Pollock or Coalfish

Shore angling - everything welcome! The opinions expressed here are those of the private individuals and we accept no responsibility or liability.

Moderator: donal domeney

Message
Author
brianewan

Pollock or Coalfish

#1 Post by brianewan »

Cought this little fella off Killiney rocks today, I know people have talked about the differences on this forum before but I'm finding it impossible to tell the difference... Pollock or Coalfish?

http://i.imgur.com/a7pi4.jpg
User avatar
donal domeney
Head of International Security and Bringer of World Peace
Posts: 4900
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 11:13 pm
Location: cork
Has thanked: 439 times
Been thanked: 829 times

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#2 Post by donal domeney »

Pollack

3 things to watch in the coalfish, the colour on the back is a lot darker close to black, the lateral line is almost straight and the fork in the tail is more pronounced
Specimen Fish 2024: Shore Rockling (3) 36cm, 34cm, 31cm; Thick Lipped Mullet (2) 58cm, 57cm; Smooth Hound (1) 109cm; Sting Ray (1)125cm; Ballan Wrasse (1) 48cm ; Corkwing Wrasse (1) 24.8cm. Golden Grey Mullet (2) 43cm, 1.8lb; 40.6cm, 1.55lb;
Total species boat/shore: 45
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specimen Fish 2025: To date: 6.
Flounder 46cm; Spurdog 120cm; Stingray 91cm; Smooth Hound 114cm; 103.5cm; 104cm
chuckaroo
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 1943
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:40 am
Favourite Fish: halibut
Location: Co.Antrim
Has thanked: 597 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#3 Post by chuckaroo »

donal domeney wrote:the lateral line is almost straight
...and... the lateral line is always WHITE (brown for a pollack). juvenile fish, around 15cm or less, are even harder to distinguish but the colour of the lateral line will always tell ya! :wink:
Charlie

2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
User avatar
donal domeney
Head of International Security and Bringer of World Peace
Posts: 4900
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 11:13 pm
Location: cork
Has thanked: 439 times
Been thanked: 829 times

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#4 Post by donal domeney »

chuckaroo wrote:
donal domeney wrote:the lateral line is almost straight
...and... the lateral line is always WHITE (brown for a pollack). juvenile fish, around 15cm or less, are even harder to distinguish but the colour of the lateral line will always tell ya! :wink:
You could be right there I don't get many 15cm coalfish down this way :) :) :)
Specimen Fish 2024: Shore Rockling (3) 36cm, 34cm, 31cm; Thick Lipped Mullet (2) 58cm, 57cm; Smooth Hound (1) 109cm; Sting Ray (1)125cm; Ballan Wrasse (1) 48cm ; Corkwing Wrasse (1) 24.8cm. Golden Grey Mullet (2) 43cm, 1.8lb; 40.6cm, 1.55lb;
Total species boat/shore: 45
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specimen Fish 2025: To date: 6.
Flounder 46cm; Spurdog 120cm; Stingray 91cm; Smooth Hound 114cm; 103.5cm; 104cm
User avatar
Tanglerat
Moderator
Posts: 3117
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2004 12:45 am
Location: Co Donegal
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 314 times

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#5 Post by Tanglerat »

Also look at where the jawline. On a glassan the top and bottom jaws are of equal length, on a pollock the lower jaw is longer than the top jaw.
phalacrocorax
SAI Lug Worm
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:59 pm
Location: North Down

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#6 Post by phalacrocorax »

Pollack

Lateral line everytime. Coalfish straight lateral line and Pollack curved lateral line.
chuckaroo
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 1943
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:40 am
Favourite Fish: halibut
Location: Co.Antrim
Has thanked: 597 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#7 Post by chuckaroo »

donal domeney wrote:
chuckaroo wrote:
donal domeney wrote:the lateral line is almost straight
...and... the lateral line is always WHITE (brown for a pollack). juvenile fish, around 15cm or less, are even harder to distinguish but the colour of the lateral line will always tell ya! :wink:
You could be right there I don't get many 15cm coalfish down this way :) :) :)
VERY GOOD :lol: lucky for you, our shores were TEEMING with them at the start of the year :roll:
Charlie

2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
chuckaroo
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 1943
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:40 am
Favourite Fish: halibut
Location: Co.Antrim
Has thanked: 597 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#8 Post by chuckaroo »

Tanglerat wrote:Also look at where the jawline. On a glassan the top and bottom jaws are of equal length, on a pollock the lower jaw is longer than the top jaw.
all too true Tanglerat but have you ever tried to compare juvenile ones..? nearly impossible so
:wink:
Charlie

2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
User avatar
Tanglerat
Moderator
Posts: 3117
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2004 12:45 am
Location: Co Donegal
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 314 times

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#9 Post by Tanglerat »

chuckaroo wrote:
Tanglerat wrote:Also look at where the jawline. On a glassan the top and bottom jaws are of equal length, on a pollock the lower jaw is longer than the top jaw.
all too true Tanglerat but have you ever tried to compare juvenile ones..? nearly impossible so
:wink:
Ah, I see your point now.





I don't bother catching juvenile ones, myself.

:mrgreen:
chuckaroo
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 1943
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:40 am
Favourite Fish: halibut
Location: Co.Antrim
Has thanked: 597 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#10 Post by chuckaroo »

very good... AGAIN
8)
:arrow:
Charlie

2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
User avatar
gfkelly1969
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 2231
Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:06 am
Favourite Rod: Century Kompressor Match
Favourite Reel: Abu 6500 mag elite
Favourite Fish: conger
Location: galway http://clifdenfishing.webs.com/
Has thanked: 58 times
Been thanked: 204 times

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#11 Post by gfkelly1969 »

its quite easy to tell them apart even the juvenile ones
coalfishpollack.JPG
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
lifetime species fishing and rock pool
1 dogfish,2 whiting,3 flounder,4 two spot goby,5 mackerel,6 pollack,7 common blenny,8 European eel,9 butterfish,10 Deep-snouted pipefish,11 rock goby,12 poor cod,13 corkwing wrasse,14 coalfish,15 turbot,16 tompot blenny,17 dab,18 dragonet,19 shorerockling,20 thornback ray,21 three bearded rockling,22 sandeel,23 grey gurnard,24 sea scorpion,25 scad,26 plaice,27 ballen wrasse,28 bullhuss,29 conger eel,30 blue shark,31 blonde ray,32 cod,33 pouting,34 topknot,35 Fifteen-spine Stickleback,36 mullet,37 Sand Goby,38 Montagu's Blenny,39 Three-spined Stickleback,40 goldshinny wrasse,41 painted goby,42 five bearded rockling,43 Sand-Smelt,44 Small-headed Clingfish ,45 sole

http://clifdenfishing.webs.com

http://clifdensearay.webs.com/
260
chuckaroo
SAI Megalodon!
Posts: 1943
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:40 am
Favourite Fish: halibut
Location: Co.Antrim
Has thanked: 597 times
Been thanked: 329 times

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#12 Post by chuckaroo »

Charlie

2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
willboy86

Re: Pollock or Coalfish

#13 Post by willboy86 »

brianewan wrote:Cought this little fella off Killiney rocks today, I know people have talked about the differences on this forum before but I'm finding it impossible to tell the difference... Pollock or Coalfish?

http://i.imgur.com/a7pi4.jpg

Nice lil pollack there, atleast your catching something. Just wondering the killiney rocks, is that Sorrrento Point or where is it your talking about?

Return to “Shore Angling Q&A / Forum”