Tough Conditions, Strong Performances: Shore League Match 2 at Newhaven

Date: Friday 23rd January 2026
Venue: Newhaven Breakwater
Event: Match 2 – Edinburgh New Year Shore League

Sponsored by Edinburgh Angling Centre / Fishingmegastore and Cox & Rawle

A Testing Night at Newhaven

Match 2 of the Edinburgh New Year Shore League 2026 was contested on Friday 23rd January at Newhaven Breakwater. Following a very strong easterly wind that battered the coast the previous day, conditions were far from easy.

Despite this, Newhaven once again proved its reliability as a venue, continuing to produce fish even when the weather was firmly against the anglers.

While the fishing wasn’t exactly on fire, competitors were kept busy with the usual mix of Whiting and Codling, along with the welcome appearance of a few Dabs.

In total, the 15 anglers fishing the match recorded an impressive 82 fish, a solid return considering the challenging conditions and strong residual swell.

The standout performance of the night came from Chris Cooper, who put together a dominant display to secure a convincing win with 19 fish for 418 points.

Meanwhile, Stewart Falconer continues his strong start to the series and currently sits top of the overall standings, having placed second and third across the opening two matches.

Longest Fish

The prize for Longest Fish went to Kevin McNeish, who landed a fine 36cm codling, the biggest fish of the match.

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Tactics and Approach

Scratching was very much the order of the day as anglers fished the dropping tide in darkness. With slippery footing and blustery conditions overhead, it was not a night for rushing around the rocks.

The most effective method on the night was clearly three-hook flapper rigs, fitted with size 6 hooks and baited with mackerel, which accounted for the majority of fish caught.

Match 2 Results

• 1st – Chris Cooper: 19 fish, 418 points

• 2nd – Gordon Lyall: 12 fish, 256 points

• 3rd – Stewart Falconer: 8 fish, 170 points

Full results and the updated league table can be found below.

Congratulations to all competitors who fished in tough conditions, and a well-deserved win for Chris Cooper after a commanding performance on the night.

If you’d like to join the league or find out more, please get in touch with EAC Store Manager Ian Campbell or contact us directly through the shop. With two rounds now completed, the Edinburgh New Year Shore League 2026 is starting to take shape, but there’s still plenty to be decided. As attention turns to Match 3, anglers will be hoping for slightly kinder conditions as they look to gain ground in the standings and put pressure on the early pace-setters. With consistency already proving crucial, the next match could play a key role in shaping the outcome of the league.

Want to stay up to date on the Shore League? You can find all the information and updates on Edinburgh Angling Centre's Facebook Page - If you want to check out the latest deals we have on offer check out our website and also sign up to our E-Mail offers too.