Atlantic and Firth of Clyde · Scotland

West Highlands, Argyll, Clyde and the islands

Deep sea lochs, kelp-covered rock and island piers from the Clyde to Cape Wrath. Water drops off fast close in, so pollack, coalfish and wrasse are on the doorstep. Spurdog, dogfish and common skate are the west coast specials.

10 shore marks · Rules from Marine Directorate (Scottish Government), checked 18 October 2026

Stay safe on this coast

  • Tides. Know the time of high water and your way off before you go out. Marks that fish around high water or on the flood can cut you off.
  • Cut-offs. Sandbanks, causeways and headlands flood from behind. After storms, re-walk even a familiar beach in daylight.
  • Rock. Watch the sea for 10 minutes before you go down: big waves come in sets. Wet weed is like ice. Never fish rock alone in the dark.
  • Lifejacket. Wear a lifejacket (PFD) on rocks, piers and walls, with the crotch strap fastened.
  • Emergency. Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Never go in after someone: call, and throw something that floats.

More in Rules and safety.

Rules

Rules in West Highlands, Argyll, Clyde and the islands

Last checked 18 October 2026

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

  • Bass: the UK recreational rules cover ICES area 6a, which takes in this coast. Catch and release only from 1 February to 31 March, rod and line only.
  • Bass: any bass you keep must be at least 42cm. No fixed nets. The rules apply from the shore and from boats.
  • Bass bag limit: from 1 April to 31 January you may keep up to 3 bass per person per day. The UK law raising it from 2 to 3 came into force on 27 February 2026 and extends to Scotland.
  • 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.
  • If you hook a sea trout or salmon by accident while sea fishing, return it quickly.
  • Rod fishing for salmon is banned on Sundays in Scotland. Annual close times vary by district, so check locally.
  • Sea trout often turn up in Clyde and sea-loch fishing. Do not target them without permission.
  • 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.
  • Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura: a Marine Conservation Order bans anyone from setting or using fishing gear, which it defines to include lines, inside the protected area, apart from set dredging and trawling zones. It was made to protect common skate. Check with the Marine Directorate before fishing there.
  • Red Rocks and Longay (Inner Sound off Skye, near Scalpay and Longay): rod and line, handlines, other fishing gear and anchoring are all banned inside this Marine Protected Area, and so is taking, touching or disturbing flapper skate or their eggs.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Minimum sizes

Last checked 18 October 2026

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

Minimum sizes
SpeciesLegal minimum
Bass42cm
Other fishNo Scottish angler size found

Tip of the snout to the end of the tail. Use the strictest figure you know as your own minimum.

Rules change, usually each spring. Where a rule says check locally, ask the regulator or harbour office before you fish.

Headline fish

May to December

Pollack

Season

Deep water beside kelp-covered rock. Metals or soft lures, with mono or a long mono leader on barnacled ledges.

Species guide: Pollack

Autumn and winter

Spurdog

Season

Oban area and deep sea lochs. Bound mackerel or squid on a pennel. Return them.

May to October

Wrasse

Season

Rock marks such as Inverkip. Rag or prawn close in on strong gear.

Species guide: Ballan wrasse

Summer and autumn

Common skate

Season

Deep west coast water, mostly from boats. Catch and release only.

August to October

Flounder

Season

Leven mouth at Dumbarton and Clyde shores. Small rag on fine hooks with a rolling lead.

Species guide: Flounder

Marks

The marks below are researched from public sources and local anglers' videos. We haven't fished them yet, so each is labelled Not yet visited by us. Drive times from your postcode are on the Marks page.

Local tips

To find pollack marks, look for 30ft or more of water (50ft plus in winter) right beside kelp-covered rock. Check satellite views for a dark seabed, not just rocky shore.

Visit a new mark at low water first and pick a rock pool where you can rest a fish before release.

For big pollack close to barnacled ledges, mono is safer than braid, which can part in seconds on rock. Many NW Highland marks prove hard to reach, so have a back-up.

Near Carrick Castle, Loch Goil drops to 20m within 20 yards. Half a mackerel or a whole squid on a running ledger, changed every 45 minutes, took codling.

For Oban spurdog, bind mackerel and squid neatly on a pennel. Dogfish usually show first. Learn the tide window for each mark.

At Dumbarton and Clydebank, flounder take small rag bunched on a fine-wire size 2, with a floating bead and a light rolling lead. Late summer to October is best.

On west coast rock, count your lure down and expect pollack just off the ledge. If a seal turns up, pause until it moves on.

In our own words, cross-checked against local anglers. Rules always come from the regulator, not a video.

Crabbing on this coast: family spots, and the crab and lobster rules for every regulator, are on Crabbing.

Local tackle and bait shops, charter boats and clubs: we're building these lists. Run one? Add it free.

Before you go

  • Tide times for the nearest port: EasyTide (UK Hydrographic Office).
  • Wind and sea state: Met Office inshore waters forecast.
  • Access to piers, harbours and ports changes. Check with the owner or harbour office before your first visit.

Sources