Fishing

People have been catching fish along the East coast and the Helmsdale River for thousands of years. The earliest methods included placing fish traps, called cruives,  across the river to catch salmon, as well as long funnel nets to ensnare eels. In the last 200 years men used ever bigger fishing boats to catch the shoals of herring that migrated annually along the East coast. Fishing on the Helmsdale River using a rod is a sporting pursuit enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Although sea fishing is no longer the important industry it once was, there is still a thriving local trade in shell fish, lobsters and crabs. Learn more about sea and river fishing in our museum.

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