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How to catch Pollack

Pollachius pollachius (Linnaeus, 1758)

About Pollack fishing

The pollack is a benthopelagic marine fish belonging to the cod family Gadidae, featuring a fusiform body with a strongly projecting lower jaw, a distinctive dark lateral line that curves over the pectoral fin, and a color scheme blending a dark back with silver-gray flanks and warm yellow-orange streaks. Growing up to 130 cm and 18.14 kg, this species inhabits inshore and offshore waters down to 200 metres, frequenting rocky reefs, kelp beds, shipwrecks, and rough ground. Adults typically lead a solitary life or form loose shoals, migrating towards deeper offshore structures as they mature, while juveniles stay close to the coast. As an active predatory hunter, it feeds primarily on various fish and swimming crustaceans. Highly regarded in European recreational fisheries for its strength, it provides challenging sport over rough grounds.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    75 cm TL

  • Market value

    Low

  • Habitat

    Saltwater

  • Season

    Spring, Summer, Autumn

  • Also known as

    Callagh, Coalfish, Dover hake, European pollock, Grass whiting, Green pollack

Pollack

Superior mouth

Lower jaw distinctly projecting beyond upper jaw identifies this pollack.

Forked caudal fin

The forked caudal fin helps distinguish it from other gadoids.

Pollack fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    75 cm TL (max 130 cm TL )

  • Typical weight

    2.5 kg (max 18.1 kg )

  • Preferred temperature

    7–11.9 °C

  • Depth

    40–200 m

  • Longevity

    8 years

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    59.1

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Peak

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Active

  • Midday

    High sun

    Low

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Active

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Peak

  • Night

    After dark

    Low

When to fish for Pollack

01
January
02
February
03
March
04
April
05
May
06
June
07
July
08
August
09
September
10 Now
October
11
November
12
December

How to catch Pollack

Tips for catching Pollack

Targeting pollack successfully requires presenting lures or natural baits close to heavy marine structures such as rocky drop-offs, submerged pinnacles, kelp fringes, and shipwrecks where the fish ambush passing prey. Light-tackle spinning with soft plastic shads, metal jigs, or lead-head lures worked tightly along the seabed proves exceptionally effective during periods of increased current movement. Dawn and dusk often trigger aggressive feeding behaviour as fish move up in the water column to hunt small schooling fish. Anglers should maintain close contact with the bottom, using an erratic retrieve that mimics a distressed baitfish to entice strikes. Boat angling over deep offshore wrecks using vertical jigging methods consistently yields larger specimens throughout the warmer summer and autumn months.

Other names for Pollack

Local and alternate names anglers use for Pollack.

  • Pollack
  • Pollock
  • Pollak
  • Lythe
  • Margate hake
  • Green pollack
  • Greenfish
  • Grass whiting
  • European pollock
  • Dover hake
  • Coalfish
  • Callagh

Best equipment to catch Pollack

Compare fishing methods for Pollack — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 2.5 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for Pollack

Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.

How Pollack migrates — Oceanodromous

Migrates within the sea between spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, and never enters fresh water. Follow its seasonal shifts along the coast and offshore.

How Pollack migrates — Oceanodromous 1. Eggs: Laid on the spawning grounds. 2. Larvae: Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds. 3. Juveniles: Grow up in sheltered nursery waters. 4. Adults: Range widely over the feeding grounds. 5. Spawners: Return to the spawning grounds each season.
Spawning grounds Nursery grounds Feeding grounds

1 Eggs

Spawning grounds

Laid on the spawning grounds.

2 Larvae

→ Nursery grounds

Drift with the currents to the nursery grounds.

3 Juveniles

Nursery grounds

Grow up in sheltered nursery waters.

4 Adults

Feeding grounds

Range widely over the feeding grounds.

5 Spawners

→ Spawning grounds

Return to the spawning grounds each season.

It stays in the sea and never runs up into fresh water.

Hover or tap a number to read each stage.

Diet and behavior of Pollack

  • Diet

    Top predator

  • Feeds by

    Hunts animals

  • Hunts

    Dawn · Dusk

  • Feeds over

    Hard bottom

  • Main prey

    Baitfish

Prey and predators of Pollack

Prey is what Pollack eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.

That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.

Prey

What it eats

Predators

What hunts it

Fish

  • Myxine glutinosa juv./adults

Where Pollack lives

Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.

Habitats
Saltwater
Depth zone
Sublittoral, Bathyal
40–200 m
Usually 40–100 m
Water column
Benthopelagic
Just above the bed

Where this species lives

Where to fish for Pollack

Mapped fishing spots where Pollack is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.

Port-Eynon Bay

SwanseaCymru / WalesUnited Kingdom

Milford Haven

PembrokeshireCymru / WalesUnited Kingdom

Newport Bay

PembrokeshireCymru / WalesUnited Kingdom

Kilbrannon Sound

Argyll and ButeAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Loch Fyne

Argyll and ButeAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Loch Gilp

Argyll and ButeAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Loch Leven

HighlandAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Loch Long

Argyll and ButeAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Sound of Bute

Argyll and ButeAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom

Sound of Mull

HighlandAlba / ScotlandUnited Kingdom