Edinburgh winter sea fishing league returns

Top anglers from North East England and Scotland’s Central Belt are expected to take part and Campbell stressed that this is a pre-book series.

Venues are Newhaven, Joppa and Portobello and Ian Campbell, a Scotland international and retail manager of The Edinburgh Angling Centre, had hoped to include Gypsy Brae near Silverknowes and Seafield, but the tide times were against him and anglers may have found themselves struggling for water.

Anglers have come from as far afield as Arbroath and Glasgow to previous matches but Campbell appreciates the difficulty of travel as the first cast is at 7pm on a Friday night.

Chris Empson (Dunbar) preparing to cast in the winter league

That makes it almost impossible for Fife-based anglers to make the venues on time because of traffic on the Queensferry Crossing.

He also appreciates that travel from the Central Belt can be difficult for those finishing work at 5pm, but said: “We had 25-plus in most matches last winter and this is a brilliant turn-out.

“The Friday night competition allows anglers to have quality competitive fishing without taking a big chunk out of their weekend.

“Anglers seem to have enjoyed the events.”

Portobello Beach at dusk

There is a 100 per cent pay-out after the matches and the rules include a three hook maximum. There are no bait restrictions.

A £10 entry fee is payable at registration which is always between 6pm and 6.15pm at all the venues. Fishing is from 7pm to 10pm.

Campbell added: “We have Scottish international fishermen entering as well as some of the best anglers in the North of England who travel up regularly, so these are quality events and they are highly-competitive.

“We would, of course, love to see new faces and to include more young anglers, but those under 16 would require an adult to be with them, or to be looked after by one of the anglers known to them.”

Portobello Beach during one of last year's winter matches

You can pre-book on the Scottish Shore Angling Match Group’s Facebook site and Campbell said the long-range weather forecast is looking kindly at the dates picked, so far.

Match One: 18.10.2024: Newhaven (east, by David Lloyd) with registration at Western Harbour View EH6 6PG; Match 2: 25.10.2024: Joppa with registration at Promenade View EH15 2ES; Match 3: 8.11.2024: Newhaven (west by the lighthouse) with registration at Western Harbour Breakwater EH6 6PA; Match 4: 22.11.2024: Newhaven (east) with registration at Western Harbour View EH6 6PG; Match 5: 29.11.2024: Portobello Beach with registration at Tumbles Car Park EH15 1DR; Match 6: 6.12.2024: Newhaven (west) registration at Western Harbour Breakwater EH6 6PA; Match 7: 20.12.2024: Newhaven (east) with registration at Western Harbour View EH6 6PG.

A reminder of several up-coming matches. The first one is on Saturday, November 2 and entitled the Arbroath Winter Cod Open with boundaries from Carnoustie to Ferryden and fishing is from 3pm to 9pm.

Organisers say there is a lot of interest from all over Scotland and the top prize is £1,000. Entry is £15, juniors are free, and this is a one rod, two hooks maximum event.

High tide is 14.32 and low water 20.30 and the match is a memorial to John Healy. Prizes are for first, second and third and registration is in the Victoria Car Park toilets, Arbroath, from noon to 1.30pm. The weigh-in is from 9pm to 10.15pm.

Penn Sea League points are available and contact Allan S on 0747 041 8975, Daniel C on 0794 979 4827, Stewart F on 0775 937 9978 or Leom M on 0792 719 4217 for details.

The popular, two-day Iain Reid Memorial is on Saturday, November 9 at Kirkcaldy (noon to 4pm) and Leven on Sunday, November 10 (noon to 4pm) and registration for both days is at the East End Car Park at Kirkcaldy Promenade from 10am to 11am.

This is a catch and return match with a minimum measure of 15cm for fish. Undersized fish received five points each.

Bait restrictions and lugworm and mackerel and there are prizes for first, second and third, plus zones and also a heaviest flatfish award.

Entry is £40 for both days and this match counts towards Penn Plus Sea League points. Contact David Dobbie on 07940 111729 or Alan Combe on 07872 899791 for further details.

Mike and Chris’s Winter Heaviest Cod League gets under way on Saturday, November 16 with fishing from 16.00 to 21.00 and registration is from 14.30 to 15.00 at the Victoria Car Park in Arbroath. Low water is 20.04 and the boundaries are Carnoustie to the Ferryden Lighthouse.

There are four matches after that, two before Christmas and three after. The second match is on December 14 from 16.00 to 21.00 with registration again at the Victoria Car Park from 14.30 to 15.00. Low water is 19.05.

The last three are on Saturday, January 11, Saturday, January 18 and Saturday, February 9 and details will be confirmed later.