If you’re brave enough to fish from the shore through the winter, it’s usually Cod that makes the headlines. Sometimes though you just want to catch without the hassle on stormy nights and the Edinburgh Shore League has proven that plenty of fish can be had from some very urban marks that offer easy access and a great setup scratching is the key!
Mixed bags are expected when you are sea fishing. In past winter comps, we’ve seen anglers catch Whitting, Dabs, Coalfish, Flounder, Codling and even a few Sea Scorpions. Getting them requires the right strategy to take advantage and hookup well.
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| Flounder and Whiting on Scratching Rigs |
Scratching is commonly done by anglers when they are in a competition where catching even a small fish can be the difference between winning and losing. However, many pleasure anglers like myself will setup scratching rigs chasing bites in a blank session and you just want to catch the less desirable, smaller fish that may be there.
A flapper rig or a specific scratching rig with two or three smaller hooks will create a better scent trail and allow several different baits to be used increasing the chances of attracting fish to the rig. Size 4 and 6 are probably the most common but go up and down until you get a bite.
In the summer you may be annoyed by Dogfish or Spurdogs on some marks but on days when no one is biting they are more than welcome. In the winter and early spring it will mostly be Whiting, Dabs or Flounder coming over clean ground with the possibility of a few Cod or Codling closer to rougher conditions with bigger baits.
Whiting have needle-sharp teeth so check your hooklengths regularly to avoid cut-offs and keep your fingers clear when you remove them.
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| Tronix Crab Hooks are longer shanks for unhooking more awkward fish |
Whiting like pretty smooth seas with calm icy weather, perfect crisp nights to be outside instead of hunkering down in a storm. They are a shoal fish that stay in deeper water throughout the day but head for shore as it gets dark, perfect for a post work Friday night match. They like a bit of movement in the water so setting up in low water and fishing the flood should get you the most bites in the middle of the water when the tide is running.
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| Whiting – common winter species |
The Edinburgh Shore League matches sponsored by Edinburgh Angling Center and Cox & Rawle are a series of Winter Sea fishing competitions organized by Edinburgh Angling manager Ian Campbell. The coastal league was first in terms of Open Sea matches within the Edinburgh city limits.
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| Rigging Accessories, Pop-Ups, Beads @ EAC Perfect for Scratching Rigs |
After a successful trial through lockdown, Edinburgh City now has a Winter Shore League. Organized by Edinburgh Angling’s Ian Campbell the match is an opportunity for all levels to compete and gain some skills, as Ian said: “Fishing alongside someone with experience can help anglers improve. The very first match saw 22 anglers catch 55 fish with the top rod going to David Cooper with 7 fish at 193cm. The last match in 2023 produced very good fishing with a total of 440 fish between the 29 anglers fishing. We see more anglers getting involved, looking at a new branch of the sport or taking advantage of the excellent fishing found close to home and learning new skills”
If you need any advice or fancy signing up for the Edinburgh Winter Shore League pop in and the staff at the Edinburgh Angling Center or follow us on Facebook HERE
