Pollock are a well sought after and fairly easy catch, with a minimum amount of gear needed.
Pollock are fairly common in the UK, they are great catch and put up quite the fight!
Location
Pollock prefer areas with nooks and crannies over open seas. So fishing in areas with reefs or structures such as shipwrecks, will dramatically increase your chances of success Pollock fishing.
The nature of reefs make them like ocean restaurants. As the tides rise, they carry small food particulars which are deposited in the many grooves and nooks in the reefs structure. Gangs of smaller bait fish then come to feed on the food particulars.
Reefs with depths of around 10-15 meters are best for good Pollock fishing.
Gear
A rod with a good amount of sport is best. Lure rods with casting weights or around 30-50 grams are ideal. Fixed spools are the best choice, with a size of around 3000.
Braid line will allow you to feel every fish bite and know when the lure is hitting the sea bed. Braid is thinner than monofilament, so isn’t as affected by the tides and sea currents.
Lures and Bait
When fishing for Pollock you can use either fresh bait or lures.
For fresh bait, worms, crabs, mackerel and squid are effective.
Pollack will gobble up lures between about 15-25cm in length.
Almost any kind of lure will work well enough, but eel or minnow lures work particularly well.
Techniques
Freelining For Pollock
Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.
Simple freelining is a great method for catching pollock. Bait fishing with mackerel strips, lugworms or squid can result in a great catch. Using hook sizes of 2/0 or 3/0 are a good choice.
Spinning
In rocky areas, spinning is one of the more successful fishing tactics. Pollock will easily fall for lures resembling a sand eel.
One of the benefits of lure fishing for pollock fishing, is that, unlike bass, pollock are not scared off by a lead weight close to the lure. This is handy, as you can use a light lure with a small lead weight after the lure, without scaring away your catch.
Float Fishing
This method involves baiting a hook with fresh bait. Lugworms or shrimp are a great choice.
A large float needs to be slid down the line. The bait can then be fished about 10 feet or deeper.
When the pollock take the bait, the float prevents them from taking the bait and diving down to safety.
Bottom Baiting
When pollock are in deeper waters with a strong tide, bottom baiting can work well.
You’ll want to fish with a heavier rod, like a beach or bass rod. It works well with a heavy grip lead and a long trace, around 5 feet or so with a 5/0, baiting with squid or mackerel.
This method can be a longer wait g game, so make sure you have a comfortable seat and a cold beer nearby!