Pollack as live bait - Mountbatten Pier

[Everhopeful]

Catching lots of small pollack and I'm guessing these can be used as live bait for bigger predators such as bass or doggies.

Am I wasting this free bait? I've never used live bait so can anyone point me in the right direction for tips or recommend rig and bait preparation.

[Gremlin]

Bass yeh!

Doggies nah!

Here's a couple of rigs; you can of course use a flowing pulley-type trace or a Portland-style rig where the livebait is allowed to run up and down above the lead on a sliding swivel.

This one will work from a pier if you are not casting far.


This one is a 'cast, sit and wait and hope' when there are loadsa pin whiting or pout about.


Ada

[Everhopeful]

Thanks a lot for your reply, just one other question is where is the bets place to put the hook, is it through the 'shoulder' of the fish?

Thanks again

[gullyworm]

I always hook through the top lip/jaw unless its sandeel then i go bottom lip and through the bit of skin at the bottom between the gills.

[steve devon]

Don't forget theres conger around that pier!

[maghouse]

I'm down there on the weekend - what do you reckon it is worth fishing for ?

[steve devon]

This time of year the usual mackerel, gar, pollack, dogs and pout or could try the night for a conger.
Plenty of wrasse around the rocks but not many big ones
Will be big evening high tides but east winds so it's not likely to be the best fishing unless that wind turns

[pompy.bass.man]

i love using pollock as live bait, i have used in the past and caught bigger pollock on it 2(4-5lb)

[FATFISH]

I have done well fishing a live bait under a float at night for bass.Fished around harbors and break waters when its quiet and the crowds have all gone.