Coalfish Fishing UK: How and Where to Catch Coalfish

How to identify a coalfish

A streamlined, cod-shaped fish with a dark green to almost black back, silvery-grey flanks and a pale belly. It has three dorsal fins and two anal fins, and a clear, straight, pale lateral line running along the side. The lower jaw is level with, or only slightly longer than, the upper jaw, and small fish may have a tiny chin barbel. The tail is slightly forked. Pollack are the main look-alike: they have a bronze or olive-brown colour, a strongly protruding lower jaw, and a dark lateral line with a distinct curve over the pectoral fin. Cod and whiting are thicker, with a different pattern and colouring.

Where it lives

Coalfish live around rocky coasts, reefs, kelp beds and structures such as harbour walls and piers. They are caught most often from the shore in Scotland, northern England, Northern Ireland and along the North Sea coast, where small shoaling fish come inshore in good numbers, especially during the colder months. Rock marks with deep water close in, harbour entrances and breakwaters are prime spots. They are also caught further south, but in smaller numbers.

What it eats and the best baits

Coalfish hunt in shoals, feeding mainly on small fish such as sandeels, sprats and young herring, and on shrimps and other crustaceans. Lures that imitate baitfish, such as metal jigs, soft shads and feathers, work because they match the coalfish's hunting style. A strip of fresh mackerel or herring adds scent and flash, which coalfish find hard to resist.

Metal lures
Soft plastic shads
Feathers
Mackerel strip
Herring strip
Sandeel

Best time of year

Jan – good
Feb – good
Mar – good
Apr – quieter
May – quieter
Jun – quieter
Jul – quieter
Aug – quieter
Sep – good
Oct – good
Nov – good
Dec – good

In season now. Typical best months for shore anglers in England and Wales. What's in season

How to catch coalfish

Spinning with metals of 20–40g or soft plastic shads on a 9–11ft lure rod is the most enjoyable way to catch them, retrieving steadily through mid-water and near the surface. Feathers or sabiki rigs with a 2–4oz lead are also effective around piers and harbours. For bait fishing, a two-hook flapper or paternoster with size 1–2/0 hooks baited with mackerel or herring strip works well. Float fishing a fish strip close to rocks and pier pilings is another good method. Dawn and dusk are usually the best times, and coalfish often feed hardest after dark under harbour lights. Fish around the top of the tide and the first part of the ebb at rock marks. Bites tend to be sharp, positive pulls, and coalfish fight hard, diving for cover, so keep the rod up and steer them away from snags.

Size and bag rules

Area	Rule	Source
North Western IFCA	Minimum size 35cmListed as saithe.	Official page

Other areas (no confirmed number for this species yet): Northumberland IFCA, North Eastern IFCA, Eastern IFCA, Kent & Essex IFCA, Sussex IFCA, Southern IFCA, Devon & Severn IFCA, Cornwall IFCA, Isles of Scilly IFCA, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.

Rules last checked 23 October 2026. Rules change, especially for bass: always check the official source before keeping a fish. All sea fishing rules

Handling and release

Handle coalfish with wet hands and keep them out of the water as briefly as possible. Unhook with forceps, and support the fish under the belly rather than holding it up by the jaw. Small coalfish are fragile, so return them quickly and gently over the water rather than dropping them from a height. Take only what you need, and check the size and bag rules for your area below.

Best shore marks for coalfish

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Where to catch coalfish in the UK

We don't have venues confirmed for coalfish yet. Browse all venues.

Where to fish in the UK · Fishing conditions today

Tackle for coalfish

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Coalfish guides

Coalfish fishing questions

Where is the best place to catch coalfish from the shore?

Rocky coasts, harbours and piers in Scotland, northern England, Northern Ireland and the North Sea coast are best. Look for deep water close to rocks, harbour entrances and breakwaters, especially from autumn into winter. Harbour lights after dark often attract small coalfish feeding on baitfish, so these can be productive spots.

How do I tell a coalfish from a pollack?

Check the lateral line and jaw. Coalfish have a straight, pale lateral line and the jaws are almost level. Pollack have a dark lateral line with a curve over the pectoral fin and a strongly protruding lower jaw. Coalfish are also usually darker on the back, with a greener or blacker tone.

Can you eat coalfish?

Yes, coalfish, often sold as coley or saithe, are perfectly good eating, with firm white flesh that suits fish pies, curries and fish cakes. The flesh can look slightly grey when raw but turns white when cooked. Only keep what you need, and check the size and bag rules for your area below.

Coalfish Fishing UK