Head to head
Coalfish vs Pollack
Coalfish
VS Pollack
The coalfish and the pollack are two close relatives in the same genus, and anglers and fishmongers regularly confuse them, though they live in rather different places.
| Coalfish | Pollack | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pollachius virens | Pollachius pollachius |
| Relationship | A close relative of the pollack, in the same genus | A close relative of the coalfish, in the same genus |
| Back | A dark green to almost black back and silvery sides | An olive-green to brown back, often with a golden or bronze sheen, and paler flanks |
| Lateral line | A pale, nearly straight lateral line | A dark lateral line that curves up over the pectoral fin |
| Jaws | A lower jaw that projects only slightly, and a very small chin barbel or none at all | A lower jaw that projects beyond the upper, and no chin barbel |
| Habitat | Shoals in open water over reefs, banks, and deep ground | Mid-water over rocky reefs, kelp, and wrecks |
| Size | Can reach about a metre in length and many kilograms in weight | Usually 40 to 70 cm long, though larger fish occur |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, with stocks managed by fishing quotas | Least Concern, though fishing pressure has reduced stocks in some areas |
Coalfish vs Pollack: common questions
How can you tell a coalfish from a pollack?
The coalfish has a darker back and a pale, nearly straight lateral line, while the pollack has a dark lateral line that curves up over the pectoral fin.
Which one has a jutting lower jaw?
The pollack, whose lower jaw projects beyond the upper, whereas the coalfish's lower jaw projects only slightly.
What is a coley?
Coley is a name used in Britain for the coalfish, which is also called the saithe, especially when sold in shops.