Shore Fishing for Red Band Fish
There is an official record for red-band fish off the shore at just over 7ozs taken way back in 2001, so it is possible to catch them off the shore. However, it’s likely to be a game of extreme patience and some long term planning but is probably not that difficult to achieve if you keep trying.
It’s no coincidence that the record is from a western Scottish loch where deep water is accessible directly off the shore. In our opinion, that’s where we’d be concentrating our efforts into one of the deeper Scottish sea lochs where you have a depth of more than 100-feet straight off the shoreline. Also, stick to the summer and autumn periods as we feel this offers you the best chance.
Apps like Navionics or paper charts for the area are the best places to start. Look for a mud or sandy, muddy bottom in that depth range of 100-feet or more within casting range of the shore. This puts you in the very best possible position. Stick to the smaller neap tides too, and fish braided lines to maximise bite detection. Also, try to pick out areas where the tide run is lessened, say inside an obvious bay or downtide of a rocky headland.
The same small feathers or luminous bodied lures are the best bet baiting with small slivers of mackerel strip. The 2-hook rig and small hooks is also worth a try, but the feathers may be best as some movement and the added attraction of the tinsel bodies will give you an edge over a natural but more static fished bait.
It’s no coincidence that the record is from a western Scottish loch where deep water is accessible directly off the shore. In our opinion, that’s where we’d be concentrating our efforts into one of the deeper Scottish sea lochs where you have a depth of more than 100-feet straight off the shoreline. Also, stick to the summer and autumn periods as we feel this offers you the best chance.
Apps like Navionics or paper charts for the area are the best places to start. Look for a mud or sandy, muddy bottom in that depth range of 100-feet or more within casting range of the shore. This puts you in the very best possible position. Stick to the smaller neap tides too, and fish braided lines to maximise bite detection. Also, try to pick out areas where the tide run is lessened, say inside an obvious bay or downtide of a rocky headland.
The same small feathers or luminous bodied lures are the best bet baiting with small slivers of mackerel strip. The 2-hook rig and small hooks is also worth a try, but the feathers may be best as some movement and the added attraction of the tinsel bodies will give you an edge over a natural but more static fished bait.
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