Probably one of the most caught and sought after species around the Orkney’s is the Pollack. Caught from a variety of different locations from cliffs, reefs and wrecks on many different tackle setups, the Pollack is one of the best British sport fish. The bigger fish are found in the deep water marks west of Orkney and to the east off Copinsay and Shapinsay Islands. There are also good numbers of Pollack weighing up to around 10lbs (4.5kg) present inside Scapa Flow. However wreck fish are bigger and can exceed 15lbs (6.8kg) or more.

Pollack often get confused with their close relative the Coalfish. The quickest way to tell the two apart is to look at the lower jaw. A Pollack’s lower jaw extends beyond the top jaw but a Coalfish’s are equal. Pollack take on a golden brown colour across the back shading to bronze at the gills with a silvery white belly. Deeper water Pollack tend to have shadings of green, yellow and crimson.

Pollack can be caught all year round in Orcadian waters.

Shore Fishing
Although smaller fish congregate in and around harbours and breakwaters the biggest short caught Pollack are always found on rock marks. Try to identify rock marks under steep cliffs as this is generally the terrain underneath the sea as well as above. Always try to fish rock marks around low water and the first two hours of the flood and then again at high water. Shore caught Pollack tend to prefer better weather conditions so try and target them after settled weather.

Although Pollack do take small Strips of Mackerel when float fishing, it is best to spin for them. A standard spinning outfit with 12 to 15lb (5.44kg – 6.8kg) line is ideal. Try Toby’s, Dexter Wedges and other spinning lures around the 1 to 2oz (28g – 56g) bracket.

The most fun and the most successful method for catching Pollack is by using artificial rubber eels. Tie a three way swivel to the main reel line, clip on a small link or split ring to the middle swivel eye to take the weight (1 or 2oz (28g – 56g) weights are ideal), and to the free eye tie on 36-inches (92cm) of 12lb to 15lb (5.44kg – 6.8kg) clear monofilament. Smaller rubber eels (112mm) work best with black the most successful colour of all.

Boat Fishing
Shallow reefs with a lot of weed growth can carry Pollack, but the deeper reefs and rough ground have a greater run of tide over them to form gutters, walls and rising rock pinnacles adored by Pollack. The rougher the ground, the better! However, wreck fishing is by far the most successful for both sheer numbers of Pollack and their overall size. Deep water reefs and wrecks will produce fish once the tide starts to flood and the Pollack are higher in the water, bites will reduce once the flow starts to increase.

Pollack do not feed well when the sea is coloured after a good storm. They need clear water to use the surface light to highlight potential prey by sight or silhouette. Sunny days are okay in deep water but will put fish down in shallower water.

The best technique for catching Pollack is the flying collar technique. Ideally you want a nice light rod with a supple tip. An uptider or 12lb class rod is ideal for this coupled with an ABU 7000 class reel loaded with 15 to 18lb line (6.8kg – 8.16kg). The actual rig is simple to construct. You need a boom of at least 12-inches (30cm) but no more than 16-inches (42cm) long, the best booms being L shaped French Booms made from stainless steel. This is rigged by putting a small link swivel on the connector ring on the top of the boom itself which goes to the main line and the weight is attached to the short vertical downward leg with a weak link of 8 to 12lb (3.63kg 5.45kg) line. The hook length needs to be around 10-feet (3m) in slack water and as much as 18-feet (5.5m) when a tide is running hard. This should be 15 to 20lbs (6.8kg – 9.072kg) breaking strain clear monofilament.

To fish this technique you drop the eel into the tide until the hook length has pulled tight away from the boom and then allow the rig to descend at a controlled speed to the bottom. Once the weight has touched bottom lift the rod immediately and reel in a few feet of line to avoid snags. Then retrieve the eel at a steady pace, repeating the process until a fish takes. When a fish takes you will feel the Pollack take in the lure gently at first (a slight weight on the line) followed by a hard pull and as you lift into the fish (never strike a Pollack) the Pollack will dive!

Scottish Shore Record – 13lbs 14oz (6.2938kg approx)
Scottish Boat Record – 18lbs (8.1648kg approx)