Method

Pirking: how to get started

When pirking, you lower a heavy metal lure from a boat to the bottom and work it up and down. The charter boat takes you to the fish.

Good for

Plan a day of Jigging (pilk)

What you need

Pirk rod for inshore fishing: 2.10 to 3.00 m, 150 to 250 g casting weight
Fixed-spool or multiplier reel with enough line capacity
Braided main line, about 0.17 to 0.20 mm
Monofilament leader, about 0.60 to 0.80 mm
Pirks in several weights, on the Baltic Sea usually between 50 and 175 g
No more than two teasers, such as twister tails or Gummimakk rubber teasers
For mackerel a mackerel rig (paternoster), for herring a herring paternoster
Wind- and waterproof clothing, a hat, gloves, priest and knife

Step by step

Strict EU rules currently apply to cod in the Baltic Sea, so check the current situation before your trip.
Check with the charter boat which papers you need and what the rules on board are. If you get seasick easily, take a travel sickness remedy beforehand.
Check pirks, split rings and treble hooks before the trip. Rusty or bent parts cost you fish.
Choose a pirk light enough that it only just keeps contact with the bottom. The rougher the sea and the stronger the drift, the heavier it needs to be.
Only lower the pirk when the crew gives the signal. Keep the line tight as it sinks, many bites already come then.
On the bottom, lift the pirk with the rod and let it sink again. Mackerel are often found in mid-water too.
If you feel a bite, strike and pump the fish up steadily. Any fish for the table, stun and kill straight away in a humane way.

Common mistakes

Pirk too heavy: it works less well, so choose one as light as possible as long as you can feel the bottom.
Pirk too light in a strong drift: your line drifts off and tangles with your neighbours' lines.
Not replacing rusty treble hooks and split rings beforehand.
Fishing with a treble hook over wrecks and rocky ground: you will snag constantly there.

Tips

Over obstacles, take off the treble hook and fish with teasers only.
A teaser about 50 cm above the pirk on a short, stiff side boom brings extra bites.
When the sea is calm, you often do better with lighter pirks than with heavy tackle.

Quick questions

What pirk weight do I need on the Baltic Sea?

On the Baltic Sea, pirks between 50 and 175 g are usually enough. How heavy depends on wind, drift and water depth. Rule of thumb: light enough that it just reaches the bottom, heavier in rough seas.

What is a teaser?

A small extra lure, such as a twister tail or a Gummimakk, on a short side boom above the pirk. The pirk moves it along and so adds extra attraction. More than two teasers make the rig unsettled.

Can I go pirking for cod in the Baltic Sea?

Strict EU rules currently apply to cod in the Baltic Sea, so check the current situation before your trip. Also ask the charter boat which species are being fished on the trip.

Check the rules

Closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each German state (and by each country abroad) and can be stricter on individual waters. We are building an overview with sources and check dates. Until then, check the local fishing regulations and the rules of the club or permit for your water.

Sources (5)

Last checked 2026-10-10. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

Know more?

Additions, photos of your catches or a mistake in the text: write to us and we will gladly credit you as a helper.

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