Scottish West Coast fishing forecast
Scottish West Coast is a saltwater fishing spot in Highland Scotland, United Kingdom. Anglers here target Atlantic Cod, Pollock, Atlantic Mackerel, Atlantic Halibut. The most productive months are typically May, June, July, August, September, October.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #257 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.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 13.8 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 30 km/h from WSW, gusting 57 km/h |
| Wave height | 0.5 m at 3 s |
| Current | 0.01 m/s toward SSW |
| Pressure | 994 hPa |
| Depth | 59 m |
| Cloud cover | 42% |
| Chlorophyll | 0.51 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 34.0 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 14 m |
| UV index | 0 |
| Precipitation (24h) | 0.3 mm |
| Wind sea | 0.4 m at 3 s |
| Ground swell | 0.1 m at 3 s from SSW |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.01 → 0.00 m/s |
The water here is 2.0 °C warmer than the September average of 11.8 °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 Scottish West Coast
Scottish West Coast currently scores 66 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 13.8 °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
- Barometric pressure +3.3
- falling pressure often triggers feeding
- Cloud cover +3.0
- light penetration and fish confidence
- Moon phase +2.1
- lunar feeding rhythm
What’s biting now
The model expects today: atlantic-salmon, atlantic-halibut, atlantic-mackerel, sea-trout, atlantic-wolffish, atlantic-herring, common-dab, haddock
[object Object] — Protected here — release immediately
Bite windows
Best months for Scottish West Coast:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-08-14, 84/100
14 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
About this spot
Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.
Approximate bottom depth: 59 m
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · offshore-only
What you can catch
-
Gadus morhua
-
Pollachius pollachius
-
Scomber scombrus
-
Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Best months by species at Scottish West Coast
| Atlantic CodGadus morhua | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PollockPollachius pollachius | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic MackerelScomber scombrus | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic HalibutHippoglossus hippoglossus |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| 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. | |||
| Atlantic MackerelOfficial source | — | min 30 cm | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| CORRECTED 2026-08-06: mackerel is NOT size-unlimited. The UK MCRS is 20 cm across the whole area EXCEPT the North Sea, where it is 30 cm. FishRadar shows the stricter 30 cm because the pack cannot resolve which side of the North Sea boundary you are fishing — on the south and west coasts the legal minimum is 20 cm. No recreational daily bag limit is published by MMO/Defra (the "20 per day" this pack previously carried had no source). | |||
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.
Check Scottish West Coast before you go
Live scores update through the day. Get the full forecast, bite windows, and your own saved spots in the FishRadar app.
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 556 km of Scottish West Coast.
-
Outer Hebrides
Loch Ness Scotland
River Tay Scotland
Orkney Islands
Farne Islands Northumberland
Lake Windermere England
Windermere England
Shetland Banks
River Dee Wales
Cardigan Bay Wales
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Scottish West Coast?
Anglers at Scottish West Coast target Atlantic Cod, Pollock, Atlantic Mackerel and Atlantic Halibut.
When is the best time to fish Scottish West Coast?
The most productive months at Scottish West Coast are typically May, June, July, August, September, October.
What is the fishing forecast for Scottish West Coast right now?
Scottish West Coast currently scores 66 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish Scottish West Coast from shore?
Yes — Scottish West Coast is fishable from shore (offshore-only).
Is the thermocline set up at Scottish West Coast right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at Scottish West Coast?
The scored point sits over roughly 59 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Pacific Halibut: The Barn Door of the North PacificHow to Read Tides for FishingHow to Read a Fishing Forecast
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.