Chris Empson knows the rocks and beaches around his home in Dunbar like the back of his hand.

And the angler used that knowledge to land pole position in the fifth round of the Bass Rock Sea Angling League’s summer series.

The angler picked a spot on the rocks near the mouth of Dunbar Harbour and it paid off as he landed five fine fish in the three-hour match.

The biggest fish was 3lbs 6oz and his total bag totalled 9lbs 4oz with peeler crab proving the top bait on what was a beautiful night weather wise but with a hefty swell.

It’s was Empson’s biggest haul since the winter series – another 9lb-plus catch – and he left the rest of the field, which included anglers from Berwick and West Edinburgh, in his slipstream.

Second was Barry McEwan who won the fourth round and is among the leaders in the chase for the silverware.

The Port Seton angler weighed-in one cod of 2lb 9oz and third was Paul Robertson (North Berwick) with one of 1lbs 6oz. McEwan and Robertson were among a large group who fished off the harbour wall .

Also prominent was Alan Brown with a fine bass caught in the later stages of the match.

There are five rounds left but the league takes a break for the Edinburgh Trades Holidays.

The next match is on Wednesday, July 17 in East Lothian at a venue to be confirmed on the club’s Facebook page on Sunday, July 14. It is Bass Rock SAL.

Craig Ogilvie, the club’s chairman, said the growing club are always keen to see new members who will be warmly welcomed.

The picture shows (l-r) Empson, Brown, Barry McEwan, Robertson and Colin McEwan after the weigh-in in fading light at Dunbar Harbour around 10.30pm.

Website | + posts

Experienced news, business, arts, sport and travel journalist. Food critic and managing editor of a well-established food and travel website. Also a magazine editor of publications with circulations of up to 200,000 and managing director of a long-established PR/marketing company with a string of blue-chip clients in its CV. Former communications lecturer at a Scottish university and social media specialist for a string of successful and busy SMEs.