Sea fishing on Skye

[ChrisJB]

I was wondering if anyone out there has done any sea fishing on Skye? I'm off up there next Saturday and am planning on doing a spot of coastal spinning. If so, is it any good and what can I expect to catch?

Regards, Chris

[cat72uk]

sorz i have no idea about the fish
but i wanted to wish you a good time
i used to live on skye its an amazin place

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by cat72uk

sorz i have no idea about the fish
but i wanted to wish you a good time
i used to live on skye its an amazin place

You lucky thing! I wouldn't mind living there myself. Thanks for the good wishes

Regards, Chris

[Kayleigh]

I have fished from the pier in Cornwall and the best bait I find always catches fish is ragworm.
Spinning I have never had any luck with.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I have fished from the pier in Cornwall and the best bait I find always catches fish is ragworm.
Spinning I have never had any luck with.

I was mad on fishing as a teenager, but not done any for years until I went to Norway last summer, and my last Scotland trip. I caught sod all when I went to Scotland during last winter, but I'm hoping the summer season brings feast rather than famine.
My targets for this holiday is to catch a fish, climb a mountain (preferably a munro, weather permitting) and see a storm petrel. But at the moment, catching a fish is number one, though I reckon I'll need all the help I can get.

Regards, Chris

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I was mad on fishing as a teenager, but not done any for years until I went to Norway last summer, and my last Scotland trip. I caught sod all when I went to Scotland during last winter, but I'm hoping the summer season brings feast rather than famine.
My targets for this holiday is to catch a fish, climb a mountain (preferably a munro, weather permitting) and see a storm petrel. But at the moment, catching a fish is number one, though I reckon I'll need all the help I can get.

Regards, Chris

Dig yourself some worms from the mud..You can't go wrong.

[coasty]

I am renting a house near fort william from saturday for a week , So if you see an old scrote with a wife and three kids and a crazy looking choccy lab approaching then hide it will probably be me,,,, Oh yes I intend to do a bit of fishing as well...

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I was wondering if anyone out there has done any sea fishing on Skye? I'm off up there next Saturday and am planning on doing a spot of coastal spinning. If so, is it any good and what can I expect to catch?

Regards, Chris

Hi Chris,

Never fished on Skye but done a fair bit around Argyll on the NW coast, mostly from rocks. You might catch mackerel and the odd small pollack with spinners but if you let the spinner sink a little it'll probably get snagged. So we usually use artificial baits such as jelly worms (try different colours, some work better on some days than others) attached to a lead head, they don't tend to snag as much as spinners so you can troll them through kelp beds for bigger pollack, saithe, etc.

Look out for spots where the rocks drop vertically into the sea or where you can see the sea bottom shelves steeply just off-shore - you want to be fishing in deep water if possible. Another option is float fishing (just use your spinning rod). Use a bubble float and alter the depth at which your fishing if your not catching. Use rag or lug worm as bait, you might catch a few wrass along with pollack and codling. Best fishing on a rising tide. Good luck!

Cheers
Jonathan

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Hi Chris,

Never fished on Skye but done a fair bit around Argyll on the NW coast, mostly from rocks. You might catch mackerel and the odd small pollack with spinners but if you let the spinner sink a little it'll probably get snagged. So we usually use artificial baits such as jelly worms (try different colours, some work better on some days than others) attached to a lead head, they don't tend to snag as much as spinners so you can troll them through kelp beds for bigger pollack, saithe, etc.

Look out for spots where the rocks drop vertically into the sea or where you can see the sea bottom shelves steeply just off-shore - you want to be fishing in deep water if possible. Another option is float fishing (just use your spinning rod). Use a bubble float and alter the depth at which your fishing if your not catching. Use rag or lug worm as bait, you might catch a few wrass along with pollack and codling. Best fishing on a rising tide. Good luck!

Cheers
Jonathan

Thanks for all your advice Jonathan. I have recently bought a load of resonably cheap spinners and don't mind losing a few. I tried coastal spinning for the first time last winter (a bad time of the year I know and didn't catch a thing) and would always retrieve only after the lure/spinner had hit the bottom, expecting the better fish to be at depth. I didn't do bad really and only lost a couple through snags. Trying again this summer, I'm hoping for better results!

Regards, Chris

[seamusagleann]

Originally Posted by coasty

I am renting a house near fort william from saturday for a week , So if you see an old scrote with a wife and three kids and a crazy looking choccy lab approaching then hide it will probably be me,,,, Oh yes I intend to do a bit of fishing as well...

hi coasty ,the mackarel are well in here, and few cod can be caught from the shore. maybe meet up for a days fishing ,i have access to a trout loch too.

[coasty]

I was thinking of bringing a trout rod and some flees,,, I understand that Rod and Gun in Fortwilliam is the place for info but if you are serious about the trout loch,,,,

What sort of gear should I bring,,, I am a little bit of a tackle tart so have quite a selection,,,,

[jennyb]

My nephew used to fish off Neist Point. Whether you fish or not you really should go there anyway (preferably on a good weather day). From the car park walk down to the point (tough walk back BTW). You can fish from the rocks down there.

We did not fish but when we were there in June the weather was fantastic and we just sat on the rocks watching the minke whales just off shore enjoying themselves. It was magical.

Jenny

[seamusagleann]

Originally Posted by coasty

I was thinking of bringing a trout rod and some flees,,, I understand that Rod and Gun in Fortwilliam is the place for info but if you are serious about the trout loch,,,,

What sort of gear should I bring,,, I am a little bit of a tackle tart so have quite a selection,,,,

if you bring sea tackle , i've got a fly rod and reel i can give you, i'll even throw in 250 rainbows ,the loch was stocked today!!!,how near fort william are you?

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by jennyb

My nephew used to fish off Neist Point. Whether you fish or not you really should go there anyway (preferably on a good weather day). From the car park walk down to the point (tough walk back BTW). You can fish from the rocks down there.

We did not fish but when we were there in June the weather was fantastic and we just sat on the rocks watching the minke whales just off shore enjoying themselves. It was magical.

Jenny

Thanks Jenny. Neist Point as a good fishing and wildlife spot has cropped up many times in my research on Skye and will try to get there. The tough walk back I have read about too and that is a slight concern for the missus who is pregnant! She has stamped my 'pass' for a wifeless walk up on the Cuillin ridge and I wouldn't want to push my luck.

Regards, Chris

[coasty]

Originally Posted by seamusagleann

if you bring sea tackle , i've got a fly rod and reel i can give you, i'll even throw in 250 rainbows ,the loch was stocked today!!!,how near fort william are you?

Not really a sea angler ,,,but love the fly fishing,,,

[seamusagleann]

ok i'll pm u my phone number

[BigBadger]

My best mate lives up in Skye. In a place called Moss Bank on the very north west of the Mainland Island. He beach casts and always keeps his freezer full of Mackerel and many other species. Good fishing up their. He sickens me off with it every time he phones. Lol.

[ChrisJB]

Just to let you know, I did all my fishing (not as much as planned though, as the weather was so nice and we did a lot more walking) off the jetty at Staffin. I was thrilled when I caught a two pound Pollock last Tuesday which put up a right good tussle and tasted great. I did manage to lose rather too many lures though on snags! I'll need to purchase another batch before next year.

Regards, Chris

[Highland Damsel]

I haven't been on for a while, i wish i'd seen this thread before, i work close by to Skye, could of got some local info. Glad you had a good time though and if you're coming back up this way the Applecross peninsular is good for a beach cast, caught (and ate) some lovely orange and blue wrass at last years Applecross Fishing Competition, others caught some huge cuddies. It's this years competion this weekend. Good fishing, good laugh.

[Stewy]

I always thought that Wrasse were pretty poor eating on the culinary scale?

Not that I have tried them mind!

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Stewy

I always thought that Wrasse were pretty poor eating on the culinary scale?

Not that I have tried them mind!

I thought the same. Still, I have always wanted to catch one after an article on Ballan Wrasse fishing in an old Anglers Mail annual when I was a teenager. They just look really pleasing on the eye.

Regards, Chris

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I thought the same. Still, I have always wanted to catch one after an article on Ballan Wrasse fishing in an old Anglers Mail annual when I was a teenager. They just look really pleasing on the eye.

Regards, Chris

I have caught a few wrasse off Lamorna cove in Cornwall..Colourful fish, never tried eating them though.

[Stewy]

Will be down to Chesil beach on Sunday if the weather is alright to bag some Mackerel!!

Of course I will blank and me girlfriend will fill her boots!

[epops]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Will be down to Chesil beach on Sunday if the weather is alright to bag some Mackerel!!

Of course I will blank and me girlfriend will fill her boots!

hope you have more luck than me 2 weeks ago 4 sessions 4 mackerel shocking

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by epops

hope you have more luck than me 2 weeks ago 4 sessions 4 mackerel shocking

Where did you go?