Coalfish
Coalfish are a cod-family species that turns up everywhere from harbour walls to deep offshore wrecks around Ireland.
Juveniles pack into piers and rocky shorelines in numbers, making them a go-to species for beginners, while the south coast's wreck marks — particularly out of Courtmacsherry — produce the serious adult fish that specimen hunters target.
Closely related to pollock, they share much of the same ground but have their own distinct habits.
Scientific Name: Pollachius virens
Also known as Coalie, Coley, Saithe, Black Pollack (Donegal), Gallashen (north-east coast), Blocken (east coast)
- Dark greenish-black back fading to silver flanks and a pale belly — older fish develop a deep olive sheen that's darker than pollock.
- The most reliable ID mark: a straight, light-coloured lateral line running cleanly from gill cover to tail, unlike the pronounced upward kink on a pollock.
- Upper and lower jaws are roughly equal in length; pollock has a noticeably protruding lower jaw. A small chin barbel — a cod-family trait — may be present.
- Shore fish typically run under 50cm; offshore specimens reach 86cm and beyond, with the Irish record just over 15lbs (6.85kg).
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Found all around the Irish coast; more common off the north and west, with the Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo coasts historically productive, and the south coast now the main focus for specimen-sized fish.
- Juveniles live close inshore — harbour walls, piers, and rocky kelp-covered ground — and move progressively offshore into deeper water as they grow.
- Adults favour rough, weedy reef ground and offshore wrecks, with the south coast marks out of Courtmacsherry, Kinsale, Cork Harbour, Baltimore, and Caherciveen among the most consistent producers.
- A native species, present year-round, though fish move into shallower coastal water in spring and push back to deeper water — down to 350m — through winter.
Key Locations
- Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork — the top venue for specimen coalfish by a wide margin, with charter boats accessing productive offshore wrecks.
- Kinsale and Cork Harbour — consistent producers of specimen fish, with both wreck and harbour marks contributing.
- Baltimore and Caherciveen — south coast ports with access to deep-water wreck ground that holds large coalfish.
- Wicklow Head — the most productive rock mark on the east coast for coalfish, with deep-water channels off the headland holding fish year-round.
- Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo coasts — deep-water marks off the north-west have produced good fish, though the south coast now dominates specimen records.
Specific Spots
- Offshore wrecks are the prime address for large coalfish — the structure concentrates baitfish, and big coalfish hold in the water column above and around the wreck rather than hard on the bottom.
- Rocky headlands and kelp beds hold fish year-round; deep-water channels off headlands like Wicklow Head keep coalfish even when conditions push them off exposed ledges.
- Harbour walls and pier pilings attract juvenile coalfish in large shoals, especially where current pushes food past structure — a reliable starting point for shore anglers.
- Mid-water is where coalfish tend to hunt, unlike pollock which often hug the bottom; working lures or baits at mid-depth rather than right on the deck will find them faster.
Coalfish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Coalfish?
Rubber eels (red gill style) and shad-style soft plastics on a weighted jig head are the go-to for both shore and boat; white, silver, and chartreuse colours work well in the clear water off the south and west coasts.
When is the best time to fish for Coalfish?
Year-round species, but specimen fish are most consistently caught in summer, Irish specimen records peak strongly in July, August, and September. Spring sees fish move inshore as water temperatures rise, improving shore fishing from rocky marks and piers from around April onward.
How do you catch Coalfish?
Most specimen coalfish in Ireland come from charter boats working offshore wrecks on the south coast, with pirks and large rubber eels fished at mid-water the standard approach.
What do Coalfish eat?
Sand eels and juvenile baitfish make up the bulk of the diet, slim, silver lures like Dexter Wedges, Sidewinders, or shad-style soft plastics fished at mid-water directly imitate these prey items.
Where do Coalfish live?
Found all around the Irish coast; more common off the north and west, with the Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo coasts historically productive, and the south coast now the main focus for specimen-sized fish.
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