Norway magnet for Scots sea anglers seeking big fish
Bookings for 2025 are almost full for sea fishing trips to Norway and an Edinburgh-based agent hopes to start booking for 2026 by the end of this month.
Les McBride said his phone has been red-hot as anglers from all over the UK and Ireland book trips and he says they are tempted by massive halibut, cod and plaice.
McBride is the UK and Ireland agent for the Sandland Brygge fishing camp, a job he has undertaken for more than a decade.
He books the accommodation and boats at the camp and provides advice to make trips as smooth and successful as possible, and business has increased rapidly through word-of-mouth. No wonder, judging by pictures of the catches displayed on social media.
McBride said: “Sandland Brygge is 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle, on the edge of the Arctic Ocean, and anglers catch big cod, big halibut and big everything.”
The easiest way to get there is to fly with Norwegian Air from Edinburgh and you need two flights, one to Oslo and the other to Alta where the famous Alta River is home to some of the biggest salmon in Europe.
Currently, you have to overnight in Oslo and a flight at around 9am the next morning. For 2025 a small apartment for up to four guests with a boat it is around £2,400, depending on the exchange rate, and flights are in the region of £500 return. There is also ferry costing around £30 each way.
Apartments for up to eight anglers which come with two boats and available and the locally-built, 23ft long boats have a Suzuki 150hp outboard, a fishfinder/chartplotter and all safety equipment.
McBride, who owns a busy shoe repair shop in Gorgie, said: “Hire gear is available and it is quality. You can also hire a bucket of pirks and large shads, which are lures and perfect for halibut and cod. You just pay if you lose one.
“If you want fish for plaice, you need to take your own bait with you but, from the middle of August to the end of September, there are mackerel about which are a fantastic for them. Plaice have been caught to over 9lb.”
One key factor is that you need to have someone in the party who is either born before January 1, 1980 or have the minimum boat qualification of Powerboat 2 with a Certificate of Competence.
And McBride confirmed that it costs exactly the same to book a holiday through him as it does through the camp direct. He said: “What you also get from me is over ten years of travelling to the region, the best advice on booking flights, transfer information and tackle to take.
“I also provide chart screengrabs of areas to fish for species you wish to target. However, you don’t have to go far offshore to catch and you can even catch halibut inside the harbour underneath the boats tied up on the pontoon."
Anglers are allowed to bring home 18kilos of fillets and there is a filleting house at the camp with freezing facilities and a vacuum packer. A number of Scottish anglers take cool boxes with them to bring catches home.
McBride revealed that the 2025 schedule it is almost full, but said: “There are some dates in April, which is a great time for cod up to 70lb or more, and the end of September, which is great for all species, especially halibut. I should be booking for 2026 from sometime in September.”
How did he get involved? The agent said: “I first went out there with my son, Liam, for his 21st birthday in 2011. we had a great time. It was the first season of the camp and I got friendly with the host and his wife. We kept in touch. I went back the next year and the following year and he said on the day I was coming home: ‘You are our new UK agent, go find us some customers.’
“It has been more than 11 years now and we have steadily become really busy. If you are into sea fishing, then this is the place.”
Contact Les McBride on 07801 162 526 or email him on [email protected]. Take a look at his " Norway Anglers " Facebook group and is packed with information and pictures.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s carp team claimed a historic first in the world championships at Croatia when team captain, Alister Kirkhope (Hamilton), and John Graham (Kilwinning), won Sector C.
Kevin McConnell, the team manager, confirmed that they are the first Scottish pair to claim a sector win and they weighed in with 94.830 kilos, 40k ahead of the second placed team from Latvia. The Scots were placed sixth overall
He said: “They fished brilliantly throughout the match and, once the lead was established after a difficult start, they fought tirelessly in soaring temperatures to maintain their advantage.”
Scotland finished 21st out of 30 countries with Keith Finlay (Catterick) and Kevin McConnell (Larkhall), who came in to replace John Sweetland (Biggar) during the event, weighing in with 11.510k to be 15th and prop up the rest in Sector B. They finished 87th
Ian Elverstone (Haddington) and Peter Stewart (Aberdeen) totalled 5.700k for 13th out of 15 in Sector A. They were 78th.
Anglers had to endure a frightening storm during the 72 hour match on two lakes, Lapovac and Sandor near Nasice, some losing gazeebos and gear, but nobody was hurt.
McConnell said the thermometer rose to nearly 39c during the match and he added: “The boys deserved better, in all honesty. They fished their socks off and I am proud of every one of them for their efforts.
“On another day this result would have been a top ten finish, it has been that close.”
McConnell added: “We have gained great experience from this and will build towards next year.”