St Abbs Head
FreeA dramatic National Nature Reserve headland on the Berwickshire coast that produces genuinely big pollock every year to lures, spinners and jelly lures, alongside huge numbers of summer mackerel and coalfish that can turn up in pest-like proportions when they're really on the feed. Wrasse come readily to float-fished ragworm or mackerel strip, and the cod fishing holds up well too, with plenty of local anglers rating peeler crab as the only bait worth bothering with here.
Access: Free shore access, no rod licence needed for sea fishing
Parking: St Abbs Head NNR car park, coastal footpath down to the rock marks
Last updated: 9 September 2026
Species you can expect
| Species | Best season |
|---|---|
| Pollock | Summer, Autumn |
| Mackerel | Summer |
| Coalfish | Summer |
| Wrasse | Summer |
| Cod | Summer |
Many of the rock marks here are genuinely difficult to get to, and even light rain makes the rocks slippery and dangerous underfoot, so this one is best left for good weather and a careful choice of mark rather than pushed in poor conditions. Peeler crab is the standout summer cod bait according to local opinion, worth prioritising over other options if you can get hold of some.
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