Sea Fishing in Scotland

Though we work closely with the Glasgow Angling Center – who know everything there is to know about fishing – we still get asked where to go and what to target, so below is our guide to coastal fishing around Scotland.

The guide is produced by us with input from the Glasgow Angling Center and starts from the East coast at the English border round the north coast, and then down the west coast.

Please note: For what to use advice including baits, rods, lines etc. please contact the Glasgow Angling Center directly on 0871 716 1670

Berwick to St Andrews: Most of the sea fishing is done on the drift, with most of the ground being rocky.

Best fish to target: mainly cod, also ling, pollack, wrasse, coalfish and sea scorpion.

Arbroath – Best Time: April through to October

Best fish to target: codling inshore with flatfish from the clean ground further out. The Bellrock can give excellent catches of cod, pollack coalfish & wrasse.

Stonehaven – The depth changes a lot round here so keeping your bait at a constant height off the bottom can be tricky. Catches here include haddock, cod, ling, whiting, plaice, dabs, pounting & coalfish with some good sized fish on the wrecks.

Moray Firth Catches can be varied with cod, ling, dab and plaice being targeted regularly.

Scrabster on the north coast sees possibly Scotland’s best fishing with cod, pollack & ling to double figures with coalfish, wrasse and dab being plentiful and occasional catches include cuckoo wrasse. The winter months through to early spring sees anglers targeting porbeagle shark which can get up to 500lbs so make sure you have the right tackle!

North West – The Ports of Lochinver, Kinlochbervie, Auchiltibuie, Ullapool & Aultbea concentrate in the summer months on drift fishing for haddock, whiting, plaice, gurnard, dab & cod – weather permitting, over a dozen different species being landed in one day. The locals have been known to range further afield and catch torsk, so if these interest you we strongly suggest you get local advice.

Oban and surrounding areas. Fishing is often done at anchor. Boats here make the most of the giant skate fishing. These can attain weights of over 200lbs and are tagged and released after capture. Other species include specimen & record weight spurdog, thornback rays & hake with lesser spotted dogfish which are common to the west coast of Scotland. This area also benefits from sea angling clubs members who often organise weekend trips to fish here as it is only a few hours from Glasgow.

Ayrshire Boats from Troon, Ayr & Girvan target pollack & wrasse from around the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig, and drift for cod, ling, & flat fish from the inshore marks.

Loch Ryan to Whithorn Tope are a very good fish to target here along with dogfish, huss, pollack and wrasse.

Solway Small boat anglers have been having good success with bass and smooth hound which are increasingly being fished for as they offer a more sporting option to sea angling in Scotland.

If you feel we have missed anything please feel free to contact us at Clyde Outboards so that we can add it to the above list. If you require more information on what fishing tackle is best for any of the above areas then please call the Glasgow Angling Centre on 0871 716 1670