13 replies to this topic

[merigomishfisher]

I was wondering if anyone knows any wharves where you can catch
good numbers of pollock, also what lures to use.
Thanks

[Greenman]

I have caught a fair number of pollack while fishing macks in the Eastern Passage, not huge, but quite a few.

[Spastic Caster]

Hi there,

You can catch crazy numbers of pollock in Estern Passge of the docks jigging with salt water hot hooks or Sabiki rigs. Mackerel feathers do not work so well for them or mackerel either. I fish Macs lot there over the summer and often get a string of 5. fish t a time in the hot hooks. Sorry for the spelling I a using my phone in the rain. Happy fishing,

James

[hoc]

Small pollock are all over the place in our province at this time of year through the fall. Pretty much anywhere you would fish for mackerel you will find pollock. They will hug the shore and kelp beds but often feed right up to the surface in the evening, I find that dusk is when they are the most aggressive but in general they have to be the easiest saltwater fish to catch, I've released them before when my lure was hanging over the side of the kayak and they've taken it again before they are back in the water for a whole second. For their size they put up a very strong fight, unlike their cod and haddock cousins they are a pelagic predator capable of serious speed. There are supposedly large pollock offshore but even several km out I've not seen any larger than about 5lb except in old pictures. In my opinion the best pollock lure is a soft plastic grub or gummy worm, although they will take almost anything.

[Terran]

Hoc,

There used to be huge pollock pretty much everywhere along the coast. We used to drift squid on a 2/0 hook, off the wharf in Sambro and get them up to 12 lbs. and larger. You could even get some monsters in the Halifax Harbour.

Then, about ten years ago - the big guys disappeared.

Some speculate it had to do with the decline of the inshore fishery. Fewer wharves having guts and carcasses dumped over the side. This meant less smaller fish for the big guys to feed on.

Personally, I've read a couple of studies that indicate that cold water species like Cod and Pollock are moving deeper as the coastal waters have been warming. Local fishermen are having to go further and fish deeper to catch these fish.

There are tonnes of small, young fish around our coast. The Passage wharf being an example.

The truly big guys seem to have moved away.

Terran

[macdonald21]

I see you guys are talking about salt water hot hooks just wondering what that is.

[Spastic Caster]

Hi,

Salt water hot hooks is the name of a set of hooks you can buy. I think there are 5 hooks on the leader that clips onto your snap swivel and. Has a clasp on the end for a weight or a lure. They are small hooks with a colored plastic sheath that make them look like small baitfish in the water. They also have small beads on them that are charged by sunlight to glow underwater. They are the best mackerel rigs I have ever used.

James

[Spastic Caster]

http://www.basspro.c...uctdetails_link

I am new to this on my iPhone but see if you can check them out

[travis]

....also called sabuki rigs. Pretty much same difference.

[macdonald21]

Thanks for the infro guys.

[harbourfish]

I've caught quite a few pollock in Halifax Harbour this season. I've been using a silver spinner with a bare hook and they seem to go nuts, dozens of them darting at it, and ocassionally one will bite. The best spot so far has been on the boardwalk in front of NSP's new office building.

[travis]

Quote

"using a silver spinner with a bare hook"

...try that same rig you are using and add a small piece of mackrel (1 -2 cm chunk) on the end of the hook. They'll likely hit it everytime.

Trav

[FlounderPounder]

I remember as a kid fishing for pollock at Peir 21 with my dad. This was the mid 70's and National Sea used to have a plant there in which they pumped all the leftovers into the harbour. There were huge pollock around then. It was common to catch 15 pounders and even larger specimens right off the pier. Pollock is now fished commercially under the name Boston Bluefish which has contributed to a deline in numbers over the years. I read an article recently that said the nunmbers and sizes and beginning to rebound. Graet fighting fish and not bad eating.

[Swinsc]

I have been catching Pollock off the beaches at Crystal Crescent - they love chartreuse Mr Twister grubs on a Jig Head, they are coming close in at High Tide, you'll need to be able to cast a ways past the breakers to avoid all the Kelp/Tangles. Great to eat and nowhere near as bony as Macks from my experience so far. - that's, of course if this IS a Pollock lol... Newbie Salt-water angler ;-)