Another sell-out likely for Iain Reid Memorial Match

Around 60 anglers are set to compete over two days at Kirkcaldy on Saturday and Leven on Sunday in Iain Reid’s Memorial Match on the Fife Coast.

The popular annual sea fishing match has drawn top anglers from all over Scotland and from the North of England with rods in the water from noon to 4pm on both days.

Registration for the measure and release competition is from 10am to 11am at the East End Car Park at Kirkcaldy Promenade and pegging is from the harbour end of the beach.

Bait restrictions are lugworm and mackerel and winning anglers earn points for the national Penn Sea League.

Entry is £40 to include both days and one of the organisers, David Dobbie, confirmed that there are prizes for first, second and third plus awards for zone winners and the heaviest flat fish.

Mike Horn, the Kirkcaldy-based president of the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers, said dabs, flounders sea bass and whiting are species most likely to be hooked.

He revealed that staff from the Borders-based St Abbs Marine Station will be there and fish will be taken, placed into tanks and then transported back to their laboratory as they conduct tests to see how wind farms are affecting sea life.

The fish will be released back into the sea once the tests have been concluded.

Anglers are reminded that there is a 15cm minimum size limit but undersized fish will receive five points per fish.

The prize giving will be at the East Dock Bar, Methil KY8 3EQ after the match on Sunday.

Organisers also request prizes for a raffle to be held to assist funding for the Scottish Ladies Shore Angling team which competes annually in the Home Nations Shore Angling Championship. In fact, two members of the women’s team, Edinburgh-based but Aberdeen-born, Buffy McAvoy, and Lesley Maby from Cumbria, are listed as entrants this weekend.

Ian Campbell, organiser of the Edinburgh Winter Shore League, is taking names for leg three at Newhaven on Friday. Registration is from 6pm to 6.15pm at Western Harbour Breakwater EH6 6PA with fishing from 7pm to 10pm.

Full details on the Scottish Shore Angling Match Group’s Facebook page.

FLASHBACK: a previous leg of the Edinburgh Winter Shore League. Picture by Nigel Duncan