Alaska cod are harvested using four different fishing methods — longlining, pots, jig and trawl.

Longlining

Longline fishing vessels are usually independently run by owner-operators. Some longliners are small boats, less than 50 feet in length, but most are somewhat larger. Longline gear is composed of groundline, buoy lines, and gangions, which are short pieces of line with hooks on the end. Longlines are set along the seabed, with baited hooks every few yards. Longline hooks are then retrieved one at a time.

Pots

Pots used to target Alaska cod are large steel-framed cages covered in net mesh. The baited pots are placed on the seafloor where they trap the fish or crab. Fish or crab enter the traps through tunnels but cannot escape. Later the pots are retrieved and the seafood are sorted on deck. Non-target species are returned to the sea.

Jigging

Jig fishing is a hook-and-line fishing method that utilizes artificial lures and an electric machine to jerk (jig) the line up and down. Each machine may have up to five lines and each line may have up to 30 hooks attached. Jig fishing vessels are comparable in size to smaller pot and longline vessels. Fish caught are selectively sorted and non-targeted fish are returned live to the ocean.

Alaska cod is also harvested by some vessels using pelagic and non-pelagic trawl fishing gear.