Category: Updates

There have been several reports of non native Pink Salmon being caught in Scottish rivers including the Oykel. If you catch one of these fish please follow the advice below issued by Fisheries Management Scotland. You do not need to use a tag on a killed Pink Salmon.

Identification

Pacific pink salmon, when fresh from the sea, are steel blue to blue-green on their backs, silver on the flanks and white on their bellies. There are large black spots on the backs, upper flanks, adipose fins and tail – some of the spots on the tail can be as large as the fish’s eyes. They are very uniform in size, reaching only 40 to 60cms in length.

Breeding males are immediately identifiable because of their humps and they will almost certainly be running milt at this time of year. Their black tongues and heavily spotted tails are also very obvious. Females will show heavily spotted tails and be pinkish-brown on the flanks.

What should you do if you capture a Pacific salmon?

As above, Pacific pink salmon are usually clearly identifiable from their Atlantic counterparts – particularly when mature and in spawning condition. If you are confident that you have captured a pacific pink salmon, it should be humanely despatched and retained. It would be helpful if captures are reported to the relevant district salmon fishery board and fishery trust. If it is practical to do so, please pass the fish to the relevant personnel at the DSFB or trust for further inspection and analysis.

The full Fisheries Management Scotland advice note can be read here.

The KoSAA was delighted to receive funding from the Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) project team at Loch Buidhe Substation which has enabled us to purchase a Highlander Club 15 fishing boat to replace the old leaking boat on Loch Cracail Mor.

The new boat has already been used by members and we are very grateful to SSEN for this generous sponsorship.

SSEN Project Manager, Russell Stewart, said:

We are delighted to be able to support the Kyle of Sutherland Angling Association by providing a new boat and hope that this will help retain the tourism and visitors who come to Loch Cracail Mor, located to the south west of Loch Buidhe substation, to go loch fishing.

As a responsible developer, we try to work actively with local communities to show care for the environment where we are working and to minimise disruption and support long term economic benefits.

Members and visitors are reminded that below the road bridge at Bonar Bridge is designated as Category 3 for 2017 and all salmon caught must be released.

The Kyle above the road bridge remains as Category 1 and the current KoSAA rules and tagging policy apply.

Armadale Tracking Project

Tags Wanted – Reward

Marine Scotland is tracking salmon from July 2017 and would like your help.

If you catch a salmon with a tag (as shown in the attached photograph) near the dorsal fin, then please remove it by cutting through the plastic cord to remove the acoustic tag (black cylinder). Please note that the colour of the cord may vary from yellow.

Please send the acoustic tag, also with a note of day and location of capture, to:

Armadale Tracking,
Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory,
Faskally,
Pitlochry,
PH16 5LB

Please enclose your name, postal and email (if applicable) address and we will send you £20 in reward.

If you have any other information about the fish (eg a photo, length, sex) then please include it when you send in the tag. However, please do not delay the safe return of the fish to the water to obtain any such information.

Fish were still being caught up to the end of the first week, with Don MacKay recoding the best fish of the season so far.

Two sets of rod carriers were stolen from vehicles parked at the old ice house at Bonar Bridge this morning.

This year, subject to availability, KoSAA members have been allocated up to two rods per day to fish on the Upper Oykel until the week ending 18th June.

For details, please see the Upper Oykel Fishings page.