I don't know about sprats Charlie........ the two cod I had on Sat were both stuffed with fish and a few crabs\prawns. Most of the fish were small wrasse, pout, whiting and gobies \ blennies\ bullhead from the stony ground......we're talking over a dozen fish in each of a 11 and 15lb. cod. Interestingly, the roe in the cod was only half formed, so they could be about a good bit longer.
Further to the great squid debate......... I've caught all mine this year on good old 'normal' calamari. I think my catches have compared similarly to other boats.
My rigs are 5/0 Sakuma fine wire hooks tied as a fixed Pennel on 40 lb mono. I haven't dropped any cod on the way up! [apart from the one that T-barred itself on the net when I was solo]
I did find a surprising experience last Sat......... I had a decent whiting on, that got off. When re-baiting, I found the hook had broken !! I checked the other ..... and very little force snapped it !! ........ similarly on the other rod. .......These were traces I'd used a couple of times and put away at end of day. Either corrosion or the effects of being yanked out of dogfish many times with pliers had seriously weaked the steel.
Thanks to the whiting that showed the problem....... hooks changed and cod successfully landed shortly afterwards.
Alun.