Nigel Duncan on fishing: McEwan sets sights on World Championships after bronze

The Port Seaton angler, who is treasurer of the Bass Rock club, landed three fish for 1lb 5oz in the Dunbar Rover event fished in flat calm conditions, with Neil Anderson from North Berwick taking first position with three fish for 3lb 8oz, and William Stafford (Edinburgh) second with two fish for 3lb 6oz. Steve Biskup (North Berwick) was fourth with one fish of 1lb 3oz, and both he and Stafford won the heaviest fish prize. The next match is on Wednesday, October 25 at a venue to be decided.

McEwan, a self-employed carpet fitter, made his debut for the tartan team in the Home Internationals in Dorset last year, and he is in a new-look Scotland side who have been training hard for the world event, with regular sessions around the Scottish coastline.

Captain Billy Buckley admitted it was difficult to replicate the conditions they will face in the Mediterranean, and that is why they jet to the bustling Italian port of Catania – the industrial, logistical and commercial centre of Sicily, which is on the east coast, at the foot of Mount Etna, an active volcano – well ahead of the competition to practice before the competition starts on November 4.

Buckley, from Uddingston, is the only member of the five-man squad plus a reserve to have fished in a world team event before, but he does not see that as a negative, as a team of debutants came fifth in a previous event. The current squad, which also includes Michael McLaughlin (Cumbernauld), Nuno Santos (Glasgow), plus Calum Culbert (Aberdeen), are keen to learn. They will be accompanied by reserve Neil McMillan from Stevenston in Ayrshire, who will have a key role to play as a runner, passing vital information along the beach during competition.

Fishing is for four hours each day, with sessions in the morning and also into darkness, and the Scots will be using light lines around 0.14 in diameter, about 5lb, to cast further, over 200m, running the risk of snapping the line if a big fish grabs the hook.

Bream, garfish and bass are the likely species, with three baits allowed, including arenicola marina, a blow lugworm, and shrimp, and the team will use small hooks from six 6 to 12. Two or three hook flapper rigs or Portuguese rigs will be used, and the knowledge of Portugal-born Santos could be a real asset here as he has fished waters like Sicily before.

The Scots will use either pyramid or rolling leads as the tidal flow is light, around 1.5m, unlike Scotland, and Buckley said: "The guys are all extremely experienced domestic anglers who have come through the qualifying to get to this stage. Yes, it is a new team; I'm the only one who has fished in a world team event before, but Michael (McLaughlin) and I won silver in the world Pairs in France last year. The rest of the guys are open to ideas, which is tremendous, and the last time we had a similar team at world level we came fifth in France."

Scotland are back at the world level after a gap caused by COVID-19. They were mid-table when they last competed and that was in South Africa. Buckley added: "The last time we fished in Italy we came sixth, but Scotland have won the world championship before on British-style beaches. We fish well in Ireland and Denmark and England as these are conditions we are used to."

Locally, the annual cod league co-hosted by Mike Horn, president of the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers (SFSA), and his son Chris, who were both part of the gold medal-winning team in the Home International in Wales earlier this year, starts on Saturday, November 18, with other legs on Saturday, December 2; Saturday, January 13; Saturday, January 20; and Saturday, February 3.

The venue is Carnoustie to Ferryden Lighthouse, and entry is £10, and fishing in the first leg is between 15.30 and 20.30 with registration from 14.00 to 14.30 at the Victoria Car Park, Arbroath. All leave at 14.30. Fishing in the second leg is from 17.00 to 22.00 and registration is also at the Victoria Car Park. All leave at 16.00. Times for the rest of the legs will be confirmed later, and SFSA rules apply. Contact Chris on 07872 944807 for details.

Meanwhile, Stewart Falconer and Allan Saunders are organising the Arbroath Winter Cod Open on October 28, with fishing from 3pm to 9pm and registration at Victoria Car Park, Arbroath from 2pm to 2.15pm. Boundaries are from Carnoustie to Ferryden. Weigh in is 9pm to 10pm and it is one rod and three hooks maximum. The three heaviest bags and heaviest fish are among the prizes, and high tide is 14.40 (5.44 metres) with low tide 20.37 (1.04 metres). Call Falconer on 07759 379978 or Saunders on 07387 655760 for details.

A reminder that Iain Reid's popular two-day Memorial Match is confirmed for November 4 and 5. The Saturday session is from 10am to 2pm at Kirkcaldy and the second from 11am to 3pm at Leven. Registration for both days is from 8am to 9.30am and the end car park at Kirkcaldy Promenade and there are 50 pegs available. Lugworm and mackerel are the only baits allowed. Entry is £40 for the two days and Penn Sea League points are on offer. Contact David Dobbie on 07940 111729 or Alan Combe on 07872 899791 for more information about the event.

In coarse fishing, Derek Brady has closed entries for the Del's Fresh Produce-sponsored Silvers Series at Magiscroft with the one practice day scheduled for Sunday, October 29. International anglers Dave McAuley, James Dornom and Dave Corcoran from Edinburgh, James Woodrow and Gus Brindle are in the field along with Colin Hart, Chris Paton and Scott Laird.

And Morton Fishings near Livingston host their first competition since Sandy Mabon took over. Fishing is 8am to 4.30pm and it is £40 to enter. Date October 29.