Orkney · United Kingdom

Orkney Islands fishing forecast

93 Good of 100

Orkney Islands is a saltwater fishing spot in Orkney, United Kingdom. Anglers here target Atlantic Cod, Atlantic Halibut, Pollock, Saithe. The most productive months are typically May, June, July, August, September.

Quick answer

Best monthsMay, June, July, August

Top speciesAtlantic Cod, Atlantic Halibut, Pollock

Score now93/100

Local rulesUnited Kingdom

Today’s verdict

Ranks #37 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

In line with this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+25.0Chlorophyll+18.0Waves+9.0

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

18:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

dawn 05:31

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	13.3 °C
Wind	32 km/h from S, gusting 44 km/h
Wave height	1.2 m at 8 s
Current	0.05 m/s toward NE
Pressure	990 hPa
Depth	2 m
Cloud cover	12%
Chlorophyll	1.18 mg/m³
Salinity	34.9 PSU
Mixed-layer depth	34 m
UV index	0
Wind sea	0.6 m at 3 s
Ground swell	0.8 m at 8 s from W
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)	0.05 → 0.00 m/s

Nearest buoy: K7 Buoy (175 km): water 12.4 °C, waves —

The water here is 2.4 °C warmer than the September average of 11.0 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 39.4 m, with the thermocline below that.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Orkney Islands

Orkney Islands currently scores 93 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 13.3 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +25.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Chlorophyll +18.0: plankton density — the base of the food chain
Waves +9.0: swell energy stirring the water column
Current +5.0: moving water concentrates bait
Barometric pressure +3.3: falling pressure often triggers feeding
Moon phase +2.1: lunar feeding rhythm

What’s biting now

The model expects today: atlantic-halibut, atlantic-salmon, greenland-halibut, atlantic-wolffish, atlantic-herring, sea-trout, common-dab, haddock

[object Object] — Protected here — release immediately

Bite windows

Moon

Waning Crescent · 14% lit

Solunar day rating

60 / 100

Best months for Orkney Islands:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-08-21, 97/100

26 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

About this spot

Water type

Sea

Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · offshore-only

What you can catch

Atlantic Cod

Gadus morhua
Atlantic Halibut

Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Pollock

Pollachius pollachius
Saithe

Pollachius virens

Best months by species at Orkney Islands

Atlantic CodGadus morhua
Atlantic HalibutHippoglossus hippoglossus
PollockPollachius pollachius
SaithePollachius virens

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

Marine Management Organisation (MMO) / Defra / Marine Directorate (Scotland)

United Kingdom

Species	Bag limit	Min size	Open season
Atlantic CodOfficial source	—	min 35 cm	Jan 1 – Dec 31
Minimum Conservation Reference Size 35 cm — every cod below it must be returned to the sea immediately. No recreational daily bag limit is published by MMO/Defra (the "5 per day" this pack previously carried had no source). Inside 6 nautical miles your IFCA, DAERA, Marine Directorate or the Welsh Government may set a larger minimum size; cod recovery measures also apply to some North Sea areas.

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents No licence required for recreational sea fishing from shore or boat in England and Wales, and no individual licence for sea fishing in Scotland. Species-specific rules still bind you, and your local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) may set additional minimum sizes inside 6 nautical miles., non-residents No licence required. The same species rules and local IFCA byelaws apply.

FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. UK rules vary by area (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) and your local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority can set stricter limits inside 6 nautical miles. Always verify with the MMO at gov.uk and the Marine Directorate before fishing.