Here's an Excellent How To.

It's nice to see that there are a number of "How To's" on blogs.  They definitely encourage people, having acquired the extra knowledge, to take up the sport.  It's very well done.

Don't Waste Anything on a Fish!

As promised last time, here is the final part of the unknown fish - doesn't anyone know what it is?  Pictures and recipe are courtesy of Alan Spriggs of World-girdling and Atlantic-crossing fame.  The fact that I happened to be there when the fish was caught has little or nothing to do with it.  However, having caught your fish and desided to use it all, which is what all long-distances sailors should do, you need to 'cut it up' like this:

The fish ready for the pot.

Take head and bones of fish free of all gills, guts, scales and fins. Chunks of filleted fish may be included if price is no object. Gently simmer in pan with enough water to almost cover for 5 minutes and leave to cool.



Feel through the cooled fish by fingertips to remove and hard bits, bones, scull, parts of the eyes leaving the jelly. All soft gelatinous stuff should be left in. Put remaining fish to one side keeping the stock.


In a large pan put:-


The Stock


Cubed potatoes


Sliced carrots


Slice red pepper


Celery


Garlic


Tin of diced tomatoes


Olive Oil


Hot Sauce


Salt & Pepper


Onions or shallots to taste


Make up your own mind about the quantities and simmer for some time then allow to cool and sit a while.


Hungry ? Heat everything up together and simmer during aperitifs and then serve piping hot with crusty b&b, adding more hot sauce to taste.


You will have made too much so freeze the rest for night watches.

And this is what it should look like in the pot.

You will note that this is a pressure cooker - it is the way to save gas on a long distance sail - and it also saves all the goodies in the fish.  This is seriously tasty eating and I can recommend it first hand!

That's it for the moment - I'll be back soon with some more great pictures.  A really great one taken by Alan after the ARC.

What on earth is it?!

Looks a bit like a Rainbow Runner but with teeth on.

This is a strange one!  Found this in the South Pacific.  I'm sure there is someone out there who can tell me what it is.  Worth noting that though we always fished on our travels we only ever fished to eat.  Luckily, for some strange reason, we very rarely caught anything that was huge - mainly four people fish -  though we did have a strike that broke the sea rod at the handle.  Wouldn't have wanted something that big on the boat anyway!

Full dorsal fin.

Let me know if any of you have any ideas as to what it is.

More about what happened to this fish on my next blog!

Great Saltwater Sea Fishing - the way to have fun!

Really like this one!  Just good plain honest fun!!  Shows great technique and knowledge - good guy to follow.

Home-made sea fishing lures.

I see there has been a flurry of interest in home-made fishing lures.  I suppose it can be likened to building your own model plane, boat or whatever and seeing if it works.  It does give a buzz, if it does.  Likewise with homemade lures - the proof is in the biting!

We found ourselves, some years back, in the middle of an ocean and out of lures, and with no tackle shop nearby, we had to do something with what we had.

There were two approaches we took - there are, of course, many more.  Firstly, if you have the remains of any torpedo shaped lure heads and, secondly, some round lead shot - commensurate with the fishing you are doing, of course!

Now ...... , we found that we could use almost anything and amongst the things we used were:
1.  The sliver plastic bag from a wine box,
2.  A pink canvass sunglasses case,
3.  The leather strappy bits from a pair of sandals.

The other thing you will need is seizing wire to hold the lure together.  I will presume you have all the necessary pliers,snippers, etc.  We found out quite quickly that the lure doesn't have to look good - this is not a gourmet meal for a fish - but it does need to attract it!

Using an old clean bare 'torpedo' lure, drill a small hole for the seizing wire, off centre, making sure it does not go through the leader wire hole (v. important).  Thread the wire through the hole leaving about 3 - 4 inches poking through either side.  Next, cut the materials you want to use into strips.  It doesn't matter if they are too long, you can always trim them later.  Laying them round the torpedo weight, use the wire to hold them in place.  Leave about 3 inches above the weight.  Cutting a separate piece of wire, use this at rhe top of the lure but allow about 11/2 inches to hang over - don't trim this.

The same technique can be used with round shot.  You drill the off-centre hole in the second one down and then add weights till you have the weight you require.  But remember, you will have considerably more drag using round weights.

I can assure you it works!  Our most successful one was the pink sunglasses case and the leather sandal strips.  See my next blog!