Pollock Fishing on Rough Ground from my Kayak

I was fishing some rough Ground about a mile off Helzpehron cliffs, Nr. Poldhu, Cornwall on my Kayak scratching for anything that might be down there with a two up one down rig but, when I changed to gilling I started to get into Pollock and had a great days kayak fishing.

THE MARK

This location is one I found by chance about 2 months ago. I was on the Kayak looking for inshore Bass fishing marks when I saw some pot bouys about a mile out. I paddled in their general direction and when I got within about 10 yards I worked out my drift direction and speed. I choose a line that again would take my closest to the line of bouys and started my first drift. I dropped a rig down and caught Wrasse and mackerel. This mark was entered into my GPS which is mounted on my Kayak for trips in the future.

FISHING THE MARK

I knew this was rough ground and the weather was perfect, flat and little wind, just rain. I programmed my GPS and off I headed. I had bait and Storm lures to try on the mark to see what I could get this time.

Lowering the bait onto the rough ground brought that rattling take of a good Wrasse. A reasonable fight brought to the surface a fish of about 1.5 lbs. I discovered the Wrasse are very numerous in this location.

I changed tactic and used a storm shad on a 6 foot trace with a boom made from bent carp tube to stop the trace twisting. I dropped it to the rocky seabed and retrieved very slowly, winding the lure to the surface, read more here about wreck fishing techniques.

I tried this about 10 times with no joy, I considered the conditions and due to the small tide and clarity of water doubled my leader length. This made the rig hard to manage, but needs must!

A couple of drops later and I felt a tug about 10 turns from the bottom, then 20 turns up and the rod set with a great bend. I didn’t strike I just wound into the fish. A great condition Pollock came to the surface of about 3 lbs.

I stayed here for about an hour catching 7 fish in total. Not huge size, but great eating! I filleted the fish when I got home and froze down the poetions I didn’t eat that night. I was delighted with this session, not monsters but good sport and an addition to the freezer as well as a new mark – good result.

FUTURE FISHING

This mark will be worth investigating throughout the year and in better tide conditions to establish if it holds larger fish. It will be worth trying live eel and joey Mackerel and see if there are some Bass hunting the mark!