I will then bait the hook with either a small clam strip or a green crab chunk to tempt ling and blackfish. Sinkers for offshore trips usually run in the 12-ounce neighborhood but expect to increase or decrease your weight depending on conditions. Keep in mind that it is very important, especially when you are fishing in waters in excess of 150 feet, to keep your hooks sharp. The sheer distance between your hook and your tip dictates a sharp hook because a dull hook will not penetrate as deeply due to dullness and distance. You also want to remember to periodically examine the first twenty or so feet or line from the sinker.
Wrecks have a habit of fraying monofilament line.
Cod are strong fish to begin with and the powerful surges they make will push your line to the breaking point. Once you power the cod off the wreck, keep in mind that the cod will make some strong pulls, when it attempts to return to the wreck, and if your drag is not set properly a decent sized cod can and will either snap your line or pull your hook. Yo-Zuri octopus skirts come in a large array of colors and though they are longer than the regular squid skirts, you can trim them to whatever length you want with scissors. By the way, red sparkle and chartreuse are my two personal color preferences for squid skirts. In the squid skirt clad hook versus bare hook debate I have seen an even split.