Pollack

A member of the cod family found throughout the northeastern Atlantic, this predatory fish favours rocky reefs, kelp forests, and wrecks, typically hunting in mid-water or near the surface as it pursues sand eels, sprats, and small fish in loose, fast-moving shoals. Snorkellers and divers should watch for the characteristic underslung jaw, greenish-bronze flanks, and the lateral line that curves sharply over the pectoral fin — a reliable distinguishing mark from similar species. Summer and early autumn offer the best sightings, particularly around headlands and rocky drop-offs during a rising tide when shoals push baitfish toward the surface, often betrayed by terns diving and surface commotion above them.