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THIS area is made up from
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mostly a clean, sandy bottom where rig losses are few and far between. It does however have a few rougher patches around the cliffs if you are prepared to go on a hike to find them.
If you are looking for a great family day out with a little fishing, or just a great day’s fishing, here’s the lowdown on it
Located five miles south of Peterhead and 27 miles north of Aberdeen, Cruden Bay is a little fishing village tucked away among some spectacular scenery. It offers good dab, plaice and flounder fishing with cod and coalies in the winter. There is also a chance of a bass and turbot from the beach!
The marks are easy to find with the main A90 Aberdeen to Fraserburgh road a few minutes drive away. From the A90 take the A975 and follow this road into Cruden Bay. Once you are in the village take the only turning and follow this road down to the car park at the harbour.
The distance is the only drawback – while it is only 27 miles from Aberdeen it is 100 miles from Dundee and so on. So, to get the most from this area, arrange an early start and take plenty of bait with you.
You will need this, especially if the dabs are around in any numbers. Take a good bucketful of worms, the preferred are rag and lug, back it up with fresh fish and a few peelers and you shouldn’t go far wrong.
1 The Beach
From the car park, walk back as if you are going back into the village. Cross the bridge to the left and follow the path onto the beach. Fish the beach two hours either side of low water, travel light and roam until you locate the fish.
Expect to find flounders, dabs and plaice on the beach with a chance of a bass if the surf’s up or a turbot if the water is settled and clear. A top tip is to use strips of mackerel or even a whole sandeel for the turbot.
2 The Right Corner of the Pier
This is the most favourable mark, as it throws up the better bags of dabs and plaice. Expect double and treble shots when these fish are here in numbers, usually from June onwards into late summer. Cod and coalies can also show during the winter when a sea is running. If things are a little slow try a short lob into the mouth of the burn, as it can often hold a flounder or two.
3 The Left-Hand Corner of the Pier
This is the quieter side of the pier as most people favour the right-hand side. But it is always worth a cast, bearing in mind that you are fishing the same water.
Again expect flounders, dabs and plaice with cod and coalies in the winter. It can pay to launch one from here, especially when it is a little quiet – you never know what might pick up your bait in the deeper water.
4 The Channel
Access to this mark requires a little walk around the harbour until you meet the wall. Follow the wall down to your left until you arrive at the channel. This is an under-rated mark which will throw up flounder and dabs in the summer, with the addition of coalies and cod in the winter. If sport is slow, try lobbing a bait into the channel between the two walls and even into the harbour.
5 Low Rocks
To get here take the same route as the channel but don’t go down the wall. Continue until you hit a flat area of concrete, turn left here taking care as this is often slippery with weed once you get to the water’s edge, pick your desired spot and tight lines. Again, this mark will produce flounders, dabs and plaice. Coalies and cod may be taken here in the winter, but extreme caution must be taken due to the ferocity of the winter seas. Fish this mark three hours either side of low water.
6 The Cliffs
To get to this area follow the harbour, round towards the channel, but at the end of the harbour look to your left and you will see a path climbing up the hill. Take this path, continually looking downwards until you find a likely and safe area to fish. Cod can be taken round the cliffs in both summer and winter. In the summer look for the kelp and fish in it, during the winter take care due to the sea states. Fish this area two hours either side of low water, but it can be fished during any state of the tide. Again. dabs and plaice can be caught here but usually at distance.
