Pollack (Pollock)
Fish
A slim, bronze-to-olive fish with a protruding lower jaw and a curved lateral line that dips sharply below the front dorsal fin — the easiest way to tell it apart from coalfish.
Facts
- 'Pollack' and 'Pollock' are the same species (Pollachius pollachius) — just two spellings in common use across different regions.
- A hard-fighting light-tackle target, especially over rough or kelpy ground on lures worked with a jigging retrieve.
- Stocks in some UK waters have declined sharply, prompting emergency conservation measures in recent years.
UK fishing rules
MCRS is 30cm. Since 2023 a recreational bag limit of one pollack per angler per day has applied in several UK sea areas (including west of Scotland, the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and English Channel) following steep stock declines — confirm the current limit for your area before keeping fish.
Where to catch Pollack (Pollock) (82 marks)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Beach | Scotland | All year | Weighted jigs or float-fished bait on the south side of the beach |
| Abersoch | Wales | Apr–Oct | Light lure/LRF tactics fished tight to the rocky headlands on either side of the bay on the flood. |
| Aberystwyth Stone Jetty | Wales | May–Sep | Lug, ragworm or mackerel strip fished around the rocky margins in summer. |
| Amble Harbour | North East | Apr–Sep | Lures or float-fished bait around the harbour structure |
| Anstruther Harbour | Scotland | All year | Spinners or jigs worked around the pier structure |
| Arbroath Harbour & Cliffs | Scotland | May–Oct | Lures/deep spinning off the cliff ledges into deeper water close in. |
| Ardglass (Golf Course Rocks) | N. Ireland | Apr–Oct | Spinning or a sliding float set around 30ft over ragworm |
| Ardrossan Harbour | Scotland | Apr–Nov | Lures or float-fished mackerel strip behind the wall near the lighthouse — expect some tackle loss to weed and rock. |
| Ballycastle | N. Ireland | Apr–Oct | Spinning or float-fishing around the headlands either side of the beach |
| Bangor Pier (Co. Down) | N. Ireland | Apr–Oct | Spinners and lures worked along the pier wall edges and rock margins on the flood tide. |
| Beadnell Harbour | North East | May–Sep | Spinners/lures worked over the kelp |
| Boscastle Harbour | South West | Apr–Oct | Lure-fished around the harbour mouth and rocky ground either side of the entrance. |
| Bossiney Haven | South West | Apr–Oct | Lures or soft plastics worked over the kelp on the drop, best at dusk. |
| Brixham Breakwater | South West | May–Sep | Float fished sandeel or lure worked along the wall, dawn and dusk |
| Bude Breakwater | South West | All year | Float-fished strip or small soft plastics |
| Campbeltown Harbour | Scotland | Apr–Nov | Lures or float-fished sandeel/mackerel strip around the rock marks, best on the turning tide. |
| Carrickfergus Harbour | N. Ireland | Apr–Oct | Lures or float-fished bait over rocky ground and harbour edges |
| Cemaes Bay | Wales | Apr–Oct | Worked with artificial eels and soft plastics fished hard against the snaggy rock ledges at Llanbadrig. |
| Charlestown Harbour | South West | May–Oct | Light lure/float fishing around the harbour wall structure and entrance. |
| Crackington Haven | South West | Apr–Oct | Lure-fished (soft plastics or small metals) around the rock ledges, worked hard on the drop. |
| Cushendun Beach | N. Ireland | Apr–Sep | Spinning/jellies from the deeper rock mark at the river mouth |
| Donaghadee Harbour | N. Ireland | Apr–Oct | Spinners or float-fished bait over rough ground behind the back wall |
| Dover Admiralty Pier | South East | All year | Float-fished ragworm or soft plastics worked down the pier legs |
| Exmouth Beach & Exe Estuary Mouth | South West | Apr–Oct | Light lure/LRF tactics worked around kelp and boulder patches, best mid-tide up into dusk. |
| Eyemouth Harbour & Gunsgreen Point | Scotland | All year | Crab bait over rough ground, or float-fished ragworm |
| Filey Brigg | North East | Apr–Nov | Lures or float-fished sandeel worked over deeper marks off the Brigg's edges. |
| Fisherrow Harbour, Musselburgh | Scotland | Autumn–Winter | Bait fished from Fisherrow harbour wall. |
| Fishguard | Wales | May–Oct | float-fished crab or sandeel worked over the rough ground at Goodwick Breakwater |
| Folkestone Mole & Copt Point | South East | All year | Float-fished ragworm or small soft plastics tight to the harbour wall and rocks |
| Fowey Harbour | South West | May–Oct | Fished from the town quay and rocky ground next to the outer harbour wall, especially in autumn |
| Fraserburgh Harbour | Scotland | Apr–Oct | Spinning close to the harbour structure |
| Freshwater West | Wales | Sep–Dec | Evening spinning among the rocks at North Corner on the top of the flood or first two hours of the ebb. |
| Gairloch Harbour | Scotland | May–Oct | Lures/soft plastics worked around harbour structure and nearby rock marks |
| Girvan Harbour | Scotland | Apr–Nov | Lures or bait fished around the harbour structure and nearby rock ground. |
| Gourdon Harbour | Scotland | Summer | Lures fished over rougher ground either side of the harbour. |
| Groomsport Harbour & Orlock Head | N. Ireland | Apr–Oct | Spinning around the headland rocks |
| Hartland Quay | South West | May–Oct | Soft plastics and jellyworms worked over the kelp on the push of the tide. |
| Helmsdale Harbour | Scotland | May–Oct | Lures worked around harbour structure and nearby rock marks |
| Holyhead Breakwater | Wales | Apr–Nov | Spun with soft plastics or float-fished sandeel over the deeper outer sections, best on the flood. |
| Ilfracombe Pier | South West | May–Oct | Float-fished sandeel or lure worked along the pier wall on the drop. |
| John o' Groats Harbour | Scotland | May–October | Lures/soft plastics fished around harbour structure and nearby Duncansby rocks |
| Johnshaven Harbour | Scotland | Summer | Lures fished over the rockier ground either side of the harbour. |
| Kirkcaldy Esplanade & Harbour | Scotland | Summer–Autumn | Lures or float-fished worm over the rocky sections. |
| Kirkcudbright Harbour | Scotland | May–Oct | Spinners, daylights or lures worked off the harbour on the drop; sandeel or mackerel strip on the bottom also works. |
| Larne Lough Shore | N. Ireland | Spring–Autumn | Lures/float fished bait over rougher ground and rock marks |
| Llandudno Pier | Wales | May–Oct (historic) | Float or lure fished around the pier structure and landing stage on a rising tide. |
| Loch Linnhe Picnic Site, Lochaber | Scotland | Apr–Oct | Lures or float-fished baits worked along the platform edge. |
| Lochinver Harbour | Scotland | May–Oct | Lures worked around harbour structure and nearby rock marks |
| Looe Harbour & Banjo Pier | South West | Apr–Oct | Float-fished worm or soft plastics worked around harbour wall structure and nearby rock marks. |
| Lymington Town Quay & Pennington Wall | South East | Year-round, best autumn-winter | Fished from the Town Quay early morning or at night |
| Marsden Bay | North East | May–Aug | Feathers and spinners |
| Mount Batten Breakwater | South West | Apr–Nov | Small lures or soft plastics worked on the drop along the wall. |
| Mumbles Pier | Wales | Apr–Oct (historic) | Mixed bag on standard bottom or float rigs around the pier structure. |
| New Quay | Wales | May–Sep | float-fished sandeel or crab worked over the kelpy headland ledges |
| Newcastle Harbour, Co. Down | N. Ireland | May–Sep | Spinners or float-fished bait from the rock marks |
| Newquay (Towan Beach) | South West | Apr–Oct | Lure or float-fished worm around the rockier margins toward Lusty Glaze. |
| North Berwick Harbour | Scotland | Summer–Autumn | Float-fished worm or lures over rough ground near Galloway Pier. |
| Oban North Pier & Dunollie Point | Scotland | May–Sep | Lures or float-fished bait around the piers and harbour structures |
| Portpatrick | Scotland | Apr–Oct | Spinning jellies/soft plastics and lures off the rocks at the harbour mouth and Yellow Isle/Cheese Rock marks nearby. |
| Portreath | South West | Apr–Oct | Float-fished worm or lure worked around the harbour walls. |
| Portrush Harbour | N. Ireland | Apr–Oct | Soft plastics and lures fished along the harbour arm and nearby rock marks such as the Blue Pool. |
| Portstewart Harbour | N. Ireland | Apr–Sep | Float fished ragworm, sandeel or sprat |
| Praa Sands | South West | May–Sep | Float-fished crab or lures at the rocky ends as water warms. |
| Prince of Wales Pier | South West | Apr–Oct | Float-fished sandeel or lure worked along the pier structure, best after dark. |
| Rothesay Pier, Isle of Bute | Scotland | Apr–Nov | Small hooks and bait fished at the ferry terminal, or lures off the marina breakwater. |
| Salcombe (Bolt Head) | South West | Apr–Oct | Lures worked over the deep water close to the cliffs. |
| Scarborough South Bay | North East | Apr–Oct | Float-fished strip or lures worked round the rocky ledges |
| Stonehaven Harbour | Scotland | May–Oct | Jellies/soft lures worked around the harbour walls and south rock marks. |
| Swanage Pier | South West | May–Sep | Float fished sandeel or ragworm around the pilings |
| Tarbert (East Pier), Loch Fyne | Scotland | Apr–Nov | Lures or float-fished mackerel strip worked along the pier wall and the rock marks south of the caravan park. |
| Teignmouth Seafront & Back Beach | South West | Apr–Oct | Lures or float-fished sandeel worked around the rocky Polly Steps slipway, best in low light. |
| Tenby Harbour | Wales | Sep–Dec | Soft plastic or small lure worked on the drop around the rougher ground and tide-run near the wall. |
| Thurso / Scrabster | Scotland | Apr–Oct | Lure/jig fished over the rough ground around the harbour and out toward Holborn Head. |
| Tobermory Harbour, Isle of Mull | Scotland | All year | Lures or float-fished sandeel worked off the harbour and the walk out to Rubha nan Gall. |
| Trevose Head | South West | Apr–Nov | Lure/jelly worm fished off the deep ledges on the drop, best on the flood. |
| Troon Harbour & Ballast Bank | Scotland | May–Sep | Float-fished over kelp at Ballast Bank, best on the flood |
| Tynemouth Longsands | North East | Apr–Sep | Spinning or float-fished in calm summer weather |
| Ullapool (Loch Broom) | Scotland | Apr–Oct | Lure/LRF fishing around the harbour structure and along the Loch Broom shoreline. |
| Wanson Mouth | South West | Jun–Sep | Light lures worked around the rocky fringes at the southern end of the beach on the push of the tide. |
| Welcombe Mouth | South West | May–Oct | Soft plastics worked over the kelp on the flood, especially towards dusk. |
| Whitesands Bay | Wales | May–Sep | float tackle fished from the headland rocks at St Davids Head |
| Wick Harbour | Scotland | May–Oct | Lures/soft plastics worked around harbour structure |