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Come Inside... => The Sports Bar => Topic started by: Miss Creant Commander of the picklement and baking BAb(Hons) on July 25, 2009, 10:14:26 AM

Title: Fishing
Post by: Miss Creant Commander of the picklement and baking BAb(Hons) on July 25, 2009, 10:14:26 AM: I want to start fishing. Both freshwater and sea fishing. I know nothing whatsoever about it and haven't a clue where to start. I want to eat what I catch. Advice hints and explanations all gratefully received.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: The Moan Ranger on July 25, 2009, 10:21:07 AM: Young Tel should be able to contribute ably to this - he is good with his rod whistle:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Nick on July 25, 2009, 10:30:01 AM: Quote from: Miss Creant on July 25, 2009, 10:14:26 AM
I want to start fishing. Both freshwater and sea fishing. I know nothing whatsoever about it and haven't a clue where to start. I want to eat what I catch. Advice hints and explanations all gratefully received.

What if you catch a shopping trolley? rubschin:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Miss Creant Commander of the picklement and baking BAb(Hons) on July 25, 2009, 10:57:47 AM: There's always one. noooo:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on July 25, 2009, 11:58:56 AM: Before you eat anything you catch you will first need to "clean it" this involves removing the innards (guts) of the fish. Some people, Mrs S#2 for example, whilst happy to eat fish cannot manage this part of the task nor can she (they) eat any fish that has its head still on. Thus I have to ruin trout that I catch by not only gutting them but also removing the heads.

The majority of fresh water caught fish are, despite what Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall may say, inedible. Sea fish on the other hand can almost all be eaten (rare exceptions are not to be found where you live and anyway someone, somewhere will eat them).

There are many fishing boats (no I don't mean trawlers) in your area and they advertise trips at a reasonable rate. Find one that provides tuition (all will show you what to do) and use of equipment (most have a spare rod). So long as you are a reasonable sailor (ie don't chuck-up the minute they cast off) you'll have a happy four or five hours out off the Needles and should, at this time of year, catch Mackerel (best eaten with 24 hours of leaving the water or given to the cat). There will be some dogfish around ~ don't be put off by the name it is sold in Fish n Chip shops as "Rock Salmon". A member of the shark family ~ get the "skipper" to show you how to pick one up or you will find the b@st@rd things will remove the skin from your arm. They have a hide like sand paper and wrap themselves up your arm unless you pick them up one handed by neck and tail simultaneously. Watch out for a "Spur Dog" these look like dog fish and taste the same but have a vicious "spur" on their back that can do some harm. Conger eels abound off the Needles and should you get one they are excellent eating but again the "Skipper" will show you how to handle them. Watch them tho' cos they do bite like f*ck if they get the chance.
Later in the year you should be able to catch Bass down there but they tend to come in October along with the Cod (very few of them around anymore) and Whiting. The Whiting is a close relative of the Cod and tastes/looks very similar when cooked. It is smaller than a Cod but a nice Channel Whiting is a very pleasing meal.

Assuming you want to try Freshwater fishing this divides into either Coarse or Game fishing. Most coarse fish can be caught locally to you in the Avon, Test, Itchen etc and are not edible These include Carp, Tench, Chub. Bream, Pike etc etc etc Good sport but only for pleasure. Game fishing is very expensive. It can cost hundreds to fish for Salmon on the Test and Avon. Trout similarly are expensive £ for lb. Both are strictly for the dedicated angler and frankly need some lessons in the art of catching. To fish in fresh water you will need a Rod Licence from the Environment Agency. These cost about £25 pa and can be obtained via your Post Office. It matters not if the water is "private" the Rod Licence is a pre-requisite for ALL fresh water fishing (I am unsure of the current cost as I get a concessionary rate being disabled). Any Water Bailiff, Environment Agency Officer, Police Officer or any other Angler who holds a licence has a right to ask to see your licence so it must be carried at all time when fishing. Having a licence is not good enough ~ you MUST produce it on demand. Migratory fish (Salmon and Sea Trout) require an additional licence and this costs a lot. A day's fishing for Salmon on the River Test will set you back (depending on location) anything up to £250 and you will only be allowed to keep one fish.

Whoever holds the fishing rights to the water you want to fish in may also demand a fee (Day Ticket or Club Membership) are the usual descriptions. These are obtainable from your local tackle shop who will also be able to tell you which waters are fishing well and which are not. Listen to their advice as they are a mine of information. Most tackle shops have people hanging around in them who would be happy to give you directions/instruction etc. Anglers are like that. Always eager to show off local knowledge but solitary creatures once on the bank with rod in hand.

Fishing in salt water requires no licence and you may keep all you catch. Traditionally on the outward trip in a boat all on board fish for Mackerel and throw their catch into a bucket or dustbin to use as bait once they reach the "mark". If you want Mackerel for eating then tell the "Skipper" before you set out. Strictly speaking it is considered unsporting to keep any fish below a certain size ~ this varies with species ~ but frankly the f*cking things are usually dead before you can get them back in the water anyway so I tend to keep all I catch from the sea.

Sea Fishing from the beach is another art altogether, it requires some strength and specialist rod and reel. These need not be expensive and unless you pick a private beach again it is free. There is an urban myth that the beach between the High and Low water mark belongs (in the UK) to HM The Queen and thus she grants her permission for her subjects to use it free of charge. Probably some basis in truth but I wouldn't test the theory on those posh bits of beach around Sandbanks and such places. If beach fishing always pick a rising tide. You'll catch bugger all whilst the tide ebbs. Best times are the two hours before the high tide and then the "slack" water. A tide time table is available on line from http://www.pol.ac.uk or for about 50pence from your local tackle dealer. If you are beach fishing avoid clambering over rocks until you are very sure of what you are doing and watch out because time passes very quickly and "one last cast" can make all the difference between walking home or being winched off the rocks by a helicopter.

Trout fishing (usually stocked lakes) for Rainbow Trout can be good fun but again you'll pay more for the time on the bank than you would pay for the fish in Sainsbury. They will be farm bred fish. Some fisheries will allow you to use bait whilst other insist on Fly Fishing only. This is another art form that needs some instruction (usually available on the lake along with equipment hire) but unless you live in North Wales whistle: it is a costly way of catching some supper. My BiL pays up to £50 for a day on a lake in Surrey and gets to keep only two fish. By comparison I pay £10 for a four hour session and can keep three fish. A couple or three 2 and a half pounders makes it worthwhile (they are more than twice the size of a standard Sainsbury Trout).

Obviously all experienced anglers have tales to tell of not only the one that got away but also the ones that didn't. All anglers are born liars.

Anyone can fish ~ tying the line can be learnt from a book or from another angler and is probably the trickiest bit as there is nothing worse than losing a hooked fish because of a badly tied knot ~ the most common problem. I never mind if a crafty fish wraps my line round a root and snaps his way to freedom but I get really angry if I have tied the knot so badly that it slips loose.

Above all remember that there are thousands of books on the subject and it is easy to become an armchair expert ~ the problem is the bloody fish don't read the books! Some times only a hand grenade will ensure success. ;)
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: The Moan Ranger on July 25, 2009, 12:05:50 PM: happ096

Small (up to 5lb) Pike are perfectly edible though. Perch are nice too.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on July 25, 2009, 12:08:11 PM: Quote from: The Moan Ranger on July 25, 2009, 12:05:50 PM
happ096

Small (up to 5lb) Pike are perfectly edible though. Perch are nice too.

Too many little bones for my liking.

Me dad used to fish for Carp and any he caught a local Jewish chemist would buy from him as it is a great Kosher delicacy. Can't stand the taste myself. sick2:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Miss Creant Commander of the picklement and baking BAb(Hons) on July 25, 2009, 12:55:47 PM: Thanks Snoops. ;D
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on July 25, 2009, 01:18:39 PM: Pleasure.

I plan on building a smoker this summer as we usually end the season with a lot of Rainbow Trout and smoked fillet of trout is very nice for both supper and making into pâté. I am also fond of smoked cheese and with a creamery making Welsh cheese nearby can see some advantage (money) to be gained, all be it on a small scale.

Cleaning and filleting your catch requires a very sharp knife and steady hand but again if you haven't done it before some angler on the boat will always show you how. Always best to do this on the trip back to shore and dispose of the bits over the side where the gulls will eat it. Everyone wins and you don't have complaints from the dustman about the stink in your bin a week later.

One last tip ~ if you use maggots (for coarse fishing) never take any home or within a week the buggers will be bluebottles and if beach fishing with sand eels or rag worm (the picking up and placing on hook of which is something someone at the tackle shop will demonstrate ~ ask them or you will get "nipped" by a rag worm) throw whatever is left into the sea unless you are planing to use them the following day. Do NOT put them in your fridge or leave them in the car/fishing bag or dustbin 'cos they will stink to high heaven within 48 hours. I've done all these things redface:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Darwins Selection on July 25, 2009, 02:19:17 PM: Quote from: The Moan Ranger on July 25, 2009, 10:21:07 AM
Young Tel should be able to contribute ably to this - he is good with his rod whistle:

I expect he can pull out the occasional old trout as well.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: tel on July 26, 2009, 11:00:40 AM: Quote from: Darwins Selection on July 25, 2009, 02:19:17 PM
Quote from: The Moan Ranger on July 25, 2009, 10:21:07 AM
Young Tel should be able to contribute ably to this - he is good with his rod whistle:

I expect he can pull out the occasional old trout as well.

Who have you been talking to?
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Darwins Selection on July 26, 2009, 02:40:08 PM: Quote from: tel on July 26, 2009, 11:00:40 AM
Quote from: Darwins Selection on July 25, 2009, 02:19:17 PM
Quote from: The Moan Ranger on July 25, 2009, 10:21:07 AM
Young Tel should be able to contribute ably to this - he is good with his rod whistle:

I expect he can pull out the occasional old trout as well.

Who have you been talking to?
An old trout.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: tel on July 26, 2009, 04:20:21 PM: Quote from: Darwins Selection on July 26, 2009, 02:40:08 PM
Quote from: tel on July 26, 2009, 11:00:40 AM
Quote from: Darwins Selection on July 25, 2009, 02:19:17 PM
Quote from: The Moan Ranger on July 25, 2009, 10:21:07 AM
Young Tel should be able to contribute ably to this - he is good with his rod whistle:

I expect he can pull out the occasional old trout as well.

Who have you been talking to?
An old trout.

Ah.
Did she give her name?
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Darwins Selection on July 26, 2009, 05:14:29 PM: Quote from: tel on July 26, 2009, 04:20:21 PM
Quote from: Darwins Selection on July 26, 2009, 02:40:08 PM
Quote from: tel on July 26, 2009, 11:00:40 AM
Quote from: Darwins Selection on July 25, 2009, 02:19:17 PM
Quote from: The Moan Ranger on July 25, 2009, 10:21:07 AM
Young Tel should be able to contribute ably to this - he is good with his rod whistle:

I expect he can pull out the occasional old trout as well.

Who have you been talking to?
An old trout.

Ah.
Did she give her name?

Do they ever?

I can send you a DNA sample if you like?
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: tel on July 26, 2009, 05:17:44 PM: Quote from: Darwins Selection on July 26, 2009, 05:14:29 PM
Quote from: tel on July 26, 2009, 04:20:21 PM
Quote from: Darwins Selection on July 26, 2009, 02:40:08 PM
Quote from: tel on July 26, 2009, 11:00:40 AM
Quote from: Darwins Selection on July 25, 2009, 02:19:17 PM
Quote from: The Moan Ranger on July 25, 2009, 10:21:07 AM
Young Tel should be able to contribute ably to this - he is good with his rod whistle:

I expect he can pull out the occasional old trout as well.

Who have you been talking to?
An old trout.

Ah.
Did she give her name?

Do they ever?

I can send you a DNA sample if you like?

Wot, for cloning, like?
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: tel on July 26, 2009, 05:24:12 PM: Quote from: Miss Creant on July 25, 2009, 10:14:26 AM
I want to start fishing. Both freshwater and sea fishing. I know nothing whatsoever about it and haven't a clue where to start. I want to eat what I catch. Advice hints and explanations all gratefully received.

Freshwater - join a club. Not many species you can eat (without a lot of work and there are restrictions on what you can take) - gudgeon (on toast) a London favourite once upton time, perch (cook same way as for a hedgehog, wrapped in clay), eels (probably the best), pike (maybe) carp and tench (only if you are foreign) - you may catch signal crayfish in which case you should take them (tasty and totally not to be left alive, native ones are protected. Trout, of course but you need to know where to go - don't ever catch and eat farmed ones, they taste of trout pellets.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Nick on July 28, 2009, 10:36:10 AM: What are trout pellets made of?
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on July 28, 2009, 10:43:54 AM: I suspect you already know the answer to this but for those who do not:

Trout pellets are made from fishmeal (ground fish left over from manufacture of human food production) with added oils, proteins etc claimed by different manufacturers to enhance their product but in essence since fish are cannibalistic then it follows that they want to eat other fish and thus the best thing to feed them on is fishmeal ~ no matter how it is served up.

Obviously fish will eat other things, bread, maggots, worms, crabs, beetles ~ just about anything they can get their mouths round in fact but the sure fire bait is always another fish in one form or another.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Nick on July 28, 2009, 10:47:39 AM: So farmed trout taste of, um, fish rubschin:

I see
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on July 28, 2009, 10:58:54 AM: Farmed trout do not normally get the chance to spend much time developing muscle by swimming in strong running water. They are often fed daily once placed in the fishing lake and when cooked are very "flabby". They also tend to take on the flavour of whichever "enhancer" is used by the manufacturer of the fish pellets that the fishery owner favours. The lakes I use (there are five of them ranged down a hill side) are fed by a mountain water run-off and the water filters from one lake down to the next until it runs out into the river again at a point below the last lake. Because of this the fishery is not permitted to feed the fish once they are in the lakes (they are of course farmed in tanks) and thus have a chance to develop muscle tone and rid themselves of the pellet "flavour". The longer they spend in the lakes the stronger they become. One can usually judge by the fight they put up when caught whether they are new to the lakes or have been "wild" for some weeks. They are all put into the lakes at about 1.5lbs in weight (a bit late in my opinion) so if one catches a 2lb plus fish it has been there for some time.
It comes down to knowing your waters and the policies of the owners.
All that said a wild Brown Trout, though much smaller, from one of the many Welsh rivers is better eating by far.

All the above applies equally to "Wiild" and "Farmed" salmon.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Nick on July 28, 2009, 11:04:40 AM: surrender:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on July 28, 2009, 11:06:56 AM: Sorry redface:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Miss Creant Commander of the picklement and baking BAb(Hons) on July 28, 2009, 12:34:34 PM: I have a magazine now. angel1

Before you know it I will have a rod or two, accosted a strange man in a local tackle shop yesterday and believe me he was strange. His wife was most put out. evil:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Nick on July 28, 2009, 12:46:40 PM: Shouldn't you be oinking?
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Darwins Selection on July 28, 2009, 12:58:15 PM: Quote from: Nick on July 28, 2009, 12:46:40 PM
Shouldn't you be oinking?
Not when strange mens tackle is about obviously.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Just One More on July 28, 2009, 06:55:22 PM: Quote from: Miss Creant on July 28, 2009, 12:34:34 PM
I have a magazine now. angel1

Before you know it I will have a rod or two, accosted a strange man in a local tackle shop yesterday and believe me he was strange. His wife was most put out. evil:

Go for it Miss C. I bumped into an old aquaintance the other evening, we'd not seen each other for about four years. About three years ago she won "an afternoon fishing with an expert". She's never done it before, went along to see what it was about, and three years on, she's now in the British fly-fishing team

The world is your oyster redface:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Nick on July 28, 2009, 07:43:00 PM: Oyster?

They make you randy I hear rubschin:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Pastis on July 29, 2009, 08:29:35 AM: I bought a filleting knife from these people last week happy088

http://www.marttiini.fi/puukot/shop/english/filleting.htm
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on July 29, 2009, 10:39:26 AM: Having a good knife is one thing ~ keeping it sharp is quite another. I get my brother (the butcher) to sharpen mine. The only thing I have successfully sharpened is my ex wife's tongue.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Nick on February 24, 2010, 10:51:29 AM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCQ4TzhlFzA&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCQ4TzhlFzA&feature=player_embedded) whistle:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Pastis on May 12, 2010, 08:54:16 PM: How big was that bream you "caught" then?

< .......................................... >
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on May 13, 2010, 02:39:40 PM: SWWLTBO once asked me "How big was the one that got away?"

I replied "At least 9 inches"

She said "Really? Just a tiddler then" and fell about laughing evil:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Pastis on May 13, 2010, 03:46:00 PM: I'm not an angler. That said, when I last had a go I caught this lovely little thing ~ no idea what he was but he went back in ;)

(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs4.postimage.org%2FISCbr.jpg&hash=714f3c480034738d780638c1a0cd76097c30c450) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVISCbr)
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on May 13, 2010, 03:57:40 PM: I'd hazard a guess at a Rock Wrasse.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Pastis on May 13, 2010, 04:34:30 PM: Quote from: Snoopy on May 13, 2010, 03:57:40 PM
I'd hazard a guess at a Rock Wrasse.

My curiosity led me to this:

(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs4.postimage.org%2FIYSi0.jpg&hash=27f486fa5b92ad23c7c2e396c3f232fa5bf7ba91) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVIYSi0)

Which made me think it might have been a type of Grouper, a young Red Hind? rubschin:

(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs1.postimage.org%2FwnX7r.jpg&hash=5970bf89d9e5fb5cdaf4b6dcff1dd3588e5b921d) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxwnX7r)
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on May 13, 2010, 04:39:24 PM: You know best as you know where you were when you caught it (and don't say "On a boat")

I assumed British waters and went for Rock Wrasse which do have a spiny back and come in various colours depending on what colour the sea bed is in the area.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Pastis on May 13, 2010, 04:44:09 PM: redface:

On a small boat off the coast of Aruba. One of the ABC islands of the Dutch Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire and Cura?ao) and where I was seriously considering becoming an expat sad24:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on May 13, 2010, 05:06:29 PM: What stopped you?

That is a serious question not sarcasm.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Pastis on May 13, 2010, 05:21:45 PM: Briefly put,
#1. The imminent credit crunch / financial collapse end of '08 into '09 when suddenly all the figures I'd prepared no longer made sense and,
#2. Family stating the location was far too far away and,
#3. Realising that, beautiful as it is, it's a drug running hub from South America > Europe
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Miss Demeanour on May 13, 2010, 06:44:58 PM: and a bit far to travel for Sunday lunch of course lol:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Pastis on May 13, 2010, 06:59:47 PM: True indeed lol:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: The Moan Ranger on May 13, 2010, 07:33:18 PM: My neighbour has bought all the kit and intends to fly-fish the Wandle next Tuesday (weather permitting). Myself and Tel may attend to capture the moment he hooks a shopping trolley, tyre or possibly a Trout. Or Chub. Or Pike. Or Dace. Or Barbel (unlikely) or Rudd. Or Nowt.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Miss Demeanour on May 13, 2010, 07:45:20 PM: The Wandle eeek: eeek: eeek:

He may as well just go and sit around the pond on Clapham Common with all the other escapees who are trying to find reasons not to go home noooo:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on May 14, 2010, 07:11:36 AM: He'd have more chance of getting a nibble if he spent his time by the ponds on Hampstead Heath whistle:
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: tel on May 14, 2010, 09:21:08 AM: The Wandle is now a thing of beauty (cough).

Seriously it will never be the top trout water in England ever again, but it is now full of fish.
Last year just a stones throw from TMR's place, I saw an Egret - amazing.

Loadsa Herons around here now as well.
Title: Re: Fishing
Post by: Snoopy on May 14, 2010, 11:49:39 AM: Quote from: tel on May 14, 2010, 09:21:08 AM
The Wandle is now a thing of beauty (cough).

Seriously it will never be the top trout water in England ever again, but it is now full of fish.
Last year just a stones throw from TMR's place, I saw an Egret - amazing.

Loadsa Herons around here now as well.

I see ..... So you were just walking your dog and the binoculars and camera are for bird watching .......... Tell that to the judge. whistle: