Coastal Sea Trout Fishing

It’s a rare thing to hear about a newly founded fishery in this day and age. Small fisheries pop up here and there and most are in the form of another. However, this is no ordinary nor small fishery emerging from nowhere, this is a seriously exciting 53 mile fishery, with scope for many more miles, on some of the most iconic coastlines in the UK, the Fife coast and Musselburgh coast. Fishing for Sea Trout throughout the majority of the migratory species season, for an absolute bargain, with the best access and parking you could ask for, and the chance to learn new water and discover the fishing locations for yourself, you couldn’t design it better. This is a great idea from the coastal fishing rights owners that takes nothing for themselves from the fee. The ticket proceeds actually go towards funding up-river projects to improve habitat, so really it’s a donation to the rivers with the bonus of fishing more water than you can shake your rod at. Locals say there are large numbers of Sea Trout in the estuary all year round, and some of the best times are not when the traditional Sea Trout angler would be used to in May and June.

The Firth of Forth, Linne Foirthe, has a vast area of coastline meeting the North Sea on the northern Fife side at Fife-ness, aka Craighead, near Crail, and on the southern side at St. Abb’s Head east of Dunbar. The Firth is where all of the water from the Forth district drains into as far west as the Trossachs, i.e. Balquhidder and Aberfoyle, and draining Stirling, Edinburgh and Lothians, Fife and so on.

Musselburgh District, South shore of the Firth The fishing in this area is from the western boundary at the Granton Harbour wall in Wardie Bay, Trinity eastwards to the east end of Cuthill Park just west of Prestonpans. The John Muir Way follows much of the eastern coastline of the Esk mouth in Musselburgh, and the access is great via road and the Promenade Walkway to Fisherrow Harbour on the west side of the Esk mouth. Also including Musselburgh beach and the Portobello Promenade and beach, then Marine Esplanade and Leith Harbour Western Lighthouse to Newhaven Lighthouse there is access and paths. Please be very careful and wary of the tides at all times and always have an escape route. The harbour wall off McKelvie Parade could be a good spot too, but again nobody knows yet due to this being a new fishery. Of course there will be restricted access in harbours and marinas, however the fishing will undoubtedly be more enjoyable away from these busy areas with a lot of underwater noise pollution.

North Queensferry Point to Buckhaven The eastern most boundary of this permit is where Battery Road at North Queensferry meets the water at North Queensferry South Bay. There is a little section of no fishing on the west side of the point under the foundation of the Forth Railway Bridge that is fenced off. Otherwise the fishing extends all the way for some 25 miles approximately to the point under the most westerly wind turbine at Buckhaven. Leven Mouth is not part of the fishing on this permit. There are so many access points and footpaths along this stunning and varied section of coastline it is pointless to list them. Simply get a map and explore the areas you think might look fishy. Online maps and Street View can help with your planning process in advance to seek good fishy looking terrain and parking etc.

Shell Bay to Craighead What an amazing section of coastline this is too. The stunning coastline here extends from the western point at Shell Bay near Earlsferry all the way to Craighead, aka Fife-ness Point. Elie, St Monans, Pittenweem, Anstruther and Crail offer up some of the most beautiful coastal towns and angling opportunities in the world in our opinion with the best “chippies” in the world too. The Fife Coastal Path follows the coastline for the length of the fishing rights here and access is easy off the main roads in several places. The 15 miles, approximately, of fishing opportunities here with rocky ledges and bars and deep pools, drop offs, bays and so much more is a Sea Trout anglers dream. Again, take the time before venturing out to research and choose potential fishing spots.

This is the most exciting time for us at Fish Around the Forth, as we don’t have the answers yet on how, where, or when to fish for Sea Trout in this amazing estuary, we can only guess. This is in fact the first time the Firth has been legally permitted for line anglers for as long as the Forth District Salmon Fishery Board’s records go back. What we do know, is that there are often considerable numbers of Sea Trout hugged in close to the shorelines at multiple times throughout the year from reliable sources up and down the estuary. So, we are asking you to give us a hand, let’s learn more about this ‘new’ fishery. What conditions work best for where, what time of year, how big do these fish get, do they form massive shoals or small pods, do they fish best on outgoing tides in the draining guts of flats, or off points and seams as the tide floods, or just quiet bays out the wind, does the moon phase mean anything to the fishing at night, or even the size of the tides? These questions, and many more, are there to be answered and discovered by you, the first Sea Trout rod and line anglers on the Firth of Forth. We all, as anglers, have a duty to conserve and protect these fish and because we don’t know how many Sea Trout there are in the estuary there is a mandatory 100% catch and release policy on the coastline meaning that all Sea Trout must be returned at all times. In this day and age this is accepted by all good anglers. We hope to see and read all about your fishing success with pictures of beautiful bars of silver in your rubber catch and release nets with the fish in the water. We’d ask that you share your images far and wide to attract many more anglers to this huge coastline which will never become territorial due to its scale and the movement of fish from day to day. What’s a little bit of fun, and a highlight to fishing in the sea, is that you never know what you might catch whilst Sea Trout fishing. There are some amazing cod, and bass on the Forth coast and Mackerel too in the Summer months. So, if the Sea Trout are a little slow on a particular trip, why not try for these other species.

Road access is easy, as is car parking and walking on paths and along shorelines. Be wary of tides and swells. Always have an escape route. There are so many beautiful places to eat, stay and holiday on the Forth estuary coastline, you are spoiled for choice. Take a look at Google or Apple Maps for locations. No Fish Around the Forth facilities are supplied. Everything you use should be for public use or access and respected at all times please.