Shore crab – The green crabs commonly found under rocks and weed around the shoreline near the low water mark.
Shooting head – A shorter fly line with a heavy belly section used to gain extra distance on the cast.
Shock leader – A length of strong line used when casting to withstand the shock of the cast and help prevent line breakage. A general guide is to use 10lb of breaking strain for every ounce being cast. So for a 4oz lead you should use at least a 40lb BS leader and for 6oz use not less than 60lb BS.
Shoal – A group of fish or a sandbank.
Shirvvy – see Chum
Shank – The straight, back part of a hook.
Shad – A plastic, fish shaped lure which is available incorporating an internal lead weight or un-weighted. The un-weighted version can be fished on a leadhead. Used when hopping. Also…
SFSA – The governing body for sea angling in Scotland. Selects international teams for Home Internationals and CIPS events.
Semidiurnal – Locations which have two low and two high tides each day.
Seasick – a horrible feeling on a boat with two stages. In the first you think you are dying and in the second you wish you were dead.