Plenty fish in the sea for Ullapool anglers
There was a Jaws alert for youngsters at Ullapool’s fishing competition and marine day.
For the budding anglers learned about sharks in Scottish waters with the help of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas Project, the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network and the Scottish Shark Tagging programme.
The day was the biggest yet since the event restarted five years ago.
In total 19 boats and 91 anglers took to the sea while youngsters fished with crab nets on shore.
Junior anglers were given 10 minutes to try their hand at catching as many fish and species as they could from the side of Ullapool Harbour. These were returned to the sea.
Boats out fishing included local trawlers, creel boats, recreational boats and dinghies. During the day, 13 species were caught at sea, though those not destined for eating were returned and judges accepted photographic evidence.
This year a new prize was included for most mackerel. In total over 300kg of the delicacy was landed, which were given to people for eating or as bait to local creelers.
The Under 18s biggest fish joint winners were Ruby Maclennan and Shannon Urquhart who were aboard the Challenger with their grandad Murdo Urquhart and won the Mackenzie Cup.
The women’s biggest fish category was won by Valerie Sutton with a 5 lbs 5 oz pollock, aboard the Burach 2 skippered by Harry MacRae, winning the Arch Inn Ladies cup.
Hugh Fraser won the men’s category with a 7 lbz 7 oz pollock, caught aboard the ship skippered by Ian Napier, winning the Ullapool Harbour Trust cup.
Skipper with the most species was Sandy Mackenzie on the Grumpy George, winning the John Macrae memorial cup restored this year after being found in the attic by Threase Mackenzie and Murdo Mackenzie.
Skipper with most mackerel was Jonah Piggott who caught a staggering 148kg to win the newly recommissioned William Tolmie Macrae cup.
Jessica McLeod and Rheo Elliot took joint most fish in 10 minutes, catching 10 each and winning a rod tackle kit each donated by Ardmair Camp Site.
Finlay Pringle and Rheo Elliot shared most species in 10 minutes and won a book voucher and pair of binoculars.
Entry donations raised £177 donated to a local charity effort.
