How to catch Coalfish (Saithe)
Pollachius virens
Also known as saithe, coley, pollock (US).
Coalfish are hard-charging schooling predators of the cold northeast Atlantic, herding bait in open water from Norway to the British Isles and pulling far above their weight.
🏆 World record: The IGFA maintains an all-tackle world record for pollock, known as coalfish or coley in Europe, a deep water wreck species of the northeast Atlantic. IGFA records can change over time, so check igfa.org for the current figure. All records →
Where to find them
Open water, reefs, and wrecks in cold northern seas
Season
Year-round in the far north; strongest in summer
Best baits & lures for Coalfish (Saithe)
Work jigs and shads at all depths - coalfish feed through the water column and fight hard all the way up.
Timing matters as much as tackle. Baitful reads the tide stage, pressure trend, solunar windows and weather at your spot and scores the bite, so you fish Coalfish (Saithe) when conditions line up.
Catch to table: Coalfish (Saithe)
Also called saithe or coley, a darker-fleshed relative of cod that is good, affordable eating. Keep legal fish and cook it fresh, when the gray flesh cooks up white.
Taste: Slightly grayer and firmer than cod, with a mild flavor that cooks up white. Robust and good value.
Cleaning: Fillet and skin, then pin-bone; the flesh looks gray raw but pales when cooked, so do not be put off.
How to cook it
- • Batter and fry for fish and chips.
- • Bake in a fish pie with a creamy sauce.
- • Braise in a hearty tomato and pepper stew.
Tip: Cook it fresh; the gray tint cooks out white, and the firm flesh holds up well in stews.
Ikejime this fish for firmer, cleaner-tasting fillets and longer shelf life.
Catching Coalfish (Saithe): FAQ
What's the best bait for Coalfish (Saithe)?
Proven options include jigs and pirks, soft plastic shads, strings of feathers. Work jigs and shads at all depths - coalfish feed through the water column and fight hard all the way up.
When is the best time to catch Coalfish (Saithe)?
Year-round in the far north; strongest in summer. Day to day, moving water and low-light periods around dawn and dusk usually fish best.
Where do you find Coalfish (Saithe)?
Look for Open water, reefs, and wrecks in cold northern seas.
Time your next Coalfish (Saithe) trip
Free live conditions, Bite Score, and what's biting now.
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