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Print versionScrabster Lighthouse
I’ve taken a look at the Scrabster area before from the boat on World Sea Fishing, but there are some great angling opportunities from the shore. On this occasion I’m going to take a look at the rocky platforms located beneath Scrabster Lighthouse.
SPECIES AND BAITS
The primary targets are flat fish such as dab, flounder, plaice and the occasional turbot. The flounder and dab fishing can be exceptional with specimen sized fish a real possibility. Dabs over a 1lb and flounder over 2lbs are a regular occurrence. Fishing on the sand also means you’ll pick up the occasional dogfish on fish baits.
Worm baits such as lug worm and rag worm work best, whilst worm cocktail baits using squid, mussel or baits tipped with Mackerel are very effective. Mackerel is good bait on its own and in the summer months you can catch a healthy supply using mackerel feathers.
Fishing close into the kelp covered rocks brings other species such as pollack, wrasse, scorpion fish, coalfish and a whole host of mini species. Baits that work well for these species are small strips of mackerel, mussel and rag worm.
TACKLE AND TACTICS
I opt for a lighter set up at this venue, 525 size reels on the lighter rod like an MTI 250, or lighter yet a Conoflex Foo Fighter. The largest lead needed is a 5oz lead; this will maintain sensitivity for identifying small dab bites. Increasingly I’m using bass rods and 6000 size reels for my flattie fishing, these offering the best sensitivity for tiny bites. Bass rods are also more versatile and can be used for spinning or dropping down the side of rocks faces for mini species.
Simple rigs work best at the lighthouse with a 3 hook flapper perfect for flat fish and any other species caught out on the sand. With flatties at this mark attaining a large size, Size 1 hooks are a good idea. You can add beads and spin blades to the snoods if you wish but they aren’t essential. Main lines of between 15 and 20lbs are ample combined with a 60lb shock leader, its worth adding a few more feet of shock leader to help protect your gear against the rocks as you are winding in.
If you are fishing close in use a single hook paternoster and a rotten bottom for the lead. It can be snaggy in amongst the kelp so be prepared to loose some gear. Spinning using jelly worms or rag worm on a lead head will pick up pollack and coalfish. Simply tie the lead head to the end of your mainline, its as simple as that. You’ll get snagged a lot but this is where the fish are.
Catching Mackerel for bait and the BBQ couldn’t be simpler and you have a choice of two methods. A spinner like a Dexter Wedge works but only if the fish are close in, the most effective method is casting a string of feathers. To do this use your beach casting set up and tie on a set of tinsel feathers, make certain they are tied from 60lb mono or heavier. I use a slightly lighter weight of 4oz so that it puts less pressure on the factory tied rigs. When you cast the rig out let the lead hit the bottom and use the sink and draw method to retrieve the gear. Make 15 to 20 turns on the reel then let it hit the bottom, you can try more turns to get higher in the water column.
HOW TO GET THERE
Leaving Thurso following the A9 you’ll see the sign post for Scrabster pointing down to the right. Follow the road down into the village and park up either beside the Fisherman’s Mission or the Pay and Display car park beside the harbour. Walk up towards the ferry terminal and you’ll see the Lighthouse on the top of the hill with a single track road leading up to it. Once you are at the top there is a gate leading down to the rocks.
There are a few nice flat platforms to fish from and plenty of space. A note of caution thought, the rocks can be slippery when wet, you also have to be careful when the ferry passes as the wash comes over the rocks at high water.
If you carry out a search on the WSF forums you will see how productive this venue has been for some members, and the specimen fish the lucky ones have caught.
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