Moray Firth, Caithness, Orkney and Shetland

Regulator: Marine Directorate (Scottish Government). Always check its own page before you keep a fish.

• Bass: the UK recreational rules are set for ICES areas 4b, 4c, 6a, 7a and 7d to 7j. Most of this region, north of 57°30'N and east of 4°W (the Moray Firth coast, Caithness, Orkney and Shetland), is area 4a, which is not on that list, and we found no other bass rule for anglers there. Keeping to the 42cm size and 3 a day limit anyway is the safe choice.
• Bass: where the rules apply (area 6a, west of 4°W on the north coast, and area 4b south of 57°30'N), it is catch and release from 1 February to 31 March, any bass kept must be at least 42cm, and you may keep up to 3 a day from 1 April to 31 January. Bass are rare up here, so releasing them is the simple choice.
• 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.
• Orkney and Shetland: the Scottish law on fishing for salmon and sea trout without permission makes no exception for the islands. Fishing rights there can go with the land under udal law, so who to ask is a local question. Check locally with the landowner or local angling association before targeting sea trout.
• Rod fishing for salmon is banned on Sundays in Scotland. Annual close times vary by district, so check locally.
• Shetland: under the Shetland Islands Regulated Fishery (Scotland) Order 2012, you need a licence from the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation to fish for or take lobsters, crabs, scallops, queens, mussels, oysters, cockles, clams, whelks or razorshells within 6 miles, unless none of the catch is sold, traded or exchanged. Taking them for your own use needs no licence, but the Organisation can set size limits and other rules that apply to everyone, so check with them. Rod fishing for fish is not covered.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.