Coalfish
Pollachius virens
A member of the cod family common around Cork rock marks and piers, distinguishable from pollack by its nearly straight white lateral line and forked tail.
How to identify it
Nearly straight WHITE lateral line, clearly forked tail. Darker overall than pollack. Chin barbel absent or very small.
How to catch it
SpinningLure Fishing Metal lures
Where to find it in Cork
Rules
No rod licence for sea angling
Coalfish are a satisfying target around Cork’s reef marks and deep-water piers, particularly from autumn through to late winter when they move into shallower inshore waters. They are often overlooked in favour of their close relative the pollack, but coalfish fight hard, show well on lures, and can be found in numbers when conditions are right.
The species favours rocky ground, reef edges, and the deeper water alongside pier walls. From the shore, marks that offer access to significant depth — such as the outer faces of larger piers or headland rocks dropping into fast tidal runs — are the most reliable. Boat anglers working reefs off the Cork coast will regularly encounter coalfish alongside pollack, particularly when working lures or jigs through the mid-water column.
Coalfish respond readily to lures, and metal jigs worked with an erratic sink-and-draw retrieve are a reliable method. Rubber eels and soft plastics also produce well, especially when retrieved at speed through the upper water column. The species tends to feed higher in the water than cod and, at times, even approaches the surface when herding small baitfish.
When fishing alongside pollack, the lateral line is the quickest distinguishing feature: the coalfish’s lateral line runs almost straight and is noticeably white or pale, whereas the pollack’s curves prominently over the pectoral fin and is darker. The coalfish’s tail is also more distinctly forked and its overall colouration is darker, with a greenish-black back.