Keep It Simple: Winning Rigs and Tactics from Edinburgh Winter Shore League Match 1 at Portobello Beach

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Date: Friday, 24th October
Location: Portobello Beach, Edinburgh
Event: Match 1 - Edinburgh Winter Shore League

A Great Start to the League

Match 1 of the Edinburgh Winter Shore League took place on Friday, 24th October, and what a fantastic turnout it was. A large number of anglers gathered at Portobello Beach to kick off the League in style.

Registration ran smoothly from 6:00 to 6:15pm, with fishing starting at 7:00pm and finishing at 10:00pm. Conditions were ideal for an enjoyable evening session, and spirits were high throughout the match.

Tactics: Keep It Simple

Throughout the evening, we gathered some great insights from anglers about their tactics. The main theme was: “Keep it simple.”

Popular rigs such as the three-hook flapper and general scratching tactics produced steady results all night. The key baits were worm and Mackerel, though as the tide developed, Mackerel proved to be the most effective choice. Hooks used on the night were Size 6 hooks, specifically Yuki AX63 Size 6's which are Perfect eyed fishing hooks that are light, thin, and sturdy.

Rods set up on Portobello Beach

Understanding Portobello Beach

For those less familiar with Portobello Beach it's a long flat beach with a rapidly moving tide. On beaches like this success often comes down to covering different areas of water to find the fish. The beach is relatively flat, so targeting gullies and ridges is essential. When the bites dry up it's essential to cast about and find where they're patrolling.

As the tide moves, anglers need to stay mobile and adjust their casting distances to stay on the fish. Reading the beach and responding to the changing conditions is often the difference between a good and a great session.

Gear and Setup

The Edinburgh Winter Shore League is strictly a single-rod competition, which means anglers must be adaptable to the changing water conditions. Either quickly swapping over rigs or carrying a spare setup so you can switch between close-range and long-distance fishing.

Recommended rods include:

These rods cover a range of fishing styles and allow anglers to respond effectively to changing conditions.

Looking Ahead

Match 1 was a strong start to the Edinburgh Winter Shore League, with great participation, friendly competition, and plenty of lessons learned.

We’re already looking forward to Match 2, which will be held at Seafield on Thursday, 31st October.

League Fixtures

Below is the full list of match dates, venues, and registration details for the 2025 Winter Shore League:


Tight lines, and see you at Seafield for Match 2!

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