOU6HJTy2GxD9wNg"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/f39b39e8e6b2ad1c7281e19d751e14d3","name":"Albert","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/752d0479283f68362784277f18e1a0259848baf1dfcd17e1903f3b0d1568313e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/752d0479283f68362784277f18e1a0259848baf1dfcd17e1903f3b0d1568313e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/752d0479283f68362784277f18e1a0259848baf1dfcd17e1903f3b0d1568313e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Albert"},"description":"Albert was one of the first writers for the FishingBooker blog. 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