Dornoch Sands

Dornoch

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Our predictions for this spot, blended from the Ullapool and Wick tide gauges either side. Heights are above the year's lowest tide. This uses Environment Agency tide gauge data from the real-time data API (Beta). Not for navigation.

Today's tides

RisingHigh water 14:23, in 3 h 1 minNeap tides

High02:001.4 m01:12–02:47
Low06:301.0 m05:50–07:09
High14:231.6 m13:25–15:22
Low21:100.9 m19:45–22:34

Fish activity · more fish, better chance. Tap for why

Science says

Other good times

Shoaling autumn and winter fish that bites freely after dark.

Suggested baits

Fish strip
Lugworm
Squid

Rigs

Flapper (two or three hook)
Paternoster

No other good times this week.

Draft profile, not yet reviewed. Based on FishBase: Merlangius merlangus and Cefas, Catchwise: A Survey of Marine Recreational Fishing Activity in England and Wales (2026).

About whitingSize rules for Scottish Government not checked yetThree dorsal fins and two anal fins, like cod, but slimmer and silvery.

No angler reports here yet. Be the first.

Fished here? How did you get on?

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Next 7 days

Times are the middle of each turn. The small times underneath are slack water, when the level stays close to high or low.

TodaySun 18 OctNeaps
1. High02:001.4 m01:12–02:47
2. Low06:301.0 m05:50–07:09
3. High14:231.6 m13:25–15:22
4. Low

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 07:57
Sunset: 18:03
Moon: First quarter, 48%
Wind: SSW 0–7 mph
Waves: Waves 0.1 m
Sea temperature: Sea 12.2°C

Top pick this week
Friday evening
17:00–19:00
92Excellent
- 4h into the flood
- Dusk
- Mid tides
Fish activity · more fish, better chance. Tap for why
WhitingLight WSW 9 mph
Where they're caught
- WhitingExpected here
  Expected here from the ground and depth, not yet confirmed by a catch.
Why this time?
Tide: 4h into the floodShoals move in on the flood, most active through the middle of it.
Light: DuskCome close in as the light goes.
Tide size: Mid tidesBite on most tides; middling sizes are easiest to fish.
Season: Peak season in OctoberSeptember to February, best October to December.
Wind: Light WSW 9 mphLight enough to fish comfortably, so it costs nothing.
Sea: Slight (0.4 m waves)Not fussy about sea state unless it gets rough.
Water: Sea 11.6°CComfortable between 5 and 14°C, best around 9°C.
How we score
2nd best this week
Thursday evening
17:00–18:00
84Excellent
- 5h into the flood
- Dusk
- Neaps
Fish activity · more fish, better chance. Tap for why
WhitingLight S 8 mph
Where they're caught
- WhitingExpected here
  Expected here from the ground and depth, not yet confirmed by a catch.
Why this time?
Tide: 5h into the floodShoals move in on the flood, most active through the middle of it.
Light: DuskCome close in as the light goes.
Tide size: NeapsBite on most tides; middling sizes are easiest to fish.
Season: Peak season in OctoberSeptember to February, best October to December.
Wind: Light S 8 mphLight enough to fish comfortably, so it costs nothing.
Sea: Slight (0.5 m waves)Not fussy about sea state unless it gets rough.
Water: Sea 11.7°CComfortable between 5 and 14°C, best around 9°C.
How we score

and General UK sea-angling guidance (to be verified)

21:10

0.9 m

19:45–22:34

No standout fishing times0.7 m range

Fish activity · more fish, better chance. Tap for why

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 07:57
Sunset: 18:03
Moon: First quarter, 48%
Wind: SSW 0–7 mph
Waves: Waves 0.1 m
Sea temperature: Sea 12.2°C

TomorrowMon 19 OctNeaps

High03:201.4 m02:38–04:02
Low07:401.1 m06:36–08:43
High15:371.6 m14:39–16:35
Low22:570.8 m21:59–23:55

No standout fishing times0.8 m range

Fish activity · more fish, better chance. Tap for why

Tue 20 OctNeaps

High04:451.4 m03:50–05:40
Low10:551.1 m09:51–11:59
High16:471.6 m15:44–17:50
Low23:450.6 m22:49–00:41

No standout fishing times1.0 m range

Fish activity · more fish, better chance. Tap for why

Wed 21 OctNeaps

High05:471.5 m04:48–06:46
Low11:450.9 m10:48–12:41
High17:391.8 m16:37–18:42

No standout fishing times0.9 m range

Fish activity · more fish, better chance. Tap for why

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 08:04
Sunset: 17:56
Moon: Waxing gibbous, 76%
Wind: NNW 4–17 mph, gusts 30
Waves: Waves 0.9 m
Sea temperature: Sea 12.0°C

Thu 22 OctNeaps

Low00:240.4 m23:31–01:18
High06:301.6 m05:30–07:29
Low12:250.7 m11:35–13:14
High18:201.9 m17:19–19:20

84Best 17:00–18:001.2 m range

Fish activity · more fish, better chance. Tap for why

Fri 23 OctMid tides

Low00:570.3 m00:07–01:47
High07:021.8 m05:57–08:07
Low13:000.5 m12:08–13:51
High18:562.0 m17:51–20:01

92Best 17:00–19:001.5 m range

Fish activity · more fish, better chance. Tap for why

Sat 24 OctMid tides

Low01:300.1 m00:39–02:21
High07:331.9 m06:30–08:36
Low13:360.4 m12:46–14:27
High19:342.2 m18:31–20:38

No standout fishing times1.8 m range

Fish activity · more fish, better chance. Tap for why

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 07:59
Sunset: 18:01
Moon: First quarter, 58%
Wind: SSE 1–11 mph, gusts 21
Waves: Waves 0.4 m
Sea temperature: Sea 12.1°C

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 08:02
Sunset: 17:58
Moon: First quarter, 67%
Wind: SSE 4–15 mph, gusts 27
Waves: Waves 0.9 m
Sea temperature: Sea 12.1°C

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 08:06
Sunset: 17:53
Moon: Waxing gibbous, 84%
Wind: S 3–10 mph, gusts 18
Waves: Waves 0.7 m
Sea temperature: Sea 11.8°C

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 08:08
Sunset: 17:50
Moon: Waxing gibbous, 91%
Wind: W 4–10 mph, gusts 18
Waves: Waves 0.6 m
Sea temperature: Sea 11.6°C

Good fishing timeDark

Sunrise: 08:11
Sunset: 17:48
Moon: Full moon, 96%
Wind: SE 9–23 mph, gusts 46
Waves: Waves 1.4 m
Sea temperature: Sea 11.3°C

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Two taps is all it takes. It builds a picture of Dornoch Sands for everyone.