Species Hunt: Loch Long

*Species number 42 and a completely new one for me. Black Goby

I’ve mentioned before how the Clyde estuary and sea lochs were where I first started fishing as a kid and in particular Loch Long.

So it was nice to spend a day on the rocks for a proper crack at fishing this Scottish Fiord for the first time in about 15 years.

The plan was to dig a bucketful of Rag worm and using a variety of methods, see what was around. The short answer was Pollack….. Loads of Pollack.

Nothing of any great size with the best going close to 3lbs but great fun on light gear. A few nice Ballan Wrasse got in on the action as did a few mini species such as Long Spined Sea Scorpions and Black Gobies.

Most fish came to float tactics over rough ground but a couple of baits were fished on the bottom and these brought some small Coddling and more Pollack.

A move later in the day to an old pier, fishing over a silty bottom produced some small Coalies, Whiting and Dab to small fish baits and a further load of Pollack to 2lbs down the side of the pier.

These along with the obligatory Mackerel gave us nine species for the day. Nothing big but it was nice to get out and see what was about.

It's important to be vigilant of the wildlife when on the bank as a moments lack in awareness can result in more than you bargained for. This juvenile Guillimot had a close encounter with a string of Mackerel feathers and a rather reckless and uncomprehendingly wayward cast from a 'fellow angler'. Luckily he came out of it with just a nick on his wing and a bruised ego. Take care out there.

An Eternal Angler