Coalfish
Coalfish are a cod-family species native to UK waters, found all around the British coastline but most abundant off northern England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Shore anglers target them through winter for their numbers and willingness to bite; boat anglers go after bigger fish over deep wrecks and reefs. They fight hard and dive deep, making them a favourite from both beach and charter boat.
Scientific Name: Pollachius virens
Also known as Saithe, Coley, Billet, Podley, Cuddie, Glassan, Glasshan, Black Jack, Coalie, Black Pollock, Pysgod Ddu
- Streamlined body with three dorsal fins and two anal fins; dark olive-green to near-black back, dusky flanks, and a silvery-white belly.
- The key ID feature: a straight, pale lateral line — this separates it from pollack, which has a noticeably curved lateral line over the pectoral fins.
- Upper and lower jaws roughly equal in length (unlike pollack's pronounced underslung jaw); chin barbel absent or very small.
- Shore fish typically run 2–10lb; boat-caught specimens over wrecks can exceed 20lb, with the British boat record standing at 37lb 5oz.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native throughout UK and Irish waters; most common off north-east England, Scotland, and the north-west coasts of Ireland.
- Juveniles stay close inshore — rocky shores, rockpools, harbours, and estuaries; adults move progressively deeper, reaching 250–350m over offshore reefs and wrecks.
- A cold-water species that moves inshore as temperatures drop in autumn and winter, then retreats to deeper water as spring warms the shallows.
- Found on surf beaches, in estuary channels, around mixed rough ground, and over offshore wrecks — habitat shifts with age and season.
Key Locations
- North-east England coast — consistently good shore and boat fishing, with billet (juvenile coalfish) common from harbours and beaches through winter.
- Scotland (west coast and Northern Isles) — among the most productive coalfish grounds in the UK, with large fish over deep wrecks and rocky marks.
- Northern Ireland — rocky northern and western shores hold fish, with local names like glassan still in common use among shore anglers.
- Wales — coalfish feature regularly in winter shore catches, particularly in the north; Pysgod Ddu (Welsh name) are a recognised match target.
- Offshore wrecks south of Plymouth — historically produced some of the largest boat-caught coalfish in UK records, including the current British boat record.
Specific Spots
- On surf beaches, coalfish run the first 20–50 yards of the surf line; parallel gullies and any freshwater inflow onto the beach concentrate fish.
- In estuaries and harbours, look for deeper holes where the tide channels, back eddies behind sandbanks, and the inner edges of main channels — fish hold just off the strongest flow.
- From boats, deep wrecks and offshore reefs are where the largest adults feed, often in mid-water above the structure rather than hard on the bottom.
- Rocky shorelines with kelp and broken ground hold fish year-round; juvenile coalfish are sometimes found in low-shore rockpools.
Coalfish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Coalfish?
Rubber and plastic sandeels are the go-to lure for coalfish from both shore and boat, fished on a flying collar rig or straight on a jig head, they cover the mid-water hunting zone effectively.
When is the best time to fish for Coalfish?
Shore season runs October to late March, with the peak period from late November through to early March when fish are most reliably inshore. Larger shore fish tend to show January and February, particularly off surf beaches.
How do you catch Coalfish?
Shore anglers fish surf beaches and rocky marks through autumn and winter, casting bait rigs or sandeel lures into the surf line and gullies. Boat anglers target large coalfish by jigging pirks and rubber eels over deep wrecks and reefs, working lures in mid-water above the structure rather than hard on the bottom.
What do Coalfish eat?
Main prey is smaller fish, sprats, herring, sandeels, juvenile cod-family fish, and small mackerel. Rubber or plastic sandeel lures, slim metal jigs (pirks), and spoons all imitate this forage directly.
Where do Coalfish live?
Native throughout UK and Irish waters; most common off north-east England, Scotland, and the north-west coasts of Ireland. Juveniles stay close inshore, rocky shores, rockpools, harbours, and estuaries; adults move progressively deeper, reaching 250–350m over offshore reefs and wrecks.
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