Fifteen minutes walk from Isle of Whithorn is Stein Head, a rocky outcrop at the base of some high cliffs, making it unsuitable for children.
The kelp and rock pinnacles close in hold fish at all states of the tide, but the flood and two hours back will give you eight hours of fishing.
You will be marooned here over high water, so only fish during calm conditions. You can get onto the main point about two hours either side of high water. There is a flat spot at the front.
SPECIES
Pollack, wrasse, conger eels, dogfish, thornback rays, huss, spurdogs, codling, gurnards, coalfish and dabs between April and October. November to March offers the possibility of some codling, small pollack, whiting, dabs and the odd dogfish.
BEST BAITS
Crabs, worms and mackerel will all take fish. Floatfished ragworms, mackerel and sandeels will pick up Pollack and odd coalfish. Ragworms take plenty of wrasse close into the rock face. Freelined baits or lures do well , particularly for pollack when there is good tidal movement.
TACKLE
Standard beachcasting tackle is suitable and you can fish with two-hook rigs without fear of losing too much tackle, but heavier tackle will be needed if fishing for conger eels or double shots of dogfish. A single-hook clipped leger rig with a strong hook of at least size 2/0 and a grip lead will be needed at most times. Legering requires a rotten-bottom rig or you will lose tackle every cast.
GETTING THERE
Park in Isle of Whithorn car park, which is next to the phone box. Walk to the front of Laigh Isle (a private chalet park and private parking) via the road past the village hall or via the cut through the houses in the main street. Look left and Stein Head is the big cliff point several hundred yards away. Follow the path round the rocks, through a gate and down a steep track to the point.
TACKLE SHOP
Galloway Angling Centre, 1 Queen St, Newton Stewart, tel: 01671 401333.
