Pollachius virens
Season calendar
- Season
- May–October
- Water temperature
- 6–14 °C
- Spawning
- January–March
- Behaviour
- Daytime active, open water
Techniques
- Pilking/Jigging
- Spinning
- Boat Fishing
Timing and place
- Inshore from May to November, best in late summer and autumn.
- The outer edge of the Hanstholm and Hvide Sande moles and the deep gutters between the tetrapods.
- The white water where the current hits the stone is the most productive spot.
Method
- Pilks or heavy spoons of 30-80 g, fast retrieve off the bottom with sudden pauses.
- Soft plastic shads of 10-14 cm on 20-40 g jigheads are equally effective.
- The take is violent and the fish dives for the stone; set the drag soft, the cut-off risk is high.
Note
The flesh softens quickly, so bleed and cool the fish straight away.
Frequently asked
- When is the best time to catch saithe?
- The productive window for saithe runs May–October. January–March is the spawning period; releasing your catch during these months is strongly advised.
- What water temperature does saithe feed in?
- Saithe is most active between 6 and 14 °C. Outside that band its feeding rate drops off.
- How do you fish for saithe?
- Common methods: Pilking/Jigging, Spinning, Boat Fishing.