Shore Fishing on the Isle of Islay: July 2012 (Part Three)

The shoreline around Islay offers endless sea fishing possibilities

This third and final part of the July sea fishing trip to Islay sees the group fishing on a beach in the approximate south-west(ish) part of the island, between Port Ellen and Bowmore. Bait for the day included rag worms, mackerel, calamari squid and sand eels and the catch proved to be extremely varied.


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Rag worm were just one of the bait types used on this trip

The general idea for this day's fishing was to enjoy as much sport with as many different fish species as possible. As you will see from the photos, the group had the beach to themselves as far as the eye could see and they were free to experiment with different baits, end tackle combinations and casting distances to see what they could ultimately hook in to.

Set up and fishing a beach in the south-west of Islay

Flatties - whether they be plaice, flounder, dab or sole - are not every angler's chosen target species. On a beach such as this one, however, the various species are often found and contrary to popular opinion - where you are heading straight home at the end of the day - can often make good eating.

This plaice was just one of the species caught on day two on Islay

Starfish and wrasse of any type are not common catches for most shore fishermen in the West of Scotland and are unfamiliar even to many who fish only from the boat. Taking both on the same trace from the same cast was therefore quite an unusual achievement.

A starfish and a ballan wrasse makes for an unusual catch combination

Crabs are a common scourge of fishermen, usually for stealing and making off with the bait. Occasionally, however, the more stubborn specimens are just not going to give up their free meal without a fight.
 

This hungry crab was not for letting go of his prize

Turbot are usually caught or seen in fishmongers as larger fish, capable of providing a decent meal for a number of people. Occasionally, however, one pops up that doesn't quite fall in to that category...

Turbot are generally recognised as being just that little bit bigger...

The Islay trip proved a definite success and the group enjoyed not only quality and varied sea fishing but the well renowned, fabulous hospitality of the local people. If you are considering a weekend's sea fishing, in a beautiful, unspoiled location where peace and tranquility can reign all day, you don't have to look further than this beautiful island. Be sure only to organise your trip properly in advance - particularly in terms of transport and accommodation - and you may just find a destination that will afford you everything you are looking for in a fishing trip for many years to come.

Who says fishing is not a relaxing, chill out pursuit?

Shore Fishing on the Isle of Islay: July 2012 (Part Two)

The Paps of Jura as seen from the Kennacraig to Islay ferry

Welcome to part two of three of this feature on shore fishing on the beautiful Isle of Islay, off Scotland's West Coast. The group who kindly shared these photos and the information had two full days' fishing planned, with a day's travel at either end. On the first day, they were on the hunt for locations likely to afford the possibility of sea trout, while on the second they were intending focusing on a broader spectrum and happy to catch anything which showed interest in their baits.


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It is more than worth pointing out at this stage a curious fact with regard to the saltwater shore fishing on Islay. While the inland freshwater lochs and rivers are hugely popular with trout fishermen and boat fishing on the sea is equally popular, there is a distinct comparative lack of interest in beachcasting and other types of shore fishing. While on the plus side this of course means you are likely to find a decided lack of competition for places at your chosen mark, it also means that there is very little information available on shore fishing, "Hot spots," or top marks. If you are going shore fishing on Islay, therefore, it's very much about studying the terrain, perhaps taking a look at grounds at low tide and simply hoping you have the very best of British luck!

Rivers of peaty water run in to the sea all around Islay

Fortunately, by studying the landscape and fishing near the mouths of what at least appeared to be likely rivers, the group enjoyed a successful day's fishing for sea trout. The one drawback of the day was that the recent very heavy rains made the water in such areas particularly brackish, decreasing significantly the likelihood of catching most other species at their chosen specific venues.

Beautiful sea trout taken on an Islay beach

Despite catching a number of prime sea trout specimens, the members of the group still had to buy their dinners that night. They were staying away from home, remember, so all the fish caught on both days were returned to the sea as unharmed as possible - with the exception of the mackerel caught in part one of this article at Kennacraig, which was kept to add to the bait supplies.

Fishing for sea trout on a beach on Islay

So fishing day one went down as a definite success and the group headed out for a wee dram or two that night looking forward to what would hopefully be an equally successful second day, with a number of different fish species on the agenda. Hopefully, you'll come back again to this page this coming weekend to find out precisely how they got on.

Another beautiful sea trout

Shore Fishing on the Isle of Islay: July 2012 (Part One)

Looking down the West Loch and the start of the ferry's course to Islay

The Isle of Islay is no doubt better known for its whisky than its fishing, in an international sense at least. The geography alone of the island, however, makes it the ideal destination for wetting a line as well as a glass. The southernmost of Scotland's Hebridean islands, Islay is large enough to afford visitors most of the comforts of home, yet small enough to give sea fishermen easy access to all its many piscatorial charms, wherever on the island they may be based.

All previous posts on this blog have related to fishing trips I have personally undertaken. Last weekend, however, friends of mine were part of a group heading to Islay for a weekend's sea fishing and were kind enough to provide me not only with details of the trip but the quality photographs you will see in this post and in parts two and three which will follow in due course. I am more than happy to include reliable, third party information like this on the blog for your information and hope you enjoy this glimpse of Islay and what it has to offer the shore fisherman. Having visited the island many times, I know what a true gem it is in so many respects.


Part One and Day One: Getting to Islay and an Unexpected Fishing Opportunity

The group were travelling to Islay by minibus, via the ferry from Kennacraig. As is always advisable, they were withing touching distance of the ferry terminal well in advance of their sailing, so stopped off at the West Loch Hotel en route.

The West Loch Hotel

It was having stopped at the West Loch Hotel that some of the group decided to have a go with spinning rods across the road in the waters of the West Loch. This had obviously been unplanned but mackerel were taken and the weekend catch was underway.
 

The West Loch from the hotel grounds

Kennacraig Ferry Terminal is pinpointed on the map below.


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The West Loch rocks near to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal

It is important to know your scheduled ferry check-in times when you are travelling to Islay. Vehicles have to check in before foot passengers and a queue system of traffic is formed. Do not underestimate the importance of this factor or your simple mistake may cost you a good weekend.

The Hebridean Isles Islay ferry approaches Kennacraig

Above you will see one of the ferries which sails to Islay from Kennacraig - the Hebridean Isles - approaching and below you can see it about to dock. This sees the fishing part of day one concluded and the group setting out on the final leg of their journey to Islay. The next part of this post, coming at the beginning of next week, will look at the first day proper and the amazing sea trout which are there to be caught on Islay.
 

The Hebridean Isles about to dock at Kennacraig