Sea fishing special - fishing with pirk

In our previous post about the Cod fishing we have already mentioned fishing with pirk and possible target fish. Today we're going to take a closer look at the equipment and technology behind the popular method and give newbies an overview.

 

Equipment for pirking

Piling is generally done from a boat or cutter. Only from here can the pirk be safely deployed and guided. Perks are usually made of lead or steel, are rather elongated and narrow in shape and painted in color. This is to simulate a feed fish. A pirk is attached to the string at the “tail” and a hook is attached to the “head”, in most cases a triplet. There are also large variations in shape and color, for example, there are very long pirk and squat models, for example in muted blue or black or in eye-catching designs such as the "Firetiger" in bright green and orange to red. Not every color is always available and catches the same fish on every fish, so it is advisable to have a selection with you on the fishing trip. Depending on the strength of the current and at depths of up to around 60 meters, weights of up to 150 grams can be used; if you fish deeper, contact with a heavier pirk is easier. In our online shop you will find many different high-quality products under the pirk category Pilker for your next fishing vacation on the coast.

Your fishing rod for pirking depends primarily on the weight of the pirk, but one is often enough for light pirking Spinning rod with a maximum casting weight of up to 200 grams, for heavy pecking there is one Sea rod with about 600 grams. The rod itself, like the reel, should be as light as possible because it is constantly held and moved in the hand. If you are riding a cutter in a large group, a longer rod could be an advantage. With it, the pirk can be positioned more precisely and you can keep the line away from your fellow anglers, but with a shorter rod the contact with the pirk is more direct and sensitive, so you can recognize bites more reliably.

One is recommended for light pirking Front drag reel with a powerful brake and sufficient line capacity for at least 200 meters of the line used. Front drag reels are easy to use, relatively light and less sensitive to salt water than rear drag or baitcast reels. In addition, cleaning is a lot easier to manage. With a Multiplier one pillows successfully in great depths. However, especially for beginners, the motto here is: "Practice makes perfect", since the reel is moved with the trigger, it is important to prevent the line from getting tangled by braking in a controlled manner.

You should rewind one braided fishing line. On the one hand, these have a very low elongation and thus transmit the movements of the rod more directly to the pirk, on the other hand, they are much more tear-resistant than monofilament lines with the same diameter. A line in signal color makes handling on board easier when many anglers cast their pirk at the same time. In order to prevent the hook from being torn out during a fight, you can either choose a rod with a fine tip action or use a piece of monofilament line as a leader.

Is your tackle prepared and you want to get on the fishing trawler? To prevent seasickness, you should be well rested and not drink alcohol. If you want to make sure that you stay fit when you go out, you can buy a remedy for seasickness or motion sickness at the pharmacy. So that you stay dry and don't get cold, we recommend one Complete suit. It is best to choose a model that also doubles as a swimming aid. This will protect you in the event that you actually go overboard.

 

The technique of pirking

There are two slightly different pilking techniques, depending on where you are on the boat:

During the Drift throw the pirk as far ahead as possible, for you are drifting towards the pirk. Once the pirk has reached the bottom, pull it up a little with one movement of the rod and then lower it again. After a while you will pull in a little line as the distance to the bait will decrease.

During the drift lower the pirk to the bottom right in front of you as you keep moving away from it. Here, too, let the bait dance up and down, but after a while you release line here to keep the pirk close to the bottom.

When sinking, the pirk behaves staggering and like an injured prey fish, which is why a fish usually bites during this phase. Therefore, the rod must always be guided carefully so as not to miss the right moment to strike. If you are successful and have brought the fish to the surface, you will be helped on an excursion cutter to bring the fish on board with a gaff.

The fish to be expected when pirking are mostly cod, but coalfish, ling fish, flatfish, pollack, mackerel and even gurnards are not uncommon.

 

Share your experiences!

Tell us and other anglers about your pilking adventures!