Is It Legal?

[Wildfisher]

There seems to have been a lot of videos on YT about catching sea trout in the sea from Scotland's shoreline.

Assuming they have no permits, is it legal?

[Fishtales]

No.

There is a common misconception that there is a general right to fish for sea trout in the sea or tidal areas in Scotland. This is incorrect and, as in freshwater, it is a criminal offence to fish for sea trout and salmon in any part of the sea within 1.5km of mean low water springs.

https://fms.scot/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/190606-Legal-Freshwater-fisheries-law-in-Scotland.pdf

[arawa]

Legal or not, there are quite a few anglers (local and holidaymakers) spinning for and catching sea trout off the beaches near me. One I know has been doing it for years and has never been questioned.
Not condoning their behaviour but actually what they catch is a tiny fraction that the dolphins can be seen taking every day. And I doubt the scores of seals off the river mouth are looking for mackerel!

[IanR]

Don't know about the legality, but fly fishing for sea trout is widely practiced in Orkney.

[Wildfisher]

I did wonder as a guy I know was knobbled by bailiffs from the Tay Fisheries Board when bass fishing from Elliot beach Arbroath. They assumed he was fishing for salmonids.

Might be the guys making the YT videos have permission of course. 

[Fishtales]

Don't know about the legality, but fly fishing for sea trout is widely practiced in Orkney.

It is legal in Orkney and Shetland I think.

[Fishtales]

You need a permit to fish for them at the estuary of the Leven that runs out of Loch Lomond.

[IanR]

It is legal in Orkney and Shetland I think.

I think that  it's relating to old Norse laws......

[Bobfly]

Permits are sold in Dundee by the council to cover both sides of the Tay in that locality.

[Fishtales]

I did wonder as a guy I know was knobbled by bailiffs from the Tay Fisheries Board when bass fishing from Elliot beach Arbroath. They assumed he was fishing for salmonids.

Might be the guys making the YT videos have permission of course. 

They can't assume they need positive proof. If he lands a Sea Trout or Salmon and returns it immediately then there is still nothing they can do. If he keeps the fish then he has committed the crime and then they can do something about it. What they were doing would be classed as harassment and it would be them in trouble if the police got involved.