When the Plaice first appear on the Skerries… twenty odd miles to the West another species makes its first appearance of the season. The Greater Launce(Sandeel) or Snakes as we call them, begin to show up on the high rock pinnacles that encircle the Eddystone Lighthouse like a string of gems around an exotic maritime necklace. Close behind these huge sandeel’s come the first wave of springtime Pollack, re- colonising these great reefs with fresh young fish. Hatt Rock, the Brandon’s, Hand Deeps and the Eddystone Reef itself are time honoured legends when it comes to sportfishing for these feisty early season Pollack. These Spring Pollack are not the huge fish found on the offshore wrecks, but younger fresh fish in superb condition, well fed, full of vim and vigour from feeding on the great shoals of Launce which have worked their way up the Channel from the wastelands west of the Continental Shelf. This first flush of pollack on the reefs is some of the best fishing of the year. It is not unusual to see three or  four double figure fish to the boat on a good day with an occasional twelve or fourteen pounder to add some scary spice to the mix. A month or so later when the water temperature has risen that critical few degree’s the Bass show up to feast on the Snakes as well, but that another story. It is those few calm April/May days in Spring when the Suns blessed warmth seeps through your bones and a light rod kicks over, a clutch screams for the first time and a moment of sheer joy is born at the start of another season, that is what these Pollack are all about !! So how do you get out to these magical reefs? Nothing could be simpler, check out the charter boats from Plymouth, Looe and Fowey. Usually an hours run with a stop en route to pick up some mackerel bait, because at slack water when the Pollack bites slow up, the skipper will often choose to anchor and indulge in an hour or two of bottom fishing for Conger, Ling and sometimes a Cod will gives us a thrill…. a days fishing without pressure.. Tackle is simple, a 12 to 20 pound class rod matched with a small to mid size reel loaded with braid or monofilament will cope with these reef Pollack and give some superb sport fishing. If you develop an addiction for this sort of fishing then you may choose to invest in an even lighter 8lb(4k) outfit and a tiddly little reel. Most of the anglers using these light outfits fish from their own boats over these prolific reefs, because this truly light tackle should not be used when there is a boat full of other anglers to consider. Best tides are the mid Springs, up to the full Spring, and then for a few days afterward. The fish are still there through the neaps but they don’t seem to feed so well because of the slower water. My favourite tides are those days when high water is eight, nine o’clock. Fish from daybreak to a few hours over the top of the tide in the morning, run off to a wreck till the tide starts to flood again and fish then through into the Sunset… truly a quality of life experience… End tackle for fishing snake baits is simple, just a long trace to a plastic tube boom, else a skeletal wire boom, it’s a matter of personal preference. As for long traces, ten feet is plenty long enough, rod length and a bit works well. A small high quality swivel about two to three feet from the hook just in case the eel decides to spin on the way down, prevents the trace from coming up coiled and tangled . I make my traces from 20 mono to the swivel, then the last two or three feet to the hook out of 20lb Fluorocarbon even when fishing really light main line. The reason is that those deep sunk rocks are rough and covered with barnacles. I have seen some big fish just abrade their way through lighter trace materials. Besides, when the shoals of fish are feeding on snakes there are some very occasional monsters mixed amongst the smaller fish. I have personally witnessed a forty two pounds Cod caught on snake bait(during a Cod ban, which is why it was never heard of!!). My best reef Pollack went 18lb 6ozs caught in early May from Hatt Rock, so I thoroughly recommend 20 pound trace material and check your knots !!! Hooks are a matter of preference, some prefer a long shank hook so that the eel can be nicked through the jaw and then hooked again through the tough belly skin or else an American style ultra short shank live bait hook, which can be used to lip hook the eel. Both methods work equally well, its take your pick time…  whatever you choose do not make the mistake of using hooks that are to small. Pollack, Cod and Bass can easily engulf a large Mackerel, so a 5/0 or 6/0 hook is not exactly large by comparison. Fishing a snake is an interesting experience. After dropping the eel over the side, quickly use an underhand flip with the rod to send your boom and sinker out to the full length of the leader, so that the eel and boom are well separated at the beginning of the drop. Avoid letting the drop take place in total free spool, put your thumb on the spool and slow the drop down so that the tide keeps the eel and boom separated as they drop into the target area. As soon as the sinker taps the bottom, take four or five quick turns to get the rig away from the rocks and then just wait for a minute or two to see if a fish finds the eel. If not then commence a slow retrieve with a long pause every three or four turns, if the fish are there it won’t be long before the eel is found…. The take when you are using snake bait is different from the usual “don’t pause when you feel the bite” advice when Pollack fishing. Snake baits will often be hit at speed in order to stun the eel, so make sure your clutch is set fairly lightly. One of the reasons why a dinky little lever drag is prime tackle for this sort of fishing. Avoid a high stick strike, keep your rod at about 45 degree’s and reel the needle sharp hook into the fish. When the fish goes off on a high speed dive you can bet your socks that you have found a Spring time Pollack and that my friends is a truly joyous experience…. See you there!!

Contact: russ@reelfoto.com 

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