Tackle You Need – Rock Fishing for Pollack

Lure fishing for pollack off the deepwater rock ledges in summer and autumn offers not just good numbers of pollack but also the realistic opportunity of targeting fish over 5lbs. These are hard fighting fish that will dive for nearby snags when hooked. Tackle needs to be up to the job and your choice can literally be make or break!

Rods for Rock Pollack Fishing

For general fishing with metal and soft plastic lures targeting averaged sized fish up to 3lbs or so, a rod around 9ft to 9ft 6in rated to cast about 45g will give maximum sport. It's ideal for casting and working smaller lures in lighter tidal areas and in water up to maybe 30ft deep.

In deeper water where there is a real chance of bigger fish, rods in the 10 to 11ft range able to cast lures in the 40g to 60g range come into their own. They have the blank power to control bigger fish when they crash dive. Their longer length is also an advantage, with the rod tip extending further out from where you’re standing to better control fish at the edge of the rocks just before landing. These more powerful rods will also give greater casting range, enabling you to cover more water in front of you and fully search the ground for key pollack holding feature.

• HTO Tempest Launcher
• HTO Tempest Outer Limits

Reels for Rock Pollack Fishing

For the lighter rod choice, go with a 4000 sized fixed spool reel holding 150 to 200-metres of 15lb braid. The longer 10ft to 11ft rods are best matched with a 5000 sized reel holding up to 250-metres of 20lb braid.

Some key reel features to look for are a drag featuring multi disc construction, sandwiching carbon drag washers between stainless-steel washers to give a smooth flowing drag when line needs to be surrendered to a big fish. Multiple stainless-steel ball-bearings in key stress positions create smoothness during the retrieve. Also choose a fast retrieve ratio of around 5.2:1 to retrieve line quickly when needed. Lightness is another factor. Bear in mind you will be holding, casting and working the rod and reel for the duration of your fishing session. Balanced tackle is vital to help reduce tiredness induced by repeated casting and retrieving.

• HTO Nebula 4000 Reel

Lines and Leaders

Braid main line gives several advantages. The braid, being thinner in diameter than conventional mono of the same breaking strain, casts further, especially with lighter lures. It sinks faster than mono will and gets lures deeper quicker. It has minimal stretch, and therefore you stay in closer contact with the lure and can feel the lure down to fish just above the seabed for longer. It also allows you better control of the lure when working it up at an angle through the water column, for example when fishing sink and draw. Due to the minimal stretch, it also sets the hook better when a fish takes. 15lb braid is perfect for general fishing, but for the heavier rod and the likelihood of bigger fish, heavier 20lb braid is the better option.

In both cases, use a short Fluorocarbon leader tied to the end of the braid and of the same breaking strain. This needs to be between 4 and 6ft in length. Use an Albright knot to connect the braid to the Fluorocarbon. The short leader, being clear and virtually invisible in the water, minimises the chance of the fish seeing the braid, which in very clear seas can be an issue.

• HTO Tempest WX8 Braid
• Tronixpro X8 Pro Braid
• HTO Tempest FC Fluorocarbon Leader

Rigs

Spinners and metal lures can be tied direct to the leader and are ready to fish, as are heavier lead headed lures and jig heads. Spinners are retrieved at different speeds and with different motions, but the lead heads and jig heads can be fished sink and draw.

If you’re fishing unweighted soft plastic lures, this is a simple rig to use.

1. To the leader tie on a size 6 3-way swivel.
2. To the middle eye of the 3-way swivel attach an Oval Split Ring.
3. To the remaining swivel eye, tie on a 36-inch length of 15 to 20lb Fluorocarbon.
4. Tie on a Viking pattern hook size 1 to 2/0 depending on lure size.
5. Attach the lead to the oval split ring.

This rig design sees the lead weight lead the lure out on the cast, helping increase casting range. It rarely tangles, but if it does, it usually unravels itself as you start to retrieve. When you feel the lure is deep enough, forcibly yank the rod tip back towards you once, and this will also help reduce potential tangles.

If you fish lighter jig heads of 12g, these cast well on this rig and unravel easily after the cast without tangling.

• Tronixpro FC Hard Fluorocarbon Hook Length 18lbs

Lead Types

Choose bomb or torpedo shaped leads. These cut through the air better and help maximise casting range. They also drop cleanly through the water column and give minimal resistance on the retrieve.

Pick out your older well-used leads with a non-reflective finish in sizes 1oz to 2oz. If you’re using brand new leads with a shiny finish, soak them in vinegar for a few hours to dull the lead. Flashy leads, especially in clear water, can sometimes put shy biting pollack off taking a soft plastic lure.

Which Lures to Use

Pollack eat mostly sandeel and small bait fish, and this is what we need to mimic. Sandeels and shad type lures can be either lead head versions in weights between 20g and 50g or non-weighted and in sizes from 80 mm to 150 mm. Experiment with sizes on the day. The knack is to use lures that are the same size as the prey the pollack are eating.

Some shad/minnow type lures come in weedless versions, meaning the hooks are hidden within the body of the lure and snag far less. This is an advantage if you want to bounce the lure along the seabed, which can be deadly.

Spinners

Jigs

Soft Lures

Lure Boxes Keep Things Tidy

A purpose made lure box keeps all your lures neat and tidy, instantly identifiable, and is just about essential. The double-sided ones are best as you can carry lures in one side and used lures in the other. This minimises contact between used and unused lures and avoids corrosion. Used lures should be washed in warm soapy water at home and dried before replacing in the box. Add a squirt of WD40 on them and your lures will last much longer.

• HTO Double Sided Lure Box

Spread the Load with a Rucksack

A rucksack or hip bag is the best way to carry any equipment. It keeps your hands free and balances well on the body, which is safer when traversing across rocks and rough terrain. Carry only what you need and keep weight to a minimum. A fully mobile rock pollack angler will always catch a lot more fish.

And don’t forget to let someone reliable at home know where you are and when you’ll be home.

• HTO Hip Bag
• Tronixpro Rucksack