Lochaber has over 800 miles of coastline to tempt visiting sea anglers. It is easily accessible in some areas and wild and inhospitable in others. The coastline stretches from Cuil bay in the south, around the top of Loch Linnhe, before tracing the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and stretching northwards to the northern shores of Loch Nevis. Geographically the region has everything from sandy bays to towering cliffs, which in turn offers varied habitats for many species of fish. Because of this Lochaber can offer some great shore-angling as well as some excellent boat-fishing, with charter angling boats operating out of Fort William, Ballachullish, Loch Sunart and Mallaig.
Angling by boat out of Fort William is pretty unusual in the fact that you can find yourself fishing in depths of water that range from just a few metres deep to over 170 metres deep without travelling too far from port. No matter what the depth, all the charter boats will provide you with a great day out as well as hopefully a few fish.
There are a large selection of species on offer in the waters around Lochaber - from the humble dogfish to the awesome common skate, which can reach weights of over 150lbs. A few of the other common catches are Thornback Rays, Spurdogs, Conger Eels, Pollack and Whiting. These are just a few of the species you might find - contact either a local charter skipper or tackle shop for more information, possible venues and best times of the year, as well as advice on baits and fishing methods.
Conservation is very important to the waters around Lochaber. Angling is a sport and not a contest to see how many fish you can kill. If you would like future generations to enjoy the same experiences as you have, then please remember that there are not endless supplies of fish out there.
From a safety point of view please be aware of the possible dangers that can arise from tidal and weather conditions and don’t hesitate to contact either local skippers or coastguard offices for advice.
We hope that you will have a great time fishing the coastal waters of Lochaber and experience many a tight line in the process.
To find out more about current conditions visit the blog at http://fishmorvern-wildside.blogspot.com/
