Surfing session and a lucky sea bass

Posted on October 1, 2007
Filed Under - leisure |

I was out surfing again this afternoon as the small, clean wave is still there. This time I went to surf at Lusty Glaze, which is the cove just south of my local Porth beach. Rather than heft my surfboard around the cliff path on foot, I decided to launch from Porth beach and paddle around the headland, thus getting in some paddling practice. There were only three of us in the line-up but there were some decent waves for around an hour and the water was still reasonably warm for the time of year. Had a nice chat with a fellow surfer who lives in nearby St Columb Minor, passing the time between decent sets.

Eventually tiredness, chill and hunger brought an end to the session and I paddled back round to Porth beach. As I exited the water there were two guys just starting to fish from the water’s edge. They were standing on the shore and casting out from there. I was slightly sceptical about this technique but I fell into conversation with them and while we were chatting one of the men caught an enormous bass. It was a magnificent specimen and the few people who were wandering on the beach came over to admire. I thought the guy might have taken him home for dinner but the angler eventually put him back into the water. I was very impressed, I never thought that you could stand on the beach and catch a fish that size, especially only five minutes after casting your line.

Seeing a beautiful fish like that caught by an angler on the beach reminds me about the issue of over-fishing and fishing methods that are harmful to other marine life. Commercial fishing is very important to the local economy but certain fish become very trendy and are in danger of over-fishing. The sea bass is a prime example. Rick Stein, who of course has a famous seafood restaurant up the coast in Padstow, recommends a wider range of fish to look out for in shops and restaurants. Or you can come down here to Newquay and catch your own!

Stumble it!

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