Fishing for Pollock (Pollachius pollachius)

Pollock, commonly referred to as the “European Pollock” or simply “Pollock,” is a member of the cod family (Gadidae). It is an abundant species found throughout the North Atlantic, with a strong presence in UK waters. Despite being lesser-known compared to other members of the family, like cod, pollock is highly valued in both recreational and commercial fishing circles.

Unfortunately in 2024, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) set the Total Allowable Catch of pollock by commercial fishing boats to zero. The ban was triggered by catch data from larger boats across the EU, particularly wreck-netters who have targeted spawning stocks of pollock over winter.  Fortunately, recreational fishing of pollock is still permitted.  The catch by spearfishers is small and highly selective, with zero bycatch, and no damage to the ocean, litter or pollution.  

Description and Identifying Features

Pollock can be easily identified by its sleek, elongated body and a few key features:

• Coloration: Pollock typically exhibits a dark green or olive-brown back, fading to a lighter silver-gold on its sides and belly. Juveniles often have pronounced golden markings along their lateral lines, which become less defined as the fish matures.
• Lateral Line: One of the distinguishing features of pollock is the highly visible lateral line, which runs prominently from head to tail. This line appears straight and pale, setting it apart from similar species like cod and coalfish, whose lateral lines tend to be more curved or less defined.
• Fins: Pollock have three dorsal fins and two anal fins, similar to cod. However, their body shape is more streamlined, built for speed and agility in the water.
• Size: In UK waters, pollock typically range between 50 cm to 75 cm, although larger specimens can grow over a meter in length, particularly in deeper waters. Average weights range from 1.5 kg to 5 kg, but it’s not uncommon for spearfishermen to encounter larger fish up to 10 kg.

Offshore: Larger adult pollock prefer deeper waters and are often associated with pinnacles and wrecks. In these environments, they are highly active predators, feeding on smaller fish such as sandeels, herring, and sprats. For spearfishing, targeting these environments is key to finding larger sized pollock.

WATCH: Spearfishing a pinnacle for pollock

Spearfishing Tips for Pollock

Pollock is one of the most exciting and challenging species to target for UK spearos. They are fast, strong swimmers and can give a good fight once speared. Here are some essential tips for successfully hunting pollock:

• Target Areas: Focus on pinnacles, rocky reefs, kelp forests, and wrecks where pollock are known to hunt. These fish tend to patrol the edges of these structures, so positioning yourself near these areas increases your chances of encountering one.  Larger pollock can be targeted using a boat to access pinnacles which come out of deep water.  Often, currents can be strong at these locations so drift dives are necessary.  
• Best Time to Spear: Pollock are more active during dawn and dusk, making these times ideal for spearfishing. However, they can be found throughout the day, especially when tidal currents are strong and pushing prey fish closer to shore. 
• Approach: The best technique to spear pollock is the Aspettto, which means, taking a position on the seabed and waiting as quietly and calmly as possible.  This is usually enough to stoke the curiosity of the fish and they will glide towards you for a look.  Take care with your shot placement as these fish are extremely powerful, so a shot high in the back or belly will result in a lost fish.  Ideally, a spear behind the eye will stone the fish and make the trip back to the surface an easy one.  
• Equipment: It depends on the visibility.  Often, a medium-length speargun (75-90cm) is ideal for UK pollock.  In exceptional visibility however, a 90-100cm speargun can be useful.  Ensure your speargun is powerful enough to penetrate, particularly when targeting larger specimens.  A reel is also an excellent tool for pollock spearfishing as you can allow the fish to run as you swim back to the surface.  An ideal setup for spearfishing pollock in the crystal clear waters of Cornwall would be a Start Point Labrax 90 or 100, with twin 14mm bands and a reel with 30M of line.  Choose a shaft with a double flopper as these fish run extremely hard if they are not stoned.  
• Depth: Pollock are commonly found between 5 to 20 meters, depending on the size and location. Larger pollock tend to stay deeper, so free-diving skills are a significant advantage for spearos looking to land bigger catches.