Stackpole, Wales, UK, Aug 14 2010.

Hey there NCKA
Here's a genteel report from sunny west Wales, where we do not have anything as uncivilised as White Sharks. We do have dogfish tho. Leave a nasty scratch will an 18 inch doggie. Watch out Adam.
I've been doing a fair amount of fishing recently, mostly for mackerel. While these are my favourite eating fish of all time, I haven't bothered posting reports 'cos they can become a bit repetitive (went fishing somewhere pretty, caught loads of mackerel, they were delicious, etc).
This weekend tho' I tried something different. I have wanted to get out and try and bag some crustaceans. However, most of the edible crustaceans here (Lobster and our brown crab, different to those you find in California), are rock-dwellers. This generally means that they are not targeted by recreational fishermen since some heavy-duty pots are required. There is also a long-standing sustainable commercial fishery for them, so the risk of getting both your gear and everything else tangled with the commericals is quite high.
However in recent years the southern and western shores of the UK have seen an invasion of spider crabs. These are completely ignored by UK consumers but are still actively pursued by the commercial fleet for the Mediterranean market. They key thing about these spider crabs is there abundance and the fact that they can be had over sand. Well that and they're reportedly delicious. This seemed to me to be perfect for a spot of Californian hoop-netting. I had bought a couple back with me and decided to try and give it a shot this weekend at Stackpole Quay.....



The cockpit of the old drifter was pretty loaded


I had been meticulously saving fish carcasses and heads from recent trips, putting them in specially coloured, labelled bags in the freezer, all in preparation for this trip. As I was about to launch I realised I needn't have bothered, all the bait I could ever need was waiting for me in the quay.


(This is what we call a Tope, what you call a Soupfin. This one probably got mangled in some commercial nets. I'll probably break out the Ugly Stik and target them one day, but they're not Good Eats).

Anyway, I set out the nets and waited. No point in wasting time, so while waiting I jigged for mackerel. Did pretty well on those, had 11 by the time I got in.



But after 4hrs, checking every 40 mins or so, my nets had produced only 2 small, barely legal, spiders. Of course I was also getting very ill by this point, as usual. So I gutted the mackerel and chucked the guts in the bait cage for one last drop.

As so often on my trips, the hail mary drop came up with the goods.


Captain Phil would be proud. Kayaker Phil was very happy.


Job done, I headed back in to the family.


I took the monsters vital stats before chucking it in the steamer. The carapace was 20 cm (spiders are measured nose to butt) and it weighed in at a scratch under 2 kilos. That's almost 5lbs.


It was indeed, absolutely delicious. As good as the Californian red crabs but with the bonus of some amazing "brown meat", basically crab butter. I could feel my arteries furring up in real time. I'm definitely gonna go and get some more before they head back to the deeps for the winter.

The little one says hi.


Your friend in the Old Country
NB

Dude, your daughter is adorable. Glad to see some fishing report from you Phil.
Boy those spider crabs are huge and the mackerel isn't bad either. Please
keep the report and pictures coming.

Take care,
Jedmo

Good to see you Phil, looks like the old country is treating you and the fam well,

That is a big crab,

Do keep the reports coming.

That was a really fun read. Nice pics too, what a "pretty" place to paddle!
Thanks for posting that!

Jolly good report, Old Boy.  Your little girl is awesome.   

great report phil, the mackrel and crabs made me hungry, thanks for sharing from the other side of the pond, cameron

Nice report.  Keep 'em coming.

Nice report, and good hearing from you, Northern Boy! 

Nice work Phil, I think you're ready to start a guide service

Phil, you look way to happy about them macks    Great report!!!  Keep em' coming, I love seeing your reports!!!

Cool report / pics Phil 
Thanks for sharing from your side of the pond!
Tad
 

wow, that place looks beautiful! great report and makes me wish i lived in the Uk again!

john

What, no gophers?? 

i miss your reports and humor Phil......Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and keep up the tough work out there keep on clickin'

   Hey Annie Mae    Nice to meet you finally! And I'm glad that yoru Daddy is finally getting out and posting reports (with Pics). Tell him he's doing a good job