pollock bait

[mardenq]

when fishing the rough ground /kelp with bait and theres a chance of a pollock is there a bait thats better than others?would crab still be tops or rag worm/sand eel cocktail be better,also best local area,s like crab hill--crawleys--pipe end--light house ect,also any high tide marks other than the pier.is there a way to target pollock with beach caster(not float or spinning)
peter

[Karl M]

Nothing beats using light gear for pollock. The marks you have mentioned can all produce them. St mary's is a good mark for them, float fishing sandeel or mackerel strip will catch fish. I like to fish fladen rubber sandeels on a weedless setup for good sport.

[topbanana]

I've done well with black jellyworms with a red tail and lighter coloured ones when the black ones aren't doing anything and as said floating the silver belly of a mackerel or sandeel. Head hooked rag produces as well.

[finseeker]

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[mardenq]

thanks for the replys.im on about bait fishing with a beach rod,might try rag worm and macky or bluey.

[broon shoe]

U could try freelining m8 just tie some 8-12lb trace line to a swivel with a 2/0 3/0 aber hook and stick a stripe of Mackie on or some rag and let sink with the weight of the swivel see what happens

[dabcatcher]

i fished the shields open a few years ago. we fished at the blocks on the pier. we had all the best of bait and gear and only had one coalie between 2 of us.

a young lad fishing next to us only had squid he was lobbing a whole one out about 50yds at best. in 2 casts he had 2 pollock, 1 at 4lb and another at 5lb

my 2 biggest pollock came to a whole side of mackerel aimed at other species.

[broon shoe]

i fished the shields open a few years ago. we fished at the blocks on the pier. we had all the best of bait and gear and only had one coalie between 2 of us.

a young lad fishing next to us only had squid he was lobbing a whole one out about 50yds at best. in 2 casts he had 2 pollock, 1 at 4lb and another at 5lb

my 2 biggest pollock came to a whole side of mackerel aimed at other species.

was up at howick a few year ago fishin the gullies for kelpies with peeler and pulled out a 4lb Pollock" so if they want it they will take it. mind never happened again like

[g-force]

Most pollock I've had on the big rod (while fishing for cod etc) have hit the bait within a few seconds of it hitting the water - my best, 8lb plus hit first cast before my gear hit the bottom at the Beacons a few years back. I thought my sinker had come off hitting the water or something & reeled in about 100 yds of slack line before catching up to the fish when all hell broke loose as I brought it through the kelp close in. (Took lug & crab by the way)

So if I was going to target pollock like you suggest, I'd chuck out a single bait as normal. Then after 10 or 15 minutes I'd clip on a 3ft or so trace with a snap-swivel and let it slide down the line - the idea being that a fish might hit the bait as it drifts slowly down the line over & through the kelp. It's a technique that requires a decent depth of water though, otherwise the second trace would just settle in the kelp in front of you. Bait-wise, I'd try crab, mussel, or a nice wriggly wag-worm

Gary

[mardenq]

Most pollock I've had on the big rod (while fishing for cod etc) have hit the bait within a few seconds of it hitting the water - my best, 8lb plus hit first cast before my gear hit the bottom at the Beacons a few years back. I thought my sinker had come off hitting the water or something & reeled in about 100 yds of slack line before catching up to the fish when all hell broke loose as I brought it through the kelp close in. (Took lug & crab by the way)

So if I was going to target pollock like you suggest, I'd chuck out a single bait as normal. Then after 10 or 15 minutes I'd clip on a 3ft or so trace with a snap-swivel and let it slide down the line - the idea being that a fish might hit the bait as it drifts slowly down the line over & through the kelp. It's a technique that requires a decent depth of water though, otherwise the second trace would just settle in the kelp in front of you. Bait-wise, I'd try crab, mussel, or a nice wriggly wag-worm

Gary

any ideas where that deeper water might be gary as i fancy giving your tip a go

[g-force]

Deepest shots I can think of locally would be north & east sides of St Mary's, plus the end of West Bay skeer & Hartley Island; also Brown's Bay (either off the Crawleys side or Crab Hill at low tide), or maybe off the end of Whitley pipe (lots of kelp straight off the end) plus of course the north side of Tynemouth Pier into the heavy stuff (could try the old foundations on a good sized low tide). Up the coast a bit, maybe Newbiggin / Beacons & further north Howick / Craster / Beadnell / Eyemouth etc would be spot on.

Be prepared for a few snags as you're essentially fishing a 2 hook flapper into the kelp so stick with heavy gear. I also put a bead above the link on the end of my leader when fishing this way, to stop the clipped-on trace from sliding all the way down onto the rig below & getting tangled.

Gary