Fish

Pollack (lythe)

Abadejo

Pollachius pollachius

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

3–12 lb.

Depth

10–600 ft.

Best time

Dawn and dusk from shore; daylight from boats.

Found in

7 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A bronze-green to brown cod-family fish with a protruding lower jaw, no chin barbel, three dorsal fins, and a dark lateral line that curves up over the pectoral fin. Its cousin the saithe (coalfish) has a straight, pale lateral line.
Typical size: 3–12 lb.
Maximum size: About 4 ft and over 30 lb.
Diet: Sand eels, sprats, herring, small pouting and prawns.
Behavior: Hovers over rocky reefs, kelp edges and wrecks and attacks bait from below, then crash-dives for the rocks.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from United Kingdom & Ireland, France, Spain & Portugal (Azores, Madeira & Canaries), Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Northern & Central Europe, Arctic & North Atlantic Islands and Morocco & West Africa. Rocky coasts, reefs and wrecks from Norway and the Faroes to Portugal and Morocco; huge fish live on the deep wrecks of the English Channel and off southwest Ireland.
Habitat: Rocky coasts, reefs and wrecks from Norway and the Faroes to Portugal and Morocco; huge fish live on the deep wrecks of the English Channel and off southwest Ireland.
Depth: 10–600 ft.
Fishing depth: Just above the rocks or wreck, often 10–30 ft off the bottom.
Best season: All year; spring to autumn inshore, and winter for big fish on deep wrecks.
Best time: Dawn and dusk from shore; daylight from boats.
Best tides: Moving tide over reefs and wrecks; slack water on deep wrecks.
Best weather / conditions: Calm to moderate seas with clean water.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live sand eel, mackerel strip and ragworm.
Best artificial lures: Soft shads and sand eel imitations on a long flowing trace (the 'flying collar'), metal jigs and plugs from shore.
Tackle setup: Light 12–20 lb class boat rod, or a 9–10 ft lure rod from rocks.
Hook size: 2/0–4/0 hooks on soft lures.
Line: 20–30 lb braid.
Leader: 10–15 ft of 20–30 lb fluorocarbon on a boom ('flying collar').

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Boom Lures Leader

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Rocky coasts, reefs and wrecks from Norway and the Faroes to Portugal and Morocco; huge fish live on the deep wrecks of the English Channel and off southwest Ireland.
Rig up: Light 12–20 lb class boat rod, or a 9–10 ft lure rod from rocks. 10–15 ft of 20–30 lb fluorocarbon on a boom ('flying collar').
Pick your bait: Live sand eel, mackerel strip and ragworm. Lures: Soft shads and sand eel imitations on a long flowing trace (the 'flying collar'), metal jigs and plugs from shore.
Fish it: Drop the lure to the bottom, then wind slowly and steadily up through the water; when a pollack grabs it, keep winding — don't strike — and lift it away from the wreck before its dive.
Time it: Dawn and dusk from shore; daylight from boats. Moving tide over reefs and wrecks; slack water on deep wrecks.

Fishing techniques: Drop the lure to the bottom, then wind slowly and steadily up through the water; when a pollack grabs it, keep winding — don't strike — and lift it away from the wreck before its dive.
BigJoe's tip: Fish caught deep on wrecks get swollen swim bladders and rarely survive release; fish shallower reefs if you plan to let them go.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Mild white flesh, good fried, baked or in fish pie; best eaten fresh as it can be soft.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Not dangerous; heavy leads and long drops on wrecks.
Regulations: Pollack stocks are low, and the EU and UK have limited recreational catches in recent years (including catch-and-release-only periods). Minimum sizes apply. Check the current rules. Sea fishing rules change by country: the UK, Ireland and France need no sea license, Spain, Portugal, Croatia and Greece sell or require recreational sea licenses or permits, and Italy asks for a free online registration. All have minimum sizes, and marine reserves have no-fishing zones.
Conservation: Follow the current limits, which change often for this species.

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Sources & photo credits