Whether it be angling around the West Coast of the island of Hoy in the shadow of "The Old Man of Hoy" and the highest vertical sea cliffs in Britain, wreck fishing in Scapa Flow or venturing to the deep waters of the Pentland Firth, there is a sea angling type for everyone in Orkney.

Pictured here is a 10lb+ Cod caught in summer 2006.

Pictured above is a visiting angler competing in the Scottish Open Boat Championships in 2006, with Hoy behind.

SEA ANGLING IN ORKNEY consists mostly of
rough ground fishing for Cod and Ling with
Pollack caught closer in or over the shelves.
( An evening fishing trip in May 2004 produced
10 species :- Haddock, Herring, Ling, Cod,
Pollack, Coalfish, Torsk, Whiting, Mackerel
and Dab. )
There is also clean ground fishing for flat fish
such as Dab and Skate where Lesser Spotted
Dogfish and Spur-dog may also appear.
If the weather is unsuitable to fish out west
there is also wreck fishing in the shelter of
Scapa Flow which can produce sizeable
Cod, Ling, Pollack and Coalfish.
There are also Conger on the wrecks but they would
have to be specifically rigged and fished for, with best results at anchor.

Pictured above is the best fish caught by the club in 2006, a 14lb Ling to Mr. Gerry Wilson.

TACKLE TO USE .

Our suggested tackle for the beginner
would consist of a 6ft to 7ft, 30lb class boat rod
with a good multiplier reel which would
be loaded with 40-50lb Braid or Dacron line.
However an equal breaking strain monofilament
line would do equally well. This strength of line is to withstand abrasion from rocks.
A medium sized trace of Hokkai are a good
all-round trace to start with, and will catch
most of the common species. A trace
of Tinsel Lures fishes well for Mackerel
and Haddock and also will catch Cod and Ling if baited with mackerel.
It would be worthwhile bringing along a
selection of weights from 6oz to 1.5lb and
these would suit most areas and states
of stronger tides. You would only require the heavier
weights if fishing the deeper marks during
strong tides.

2006 was an excellent season for seeing wildlife while out fishing. Minke whales and dolphins were seen several times, and this excellent photo of a feeding basking shark taken by Roy Anderson who is one of our club skippers .

And to finish with, an archive photo from the 1970s showing the results of a first sea-angling trip out - a 20lb+ ling for John Geddes.