Fishes most states of tide Harbour Not yet visited by us
Fish only where boats are not working. Summer mackerel, winter codling after dark.
North Sea · Scotland
Scottish Borders to Aberdeen
Rocky Berwickshire coves, the sandy bays of East Lothian and Fife, the Tay and the big Angus cliffs, then harbours and long beaches up to Aberdeen. Winter cod from rough ground is the main event. Summer brings mackerel, pollack and flatfish.
10 shore marks · Rules from Marine Directorate (Scottish Government), checked 18 October 2026
Stay safe on this coast
- Tides. Know the time of high water and your way off before you go out. Marks that fish around high water or on the flood can cut you off.
- Cut-offs. Sandbanks, causeways and headlands flood from behind. After storms, re-walk even a familiar beach in daylight.
- Rock. Watch the sea for 10 minutes before you go down: big waves come in sets. Wet weed is like ice. Never fish rock alone in the dark.
- Lifejacket. Wear a lifejacket (PFD) on rocks, piers and walls, with the crotch strap fastened.
- Emergency. Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Never go in after someone: call, and throw something that floats.
More in Rules and safety.
Rules
Rules in Scottish Borders to Aberdeen
Last checked 18 October 2026Regulator: Marine Directorate (Scottish Government). Always check its own page before you keep a fish.
- Bass: the UK recreational rules cover ICES area 4b, which takes in this whole coast. Catch and release only from 1 February to 31 March, rod and line only.
- Bass: any bass you keep must be at least 42cm. No fixed nets. The rules apply from the shore and from boats.
- Bass bag limit: from 1 April to 31 January you may keep up to 3 bass per person per day. The UK law raising it from 2 to 3 came into force on 27 February 2026 and extends to Scotland.
- Salmon and sea trout: in Scotland it is a criminal offence to fish for them without the rights holder's written permission, in fresh water or in the sea within 1.5km of low water, even from the shore. Fisheries Management Scotland says there is no general right to fish for sea trout in the sea or tidal waters.
- If you hook a sea trout or salmon by accident while sea fishing, return it quickly.
- Rod fishing for salmon is banned on Sundays in Scotland. Annual close times vary by district, so check locally.
- Many rivers meet the sea here, such as the Tweed, Tay, Dee, Don and Ythan. Fishing near a river mouth does not give you any right to salmon or sea trout.
- Common skate (including flapper skate) is a prohibited species: fishing boats may not keep or land it, and any caught must be released unharmed. Treat every common skate as catch and release, from shore or boat.
- Shellfish from a boat without a fishing licence: no more than 1 lobster, 5 crabs in total (edible, green, spider and velvet), 10 langoustines and 6 scallops per boat per day in Scottish waters.
- Other fish: we found no Scottish law setting angler minimum sizes for sea fish other than bass. Treat the commercial sizes as the least you keep.
Rules change, usually each spring. Where a rule says check locally, ask the regulator or harbour office before you fish.
Minimum sizes
Last checked 18 October 2026Regulator: Marine Directorate (Scottish Government). Always check its own page before you keep a fish.
| Species | Legal minimum |
|---|---|
| Bass | 42cm |
| Other fish | No Scottish angler size found |
Tip of the snout to the end of the tail. Use the strictest figure you know as your own minimum.
Rules change, usually each spring. Where a rule says check locally, ask the regulator or harbour office before you fish.
Headline fish
October to March
Cod
Season
Arbroath cliffs and Angus rock at night or in coloured water. Lug, crab or squid on a pulley or dongle rig with a rotten bottom.
Species guide: Cod and codling
All year, best autumn and winter
Coalfish
Season
Harbours and rock marks after dark. Tough baits like squid or mackerel last longer against small coalies.
Species guide: Coalfish (saithe)
September to March
Flounder
Season
Belhaven, the Tay at Broughty Ferry and Aberdeen beach. Small hooks with rag or mackerel strip and a bead.
Species guide: Flounder
June to September
Mackerel
Season
Stonehaven, Gourdon and Eyemouth harbours. Feathers or small spinners at high water.
Species guide: Mackerel
May to October
Pollack and wrasse
Season
Berwickshire and Angus rock. Float-fished rag for wrasse, small lures over kelp for pollack.
Species guide: Pollack Ballan wrasse
Marks
The marks below are researched from public sources and local anglers' videos. We haven't fished them yet, so each is labelled Not yet visited by us. Drive times from your postcode are on the Marks page.
Flood tide only Beach Not yet visited by us
Long walk from the car park. The flood pulls sideways, so bring grip leads.
Fishes most states of tide Rock Not yet visited by us
The rock island is reached only around low water. Watch the time so you are not cut off.
Fishes most states of tide Pier Not yet visited by us
Easy access. Slippery in swell, so stay back from the edge in an easterly.
Flood tide only Estuary Not yet visited by us
Fish the flood along the castle shore. Strong tide, so use grip leads.
Around high water only Rock Not yet visited by us
Famous winter cod ground. Pick a low ledge with a safe walk down and never fish it alone in a swell.
Fishes most states of tide Harbour Not yet visited by us
Very snaggy. Use a rotten bottom. Big cod come off the wall at night.
Fishes most states of tide Harbour Not yet visited by us
Busy in summer. Keep clear of boats and the slipway.
Flood tide only Beach Not yet visited by us
Long sandy beach with groynes and easy parking. Best after a blow when the sea has colour.
Flood tide only Beach Not yet visited by us
Seal colony on the north side. The flood can fill behind sandbanks and cut you off. Do not target sea trout.
Local tips
At Arbroath, choose a low ledge you can reach as the tide drops. Fish are often lost while being hauled up a high one. Carry only what you need on a tricky climb down.
In coloured winter water at Arbroath, cod can bite before dark. After dark small coalfish strip baits fast, so check often and use tough baits like squid.
For close-in Angus rock, try a dongle rig: a circle hook with a short braid tail that holds the bait. Wind into bites rather than striking. It cuts deep hooking, so small cod go back safely.
Winter rock fishing: get onto the ledge at high water, leave early in the flood, go with a friend and tell someone at home where you are.
Buy a winter-weight rough-ground rod and tripod first. It still works in summer, but light summer kit will not cope with winter seas.
On snaggy harbour floors like Gourdon, a plain rolling lead and a dongle rig can lose less tackle than a grip lead.
At Newburgh, crabs strip baits on open sand and seals are everywhere. Keep an eye on the flood behind the sandbanks.
After heavy rain, river silt can spoil the water around Arbroath. Fishing is often best during or just after a northerly blow.
In our own words, cross-checked against local anglers. Rules always come from the regulator, not a video.
Crabbing on this coast: family spots, and the crab and lobster rules for every regulator, are on Crabbing.
Local tackle and bait shops, charter boats and clubs: we're building these lists. Run one? Add it free.
Before you go
- Tide times for the nearest port: EasyTide (UK Hydrographic Office).
- Wind and sea state: Met Office inshore waters forecast.
- Access to piers, harbours and ports changes. Check with the owner or harbour office before your first visit.
Sources
- The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/105): bass bag limit from 2 to 3, in force 27 February 2026, UK-wide
- Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123, Article 10 as amended (UK recreational bass rules)
- MMO: Bass industry guidance 2026 (updated 27 February 2026, section 6 recreational)
- Scottish Government: recreational fishing
- Fisheries Management Scotland: Fishing and the law
- Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003, section 6
- Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123, Article 16 as amended (prohibited species, including common skate)
- Shellfish (Restrictions on Taking by Unlicensed Fishing Boats) (Scotland) Order 2017