The better fighting fish?

Message

#1 Post by **kieran** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 4:46 pm

I was discussing this point - okay having an argument :wink: - with someone, a very capable Bass angler from Kilkenny, who derided Pollack and said Bass were far better. Not my opinion, but what do you think?

#2 Post by **Drew** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 5:33 pm

Never experianced a Bass, But they'd have to be bloody good to outbattle a Pollack.... King of the Crashdive.

#3 Post by **Tanglerat** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 6:55 pm

Good question, and I suspect it'll come down to a matter of personal opinions, so here's my tuppenceworth!

I've caught loads of pollock, up to 15lbs, but not so many bass, the best going to about 5 lbs. I love catching pollock, the crashdives off them are spectacular. But generally they dive 3 times. In my experience anyway.

The bass I've caught have fought me every inch of the way. The couple of times guys beside me have hooked double figure bass (13.5 and 12 pounders) they were convinced they had fouled the wreck.......

So, on balance, pound for pound, I'd say bass. But I'd never say no to a nice pollock! :D

#4 Post by **dtmcc** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 8:30 pm

naaaaa,
your all wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oz for oz

MACKERAL

if only they grow to 15lb

#5 Post by **Tanglerat** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 10:31 pm

Nooooooooooooooooooooo mackies are cheating, you can't pick them :!:

(Once had a 2 1/4 lb when I was Bassing off Eastborne, boy did it go....)

If you want to know what a 15 lb mackie would be like, try a Yellowfin Tuna :idea:

Anyway, origonal question was pollack Vs bass. Good job nobody mentioned coalies........... :P

Rockhopper · #6 Post by **Rockhopper** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:28 pm

Try a hardback crab 10 yards out with a floppy telescopic off a rocky headland which is renowned for wrasse Dingle peninsula or Green Island Co Clare the thing is you would need around one rod for every 4 fish caught as mine broke fighting the 4th.

#7 Post by **Conor H** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:03 am

Tanglerat, with you on the Yellowfin, but I caught a King Mackerel in Thailand about 25lbs - was some craic. Tasted great too !!

Never caught bass, but pollock to 10lb on a 6'6" uglystick spincast is some craic. If I thought bass fishing would provide the same craic, I'd give it a rattle.

#8 Post by **Tim** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:16 am

Rockhopper- I'm totally in agreement there!! Wrasse :x are the agro boys of the sea, no problem! I once caught a bass around 6-7lbs and I thought I had just got snagged on some weed until I could see it :oops:

Pollock, well ok, once they get a around 5lbs or bigger, they do seem to dive bomb rather well!!
Mind you, I've never caught a smoothhound from the beach......

Tim

skipper · #9 Post by **skipper** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:52 am

Hi Lads not really topic related just answering Tims query smoothies from the shore, had 7 yesterday Tim all on velvets, biggest 12pounds now chit do they go once they realise they is runnin outa water, try it m8ty you,ll know what i mean

#10 Post by **Tim** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 12:36 pm

Skipper

Wow!

Please can you leave a few in the sea until August and send them up Connemara?

Tim

#11 Post by **Tanglerat** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:39 pm

I caught a King Mackerel in Thailand

Interesting.

We must have a chat Connor, I've been looking for someone who's been fishing in Thailand. (Cos if SHE thinks I'm traipsing all the way out there just to get married and not also do a spot of fishing, she's got another think coming............. :P )

I'm back in Donegal from July 23rd to Aug 12th. Any chance I might jump onto your regular saturday out with Pat?

#12 Post by **Conor H** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:00 pm

Tanglerat, no problem. I'm out with Pat on Saturday coming , pity you wont be here, but I'm out the first Saturday in August, your name's down - remind me closer to the time, but you're on the team. I'll give Arthurg a shout and maybe we'll rope him in too.

As for info on fishing in Thailand, no problem. It's great craic as it's very much back to basics, no carbon fibre rods and fancy multipliers - almost sticks and string - no joking !! Give me a shout closer to the time, and I'll dig out the photos.

#13 Post by **Conor H** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:03 pm

oh aye Tanglerat, meant to say, start as you mean to go on - bring rods reels the works with you , she'll know what to expect for the rest of your days !! Good luck on your big day !
The first year is the worst - fishing is what you get when you earn enough brownie points, after that it's a case of , "will you please go fishing and get out of my sight ! " .

#14 Post by **MAC** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:59 pm

How it going all, my first post here.

I think in general that people fish for big pollock tend to use lighter spinning gear, whilst most people tend to do there fishing for bass with beach gear. I mostly spin and plug for bass and have caught pollock up to 3lbs while fishing for Bass. I've never got any of the bigger pollock but the first crash dive is quite powerful but that seems to be the end of the fight. I've had the odd bass come in easy enough but most of the fish I've had in the 5lb bracket have just kept fighting and fighting. They put up a hell of a scrap. I'm enjoying this type of fishing so much that I now leave all my trout fishing to the peak times of the year and it's bass all the way for me from late June onwards. I'm going to try for one on the fly this weekend in Waterford. Wish me luck.

Kev

#15 Post by **stevecrow74** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 7:20 pm

hummm... well i caught my first bass yesterday which weighed 6lbs 11 oz
and have caught plenty of pollock around the same weight...

both fish fight hard but the bass fights longer whereas pollock have short lived fights... and bass will run further up and down the shore but pollock cant make up there mind which way to go.... having said this, this is only from my experience and as i said i caught my first bass yesterday so if i catch more i'll definatly know....

#16 Post by **Tanglerat** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 1:46 pm

That's a nice fish to break your duck! :D

Guest · #17 Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:40 pm

Well done!
Where did you catch your first bass ?

#18 Post by **liamdenn** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 8:44 pm

am at work and a bit bored so just flicking thru some old posts and i reckon the mullet wins hands down on this one!! our very own bonefish

RobertMcClean · #19 Post by **RobertMcClean** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:47 am

Well I have caught good quantities of both and would have to say Bass never give up even when you have them on the beach/boat, so if its on a pound for pound basis I would say Bass, buts lets be honest the thrill of a big Pollock and there distinctive runs is addictive.I don't have that same attraction to Bass that huge Pollock seem to give me, purely on a fighting basis that is, looks wise give me a Bass any day.

My best fighting fish though has to be, Dogfish, I mean on a 50lb class rod with 6/0 stainless steel O'Shaugnessys you can't beat it, obviously too land these rare beasts I would use 100lb wire straight through!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

#20 Post by **BigPhil** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 2:58 pm

had 10lb pollack on 12lb rod, great craic but only had bass to 4lb so i cant draw a fair comparison. gimme a smoothie or two for a good scrap anyday!!

Sea Angling Ireland