DOWN THE SOUND
A mile or so south of the town centre of Oban is an easy access rock mark that offers some superb angling, plenty of species variety and even a surprise or two
Superb shore fishing on Oban’s doorstep.
Some great shore angling experiences and the opportunity to target a variety of different of species on a wide range of angling methods are available in the Oban area on the west coast of Scotland. One such mark that shows this in abundance is Kilbowie House within the Sound of Kerrera, just over a mile from the town’s centre. This is an easy access, relatively snag-free and productive deepwater rock mark that offers anglers catches all year round. As a local angler, Kilbowie House is the first place that comes to mind whenever I think about heading out the door to go fishing.
SPECIES GUIDE
Throughout the year, general sea angling tactics will produce fish. Thornback rays are my main target when fishing here, and they can be throughout the year, with individuals ranging from the size of hatchlings to double figures, reaching 15lb, although the average size is around 4-5lb.
However, from mid-March through to early July sees both larger numbers and the overall size of the rays increase as the bigger females move up the Sound of Kerrera to feed, breed and lay their eggs after overwintering in the deep waters of the Firth of Lorne.
Spurdogs to around 11lb also show here, but their movements within the Sound are not well understood and their appearance at Kilbowie on any given day is unpredictable at best, but fish can turn up from late-March right through to December. There is always a telling decline in small fish activity when the spurdogs are moving through the area searching for prey.
Large dogfish are ever present and numerous, some of which can reach well over 3lb and can be both a sin and saviour as they can quickly the devour baits intended for other species. However, they help to prevent blanks when times are tough.
Other common species caught all year are dabs, alongside small codling and other juvenile whiting, coalfish, pollack, pouting and poor cod.
Of course, there are also occasional shortspined sea scorpions and some are large enough to swallow a whole tangerine.
Summer produces a few larger pollack of 2-3lb and, of course, mackerel to lures or float-fishing tactics. Using bottom-fished baits during the summer until late-October will also catch eels, rockling, occasional
small flounders along with grey gurnards and the rarer red version.
Large shoals of pin-whiting usually show from late August and can be a nuisance to get through at times, but a bit of patience will see larger and more desirable specimens to around a 1lb caught during December and January.
Codling are a common catch here, though fish of 3lb are rare and, for me at least, are an exciting sight. Many anglers would scoff at this, especially someone who fishes places like the north-east of Scotland, but the coastal waters within the Firth of Lorne complex operate as a highly valued nursery area for such species, so larger fish are generally few and far between. However, larger codling are available particularly in late summer and through to December when maturing fish are leaving the sanctuary of Oban bay to head out to their spawning grounds offshore.
Other rare catches at Kilbowie include small ling to 3lb and juvenile bull huss. Some egg cases have been found in the algal cover at Kilbowie. Recently, adults from 8-16lb have been caught by anglers on charter boats operating out of Oban, indicating that there is a small breeding population in the region and that the Sound of Kerrera may be getting used as an egg laying and nursery ground.
Some species I have not encountered that may appear are ballan and possibly cuckoo wrasse, small plaice and tub gurnards, all of which have been photographed by divers nearby, with the former fairly commonly seen. Lumpsuckers have been recorded in scientific studies within the Sound and may be possible captures.
I have done very little fishing for mini species at Kilbowie, although rock gobies are definitely present. Other species found throughout the Sound of Kerrera and Oban bay include leopard-spotted, black and twospotted gobies, sticklebacks, long-spined sea scorpions, butterfish, common blennies, common dragonets and the three mini wrasse species (corkwing, rock cook and goldsinney).
TOP TACTICS
General sea angling methods and tactics will catch plenty of fish at Kilbowie, both during the day and during the night, over all manner of tides and in most weather conditions.
If specifically targeting thornback rays, choose the building and falling spring tides during the two or three days before and after the peak of the cycle. Either high or low water falling into darkness during periods of relatively settled weather seem to fish best.
Neap tides still fish well for all the species available and are generally preferred for targeting the smaller species, like dabs and gurnards. This is down to the powerful tidal flows found in the region. Over the spring tide cycle, there is only a period of around 40 minutes to an hour, rather than the usual three hours, where the tide slackens over high or low water, which maximises the fishing time in between.
Bites will be slow when the water pushes through at its maximum as the tide begins to turn. Prolonged periods of poor weather with high winds and rain tend to push fish further down the Sound into deeper water.
Do not be fooled by what the weather forecast says in terms of wind speed. When the wind is coming from the south-west or north-east, the wind speed is strengthened as it is funnelled between the hills on the Isle of Kerrera and the cliffs on the mainland. This does not really seem to affect the actual fishing rather than the fishing conditions for the angler.
It is always best to stick to grip leads of at least 6oz, regardless of the tidal cycle. Cast slightly uptide too because the tide really pushes as it changes direction either side of slack water. The buoy, some 70 yards from the shore, is a tackle-busting snag waiting to happen if fishing downtide during this period or with lighter leads that are likely to be swept along by the tide.
Casts of 80-90 yards will put baits into more than 70 feet of water over a snag-free and predominantly muddy seabed and will produce most of the species available. A very good strategy is to also drop baits in close, roughly between 15-30 yards from the shore, which can produce surprisingly good results.
Both the thornback rays and spurdogs will patrol the edges of the rocks and weed in search of prey items.
Dropping short seems to consistently produce the larger codling to bait.
TACKLE CHOICES
Generalised but quality beach angling gear is all that is needed to fish Kilbowie.
A 12-14ft beachcaster, rated to cast 4-6oz, coupled with either a size 15 or 20 multiplier or 6000 or 10,000 fixed-spool reel with a
smooth and reliable drag system, loaded with 18-20lb mono mainline and a 60lb shockleader is more than sufficient to target all the species available. Using a lighter match-style beachcaster alongside a generalised set-up is a good way to get more sport from the smaller species, but stick to the same strength of line and leader to help deal with casting 6oz lead weights. I stick to my tried and trusted set-up of a 14ft Anyfish Anywhere Six&Bait Mk2 coupled with a Shimano Ultegra 10,000 loaded with 20lb mono and a 60lb shockleader alongside a 13ft 8in Anyfish Anywhere Tournament Match Mk2, rated to cast 150-200g, coupled with the same reel and line specifications. The lighter Tournament Match allows me to detect the smallest bites and target any of the species that may be caught, but still has the power to deal with bigger fish. The Six&Bait gives me brute strength for bullying larger fish. For those who use a multiplier reel, I recommend a Penn Fathom 15 because it is simply a great all-round reel, although a similar quality multiplier will do just fine. Rigs can be kept simple too. I suggest pulley or up and over/long and low rigs armed with strong size 2/0 to 4/0 hooks and no less than 60lb mono snoods when targeting thornback rays and dogfish. In case some spurdogs show, it is advisable to carry some pulley rigs with stronger snoods with 100lb-plus mono, or even a short length of supple 49-strand wire to help deal with their sharp teeth. For targeting the smaller species like whiting, pouting, dabs or gurnards, use flapper rigs with two or three hook snoods of 20lb Berkley Trilene fluorocarbon. Alternatives are the boom, Wessex, cascade, loop and staggered wishbone rigs. Hooks should be size 6 to size 1/0. You can add some coloured beads and sequins for added attraction.
BAIT SELECTION
The most consistent bait is mackerel, fresh or frozen, with small strips and, in particular, the white belly used for all the species available. Larger strips or half fillets will tempt the thornbacks, dogfish and spurdogs. The rays and spurs also take medium-sized sandeels, whole squid and fillets of Bluey, while smaller sandeels, strips of squid and bluey, ragworms if available and raw prawns catch most of the other species, like the dabs, gurnards and gadoids. Cocktailed baits work well, particularly if bites are slow. A sandeel tipped with mackerel belly is a favourite for a variety of different species, while a medium or large sandeel wrapped in Bluey, mackerel or squid can occasionally help pick out better rays. A squid/mackerel combination is a firm favourite if bites on mackerel baits are proving hard to find. Do not discount using a small fresh pin-whiting or poor cod as bait because some of my largest thornbacks have fallen to these, while spurdogs, if present, will quickly devour them.