North Queensferry

Battery Point below the Rail Bridge

HOW TO GET THERE
From the South head over the Forth Road Bridge and follow sign's for Deep Sea World B981, from the north head again for the Road Bridge and follow sign's for Deep Sea World, this will take you into North Queensferry, head down into village towards the Albert Hotel and take the 1st left along Battery road. There is a car park just above gates to the works entrance below bridge, head through gates tell gatehouse man you are heading for the new house he will let you past, keep left past bridge works and you will come to an old slipway head along past this and you will be fishing from the rocks.

MARKS
Anywhere along the rocks will produce Codling, if you are fishing at low tide there is a small slipway cut into the rock this is along to the left of the first slip, fishing from here will minimise tackle losses. Casting out toward the oil terminal and Inch Garvie will normally put you among fish.

A word of warning when fishing here, expect to loose tackle as it is a rough bottom, when I fish this mark and lift into a fish I reel like mad to keep it out of the rocky ledges. Once the tide starts to flood move up to the left and fish below the old WWII gun emplacement using the same tactics as fishing the small slipway.

SPECIES
Codling, Rockling, Conger, Tadpole Fish, small Coalies and the occasional Lobster!

Years ago this mark used to produce Cod to 8lb in very good numbers, nowadays expect Codling to 2.8lb 3lb with the majority in the 1.8lb range. This is mainly a Codling mark, but you can get some bonus like Tadpole Fish showing up.

TACKLE
Strong tackle is required to fish this mark, many use 25lb-30lb line straight through as distance casting is not required you will be fishing into approximately 80ft of water. Rotten bottoms are advised, but using 25lb-30 lb line straight through can free a lot of tackle from the rough bottom without losing your lead. Use strong rig bodies and fine wire hooks to assist with getting your tackle back.

BAIT
I have found that Ragworm, Lugworm, Squid, Crab and Shellfish baits all work well from here, nothing elaborate is needed. I have not had much success using fish baits.

TIDES
This mark is better fished at low water, head for the small slipway, once the tide starts to flood move up the rocks towards the old Gun Emplacement. There is quite a fast tide rip that runs past the Battery on the flood you can expect up to a 6 knot rip when it gets going for the first couple of hours.

ALTERNATE SHORE MARKS IN NORTH QUEENSFERRY
Port Laing beach is halfway between North Queensferry and Inverkeithing bay. To get there take Fife coastal path next to Ferry Bridge Hotel and follow it round until you came to the sandy beach, this mark can produce Flounder, Plaice and Dab, its fishes better when there is a good steady East wind blowing. Bass to 4lb have been caught on the breakers when there is a blow on. Best baits are Ragworm, Lugworm and Crab.