Pollack
Pollack are one of the UK's most popular sea fish, found right around the British Isles but most numerous along the west coast, the English Channel, and the southwest.
They hunt over rocky ground, kelp beds, and wrecks — and their willingness to smash lures on light tackle makes them a go-to target for both shore and boat anglers. Charter boats out of southwest England ports build entire seasons around them.
Scientific Name: Pollachius pollachius
Also known as Lythe, Lithe, Callig (Isle of Man), European Pollock
- Brown to greenish-grey back with golden or coppery flanks and a white belly; freshly caught fish can glow a vivid copper-bronze.
- Lower jaw protrudes noticeably beyond the upper — the underbite is the quickest ID feature. No barbel under the chin (unlike cod).
- Lateral line is dark and curves sharply upward over the pectoral fin — the key difference from coalfish, whose lateral line runs straight and pale.
- Shore fish typically run 1–5lb; boat fish over wrecks can reach double figures, with the UK shore record standing at 18lb 4oz.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native throughout UK and Irish waters; found off all coasts, though numbers are highest along the west coast, English Channel, and southwest England.
- Present in the North Sea but less common there than in western and southwestern waters.
- Juveniles live close inshore among kelp and rocky shallows, sometimes entering estuaries; larger adults move out to 40–100m, favouring wrecks and deep reef edges.
- A benthopelagic species — they'll hunt anywhere from the seabed to the surface, which is unusual and shapes how you fish for them.
Key Locations
- Southwest England (Devon and Cornwall coasts) — the heartland of UK pollack fishing, with charter boats targeting deep wrecks and reef marks year-round.
- English Channel rock marks — Portland Bill, the Lizard, and similar headlands with sheer rock faces dropping into deep water are classic shore venues.
- West coast of Scotland and the Hebrides — clear water, extensive kelp beds, and rocky coastline hold good numbers of fish.
- Welsh coast and the Irish Sea — consistent populations, particularly around Pembrokeshire headlands and offshore reefs.
Specific Spots
- Rocky ledges that drop sheer into deep water concentrate fish — pollack use the vertical structure to pin baitfish against the wall.
- Kelp weed beds are classic shore marks; fish work the edges and gaps where small fish and sandeels shelter.
- Offshore wrecks hold the biggest fish — the superstructure acts like a reef, and pollack stack up in the water column above it.
- Tidal funnels between surface-breaking rocks or small islands push sandeels and sprats through, and pollack wait at the downstream end.
Pollack FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Pollack?
Rubber eels and soft-plastic sandeel imitations (such as Sidewinders or similar) are the go-to shore lure, worked on a long flowing trace, they're the most consistent pollack catcher from rock marks.
When is the best time to fish for Pollack?
May to August: fish build up inshore steadily; good numbers but typically smaller specimens from shore marks. September to November: the prime shore window, bigger fish push tight inshore to feed on sandeel shoals, and October into November is the peak for specimen-sized shore pollack.
How do you catch Pollack?
Shore anglers work rock ledges and kelp edges with rubber eels on a long flowing trace, casting uptide and retrieving at varying speeds to cover the water column.
What do Pollack eat?
Sandeels and small baitfish, sprats, small mackerel, young flatfish, are the main prey; this is why long, slim soft-plastic lures and rubber eels are so effective.
Where do Pollack live?
Native throughout UK and Irish waters; found off all coasts, though numbers are highest along the west coast, English Channel, and southwest England. Present in the North Sea but less common there than in western and southwestern waters.
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