How to Catch Pollack
Best location
Notable specimens are caught in deep water off the West Country, and southern Eire; though Pollack can be caught from many rocky areas around the British Isles.Season
All year round; best inshore sport, MAY/JUNE/ JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER. Pollack withdraw into deeper offshore waters from mid-October to April.Favourite feeding places
Close to the base of weed-covered rocks and reefs, and wrecks.
Best bait
Whole fresh small fish (sprats, pilchards, sandeels) or fish strips (mackerel, herring); ragworms, prawns, peeler crabs, shrimps.Artificial baits
rubber or plastic sandeels; spoons; devon minnows; pirks.Methods and rigs to use:
Shore fishing
Rocks, piers, jetties, harbour walls: Sliding float ; rotten bottom, cast onto rocky seabed; spinning, drift lining .Boat fishing
Drifting; trolling, pirk "jigging", feathering, rotten bottom,fished over rough or rocky seabed.Hints and Tips
1. Live small fish, hooked through the upper jaw behind the lip, make successful bait.2. Dawn and dusk often bring the best sport; when pollack rise to feed near the surface.
3. During daytime pollack usually stay deep; close to the seabed and tight against rocks.
4. Stop hooked pollack diving amongst rocks and snapping your line! Keep line taut and reel-in fast.
5. Pollack swim in shoals; once you've located a shoal, expect a fine catch of fish!
6. The biggest pollack are caught above rocks, and especially wrecks in deep offshore water.
