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Print versionDrummore, Luce Bay - Port of Call
Luce Bay is a large inlet in the Solway Firth on the southern coast of Dumfries & Galloway. Luce Bay separates the southern tip of The Rhins of Galloway to the west and The Machars Peninsula to the east. With a wealth of natural terrain and a diverse sea bed structure, the area attracts a wealth of wild life from fish to birds, making this an area of outstanding natural beauty and a designated Special Area of Conservation.
From the lighthouse on the Mull of Galloway you can see the tide race that rips around the headland, a race that runs at over 12 knots, an impressive sight from high up, but from a boat you can sense and experience the races awesome power.
To me Luce Bay is without doubt one Scotland’s premier sport fishing locations. The Gulf Stream warms the waters that flow into this part of Scotland which allows the Scottish angler access to species which they would normally only find farther south. With these warm waters comes the species many of us visit Drummore for, the hard fighting Tope, which have been caught to over 80lbs.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO CATCH?
The number of species available in Luce Bay is huge, over two WSF Meets; members have managed to catch thirty two species in all, a fantastic achievement in itself. Whilst fishing inshore for the Tope you can also catch Common and Starry Smooth hounds. Record breaking Bull Huss have also been taken, with double figure fish a common occurrence.
Over the sandy ground there are Spotted and Thornback Rays, Dabs, Flounder and the occasional Plaice. Gurnards are also plentiful, with all three species available as well as the ever present (match mans favourite) dogfish.
Pollack are plentiful over reefs with an average size of between two and five pounds but with a realistic chance of a double in the right areas. Pollack are fantastic on light tackle and are always happy to feed.
Four species of wrasse are present along with Blennys, Coalfish, Conger, Whiting, Poor Cod and Pouting.
Some superb Bass are caught on all types of ground with some huge fish present, including a recent capture of just shy of 14lbs!
And just to show that Luce Bay really can throw up “anything at anytime”, during the WSF Meet in 2007, WSF member Norrie stumbled across a Black Bream mark, 10 yards either way and he’d have missed them. The mark is now dubbed ‘Norrie’s Rock’ in many a GPS. It just goes to show the bay could throw up anything!
TACKLING UP FOR POLLACK
To get the most from these hard fighting fish a 12 to 15lb class rod is ideal, paired with a light Abu 5500 or 6000 size reel. Lines of around 20lb are ample; braid can be used but must have a mono leader for a bit of stretch for when the Pollack takes a dive.
There are two rigs which will cover most pollacking situations, a flying collar rig and a float set up. The flying collar rig can be used with either soft plastics or bait. For your snood use 20lb fluorocarbon and a 4/0 hook, such as a Mustad Aberdeen. My personal preference in the plastics range are Calcutta jelly worms and Calcutta swim shads, I’ve done well with both.
The way I normally use these rigs is to casting them away from the boat. You then let them sink to the bottom and then use a sink and draw method. To use bait simply swap the jelly worm for mackerel strip, rag worm or launce. You can then do the same sink and draw method to bring it back to the boat. I’ve also found slowly drawing back a live launce can be deadly and you can cover a lot of ground by employing this method.
For a float rig, I use a 6” or 7” cigar float and a drilled bullet to match, couple this with a 20lb fluorocarbon snood and 4/0 hook. For bait use mackerel strip, ragworm or live launce. If bites are hard to come by leave the reel in free spool and let the float drift away from the boat, then slowly wind it back.
SPECIES HUNTING!
Over the past few years I’ve really started to enjoy species hunting. Plucking out a rare species gives you an edge if there is a little friendly competition on the boat, which is great fun, and if there is a WSF meet involved, the wager is usually beer!
Tackling up for species couldn’t be easier, my preference is an Ugly Stick 6lb class rod and a light 5000 size multiplier reel filled with 20lb braid and a fluorocarbon leader. For a trace, a simple 1 up 1 down with size 2 hooks again all tied in fluorocarbon. If you are after smaller species like black bream then moving down to a 6 is advisable. For baits you can try small squid strips, bits of ragworm or mackerel, and old stinky mussel from the freezer is really good too.
A good tip if you don’t have any traces made up is to use cut down shrimp rigs. Cut the six feathers down to two or three, tie a swivel and a lead on the end, add some bait and away you go. I caught my personal best Tub Gurnard of over 2lbs using this method plus numerous smaller wrasse species.
TACKLE FOR TOPE
Gearing up for Tope is actually a lot simpler that it may seem, even down to your terminal tackle. A good 20/30lb class boat rod such as the Ugly Stick combined with a good quality multiplier such as a Shimano Tyrnos 12 or Abu 7000. A good multiplier is essential as the drag needs to be silky smooth to cope with the blistering runs that a Tope can make. Load this up with 30lb braid or mono. My preference is for braid but in the shallow waters of Luce Bay, mono will perform well giving you that extra stretch when playing the fish. I use an 80lb leader on my braid for extra protection from the fishes flanks and the all important stretch. Thread a tube boom followed by a bead and swivel or heavy duty snap link onto you mainline, and then attach you trace to this to complete the job, it couldn’t be simpler!
I like to make up my traces following the advice of On Yer Marks Skipper, Ian Burrett, who has had more Tope on his boat than he cares to remember, even a few 80lb plus record breakers. He handles traces all day long, all season, and to stop the mono cutting into his hands the preference is 4ft of 150lb rubbing leader followed by a heavy duty 2/0 Berkley swivel and a short 10” length of 150lb wire. You can use mono as a biting trace but mono could easily be bitten through, the last thing you want if you are on a good fish. For the business end its essential you opt for a quality hook such as a Partridge Sea Beast in a 6/0 to 8/0 size, just be sure it’s a strong pattern and not a fine wire hook.
Tope bait couldn’t be simpler; basically any variation of mackerel bait! The humble flapper, head and shoulders, body sections and a live Joey will take fish. If you are being plagued by dogfish then the live Joey is the preferred method. Using dead baits on the bottom will not only pick up Tope, but also Bull Huss.
WHERE TO STAY
The favourite amongst anglers is the Clashwhannon Caravan Park just outside Drummore itself. This family run park is open all year and offers superb value for money in both accommodation and food. The park makes an ideal base of operations for the visiting angler. Within the bar itself there is a location map with many of the areas popular angling locations marked, ideal for planning the next day’s trips over a pint.
For the visiting boat angler a chat with owners Martin or Louise and you can park your boat on the park safe and sound. The Drummore area offers you a multitude of launch sites with 15 minutes towing which makes it an ideal location for any small boat angler.
LOCAL CHARTER BOATS
Ian Burrett
01776 840346
On Yer Marks Sea Angling
ACCOMMODATION
Clashwhannon Caravan Park
Drummore
Strantraer
DG9 9QE
Phone: 01776 840632
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