Pollack
Pollack are one of Ireland's most accessible saltwater targets, found along virtually every rocky coastline from Donegal to Cork. Juveniles pack into kelp beds within casting range of the shore; bigger fish hold over deep reefs and wrecks offshore.
With stocks currently under pressure, a national bag limit now applies, but catch-and-release fishing remains open all year.
Scientific Name: Pollachius pollachius
Also known as Pollock, lythe, lithe
- Dark greenish-brown back fading to bronze or golden-yellow sides with a metallic sheen — colour shifts depending on habitat, kelp fish running darker.
- The lower jaw juts noticeably past the upper jaw, and the lateral line arches sharply upward over the pectoral fin — the two quickest ways to separate pollack from coalfish (whose lateral line runs straight).
- Eyes are large and noticeably yellow, more prominent than on coalfish or cod.
- Irish specimen weight is 5 kg (11 lb); the Irish record stands at 19 lb 3 oz, taken at Ballycotton in 1904. Fish over 5–6 lb from shore marks are worth noting.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Irish waters and found off every coast — rocky headlands, sea cliffs, offshore reefs, pinnacles, and deepwater wrecks all hold fish.
- Juveniles live close inshore among kelp forests, sometimes entering estuaries; fish grow out to 40–100 m depth as they mature.
- The west and south coasts — Kerry, Cork, Galway, Mayo, Donegal — produce the densest concentrations, partly because the rugged underwater topography mirrors the dramatic cliff scenery above water.
- East coast marks around Wicklow, Dún Laoghaire, and Dublin Bay hold good numbers of smaller fish accessible from piers and rock ledges.
Key Locations
- County Kerry — rugged underwater topography with dramatic drop-offs close to shore; consistently produces high densities of fish from both rock marks and boat.
- Donegal — Rathmullan, Portnablagh, Downings, and Culdaff give access to deep wrecks and reefs that have produced some of Ireland's largest specimens.
- Cork coast — Ballycotton, Kinsale, Crosshaven, and Cobh are bases for wreck and reef boat fishing; Ballycotton is where the Irish record was set.
- Wicklow coast — Wicklow Head Long Rock and Wicklow Town Pier are reliable shore marks, with fish present year-round and best sport May–September.
- Dublin Bay — Dún Laoghaire West Pier and Bullock Harbour are accessible urban marks for smaller fish on light lure gear.
Specific Spots
- Kelp beds are the single most reliable feature — pollack sit inside or at the edge of the canopy, watching up-current for prey, so work lures through and just above the weed rather than over bare sand.
- Drop-offs where rock shelves fall away into 20–30 m or more concentrate fish; Ireland's Atlantic headlands regularly put anglers within casting range of this depth from dry land.
- Pier walls and harbour pilings hold juvenile fish, especially at dusk and dawn when baitfish shoal against the structure — Dún Laoghaire West Pier and Wicklow Town Pier are well-documented examples.
- Deepwater wrecks at 40–100 m are where the largest specimens are found; these fish are almost exclusively a boat target, with marks off Donegal, Kinsale, and the Cork coast regularly producing double-figure fish.
Pollack FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Pollack?
Soft-plastic sandeel and shad imitations (10–15 cm) on a 10–20 g jig head are the go-to shore lure, work them with a slow, rising retrieve to mimic a fleeing sandeel; colours like pearl, white, and chartreuse work in coloured water, natural silver and green in clear conditions.
What flies work for Pollack?
Clouser Minnows (which imitate small baitfish) in white/chartreuse or white/olive, size 2–1/0, are the most reliable pattern, the weighted eyes help the fly sink into the kelp zone and give it the rising action pollack key on.
When is the best time to fish for Pollack?
Year-round from shore, but May through September sees the best numbers as baitfish move inshore and fish feed more actively in the upper water column. Early morning and evening sessions on a rising tide consistently outfish bright midday periods throughout the summer months.
How do you catch Pollack?
Shore anglers work rocky headlands and pier walls with soft-plastic lures or rubber eels on a slow rising retrieve, targeting the kelp edge at dawn and dusk.
What do Pollack eat?
Smaller fish, sandeels, sprats, and juvenile gadoids, make up the bulk of the diet once pollack grow past the juvenile stage, which is why slim, silver lures and soft-plastic sandeel imitations draw consistent strikes.
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