Pouting

Distribution:

The Pouting or 'Pout' can be found all around the coast of Ireland often in large numbers. They seem to be a fish that when it is not common you will find none but when they are there you are plagued by them! Kilmore key is a particularly good spot for large Pout producing a record fish of 4 lb 13 oz to the charter skipper 'John Devereaux' in 1983. The West coast is also a hotspot with Clare and Mayo in particular.

Habitat:

Small Pouting seem to inhabit sandy bottoms favouring shallow water of 10 ft to 100 ft it is quite common however to find fish at 900 ft and beyond... As Pouting become Pout and get larger they change their habitat to more rocky and rough ground where larger prey is more plentiful. As they get bigger they change colour from the simple silver of the small fish to a striped pattern. These Pout are common on shipwrecks where they are the staple diet of many of the larger residents. In this case they are often found in huge shoals swimming above and among the debris.

Baits:

As young fish Pouting feed predominantly on small shrimps and worms and crustaceans. The larger fish move on to crabs and a more fish based diet with sprats and sandeels high on the menu. Sandeel is a top bait as is Squid and worm baits. Fish based baits work well but if the Pout are there generally anything goes.

Tides and Weather:

Pouting fish well over both Springs and Neaps, although over Neaps will provide better fishing on rough ground marks. Eastery blows tend to put the fish off the feed all together

Pout are generally seen as a nuicence species. Few andglers fish for them specificly as they usually crop up over rocky and wreck marks where species such as Pollack and Ling are the main quarry. Although most methods will produce fish, baited Hockais tend to work best, often produceing double hookups or even tripples should you hit the main shoal over rough ground.. Where Pout come into their own however is as bait themselves... Conger eels and Ling will take them with relish as will Bull Huss, Dogfish and Tope. A simple ledger rig baited with worm will often produce results over sand.

Tactics:

Pouting make awful eating. The flesh while unremarkable is full of small bones. You never seem to able to remove them all. Stomach cramps are not uncommon.

Note :

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