Pollock
name: Pollock
other names: N/A
The Pollock is a member of the cod family and is very similar in looks to the coal fish. With there dark brown backs, golden silvery sides and white bellies. It is the extending lower jaw and lack of the small chin barbell on the Pollock that give you the main difference between the two.
The smaller fish are found in inshore waters were they are accessible to the shore angler from the many rock marks and piers around the British coastline. As for the larger fish these move out and live in the offshore reefs and wrecks around are coastline and make good sport for the boat angler.
The Pollack is an ambush predator and prefers the cover of rocks, wrecks, piers and other such features to ambush its prey.
There diet is mainly off fish but will also eat worms, shellfish and other small marine creatures.
The largest Pollock landed by hook and line in weighed 44 pounds 7 ounces and was caught at Cashes Ledge. Pollock grow about 5 inches a year for the first 3 years of life, 2 to 4 inches a year for the next 3 years and about 1 to 2 inches a year thereafter. A 5 year old Pollock may weigh 4 to 5 pounds and measure up to 25 inches in length and a 9 year old 8 to 10 pounds and 30 inches in length. The maximum age reached by Pollock is about 19 years.
Pollock are aggressive, strong fighters that frequently strike at fast moving lures. Anglers pursue Pollock from party boats, private boats or shoreline. The larger Pollock tend to gather in deeper, more offshore waters, while younger fish frequent areas of the shoreline. In deeper water, Pollock are taken with the same tackle and rigs as those used for cod.
A medium/heavy 7 to 9 foot "cod rod" and a 4/0 conventional reel spooled with 40 to 50 pound test Dacron line are commonly used by anglers. Lures are especially effective on Pollock. In inshore areas, Pollock are particularly active around breakwaters and other structures during moving tide. Early morning and evening produce the best results, but Pollock can be caught throughout the day. Smaller inshore Pollock are often pursued with lighter spinning outfits spooled with 12 to 15 pound test monofilament line. One quarter to 2 ounce lures such as streamers, lead heads, mackerel jigs and small plugs that resemble sand eels all catch fish. A small strip of squid or other bait added to a metal lure can increase the angler's success.
