The cod fishing from Poole can be split into two different categories, traditional winter fishing at anchor and bottom fishing with bait (October to January), and summer fishing drifting well offshore with artificial lures (May & June). Tides don't affect the winter fishing much, the cod either feed or they don't, the summer fishing though is at the very least a lot easier and a lot more productive on a small tide. Cod, as one of my favourite fish to eat as long as there well in size,  are all fare game but I don't condone mass slaughter.   

Cod rigs vary, in the winter when bottom fishing and when they are scavenging  they can be caught on most rigs, most popular is to fish a pennell rig on a flowing trace 4 to 5 foot of 30lb to 150lb mono with whole Squid or cuttlefish as bait, but they are quite often taken on fish baits on and off the bottom intended for Whiting and Rays, also the addition of luminous muppets work well. Offshore in the summer it's totally different when we drift with lures, Orange, Red and Pink shads  fished on a long flowing trace seem to be the best but shiny pirks and large feathers can also work.