Basic surfcasting- how to - A simple and cheap way to put food on the table

 How to surfcast

Surfcasting is a form of fishing that is beautiful in its simplicity. All that is needed is a rod of 9ft or greater, a good stout reel, some basic terminal tackle and a little know how. A basic rod and reel package can be bought from most large chain stores for as little as $100nz and looked after carefully, can regularly feed an entire household.

The rod and reel

For distance casting a rod of 12ft to monsters of 16ft are used. The fewer line guides on the rod means the less friction created between the line and rod, hence more distance. However, fewer guides can be cumbersome when fighting large fish as the weight transfer from line to the rod is less even. A good compromise is 4 - 6 guides.
The taper of the rod is also quite important. Most rods are sold with line and sinker specification printed onto them, which is very handy for matching with an appropriate reel.
A good standard setup would be capable of holding around 200mtrs of 10kg breaking strain mono filament.

 Large threadline, or spinning type reels are most often used, mainly for the ease of use that they provide. Saltwater is hard on gear, so a quick wipe down with a damp clothe after use will ensure years of trouble free fishing to come.

Terminal tackle

A small range of hooks, sinkers and some mono of a larger diameter/breaking strain is all that is really needed when surfcasting. Hook sizes that might be found in the average tackle box would range from 1/0 - 5/0, while sinkers would largely be of the grapnel type. Some swivels to connect your main line to your trace, and perhaps some "bait cotton" to tie soft baits onto your hooks are a few of the other things that will make life easy.
A steel rod holder is a great piece of equipment to have and saves you trying to poke your rod into the beach, or building structures out of driftwood and rocks.

Fish away

 It pretty doesn't matter where in the world you are, if you're near a coastline then a good surfcaster can most likely put dinner on the table. One of the most important aspects is to understand your quarry. Small baits of a crustacean nature are a sure-fire hit in pretty much all coastal waters around the world. The inter-tidal zone is a natural habitat of crabs and prawns, so it makes sense to fish a bait that appears natural. An endless number of species of fish go nuts over anything crustacean like from Mexico to New Zealand, and would be my first choice at pretty much any location in the world. Bait cotton is very handy with prawns, crabs etc, due to the terrific g-forces the bait will experience during casting.

Surfcasting would have to be the most cost effective form of fishing around. Sticking with the natural bait theme, bait can be sourced at most locations for free, and has the added bonus of being a locally excepted food item to the fish found in that location.

 If you find yourself in an area or part of the world that you are unfamiliar with then hunt for local knowledge. It can be found at tackle stores, but one of the best locations I have come across are fishing messageboards. A quick google will reveal these and even if your questions are not answered there will be plenty of information to be found in existing threads.

Try it out, its a real thrill knowing that your small investment has returned a huge yeild, saved money and provided many great meals!  

Oh, one more thing. The change of light period is often one of the hottest fishing times, as fish feel safer moving into the shallower water near the shore when light is low.

Give it a go, and good luck!  

Persimmon Chutney recipe

The beauty of living in a large fruit producing area is seasonal abundance. For a mere $6 I bought these persimmons at a roadside stall.

But what to do with them?

I tried several fresh, and they were lovely, but preserving is what I have in mind. On the advice of a knowledgeable friend I decided to make a batch of chutney to bulk out the cupboards. But a persimmon chutney recipe was not to be found, so I made it up as I went along, loosely based on a mango chutney recipe.

Ingredients
400 grams raw sugar
350 ml cider vinegar
6 large ripe persimmons - peeled and diced
2 large granny smith apples - peeled and diced
3 small stalks celery - finely sliced
1/2 large red onion - finely diced
1 tsp ground preserved chilli
1 tsp ginger paste
1 clove of garlic - crushed
juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp pickling spices - lightly crushed
1/2 tsp salt
tbsp olive oil
100 ml water
1 bay leaf
1 kaffir lime leaf
1 cinnamon stick
A few drops of yellow food colouring or a tsp of turmeric.

Method

Finely dice the onion, and lightly fry in the olive oil with the lightly crushed pickling spices, bay leaf, kaffir leaf, cinnamon stick, garlic and ginger paste.

Follow with the sugar, leaving a minute or 2 to begin caramelising. Then add the salt, diced apples, persimmons and celery, along with the lemon juice and the 100 ml of water. Stir well, then cover and simmer for 2 hours, stirring from time to time.

After 2 hours uncover, increase the heat and reduce to the consistency you desire.

Once this has been achieved stir in the tablespoon of ground chillies and food colouring or turmeric if you desire, then bottle while hot.

This is a very simple recipe that is easily altered to suit whatever you happen to have on hand, and makes roughly 6 250ml bottles.

Label and store

  
 

Possum plucking machine

I guess it does mean carrying them out of the bush, which could be quite a mission if you have 40 or 50.

Offset that against hand-plucking 40 or 50 in the bush while maintaining good clean fur......who knows?

Personally, I'd go for the machine, it'd be good for the Carpal tunnel.

My mighty Sea kayak

This thing is incredible, since I've had it a tight bond has begun forming.

It is an Ocean Prowler 13, and came equipped with two shallow rod holders behind the comfort seat (included) and the paddle at 220cm cost another $100, total price $1500nz.

I fitted a scotty rodholder in the allotted place straight away, and a running rig endless pulley on the port side for anchoring etc. Roofracks on my Hilux so I can carry it and Kayak craddles set me back another $500.
 Also I have fitted two starport mounts to either side not far from my feet (not fitted in pics) which I use a second "mission" rodholder in, so I can get lines to either side good and clear.  I throw a chillybin in the back with 5kgs of ice in it when I fish, and use a small baitboard on my lap.
But it is winter here now, and time to get the wee Beastie fit and proper. So over the winter, I will be fitting a custom center console, fishfinder and battery, and I also plan on building a low-windage custom fishbin with a sealable lid for the aft compartment, to keep my catch in pristine condition on those long days on the water.

So far it's put around $500 of premium fillets on the table, and a few hundred scollops too.
I guess I might put these mods up here as I do them, on the off chance I might motivate someone to get into Kayakfishing.

Reflecting on the season just past, it's not about the food. It's not about cost effectiveness or any crap like that.

It's about being out in this tiny craft, your life in your best judgement and the preparation you have carried out. It makes you feel alive at the end of the day. This little vessel has carried me home in 35knts of wind, with a short nasty chop of a meter, with nothing more than sweet hull lines and sheer determination.

I don't even miss the fuel guzzling boat I sold, I would'nt be without my Yak

Seakayak camping this Febuary

This was a great trip, not a lot of food was put on the table, but sometimes that takes a back seat to just being out there doing it. Not much beats sitting on the beach watching the sun go down, dining on fresh Oysters and Snapper after a hard day out doing it!

 The red dot on the map above shows my camping site in Waimaru bay. Access to here is via an unsealed road. The drive from the closest town of Havelock was a little over two hours. A Department of Conservation camping ground is available with toilets and water.

Share bliss! What a magical time I had, and despite the untrying conditions it was a good shakedown for my new Coleman tent and stove, which were more than up to the task.
This is going to become an annual pilgrimage for me.

Public foraging NZ

Check this out, this is a really cool Blog that pinpoints locations in Wellington where the public can freely forage a huge range of plants and herbs.

here

NZ seasonal food right now

Off the top of my head we have;

Limes
Brusselsprouts
Feijoas
Cabbage
Carrots
Duck
Artichoke (second crop)
Beets
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Zucchini
Squash
Turnips
Yams
Spinach
Beans
Many herbs
Horseradish
Kale
Leeks
Lemongrass
Mushrooms
Onions
Pumpkins
Potatoes
Parsnips
Many different kinds of nuts and orchard fruit such as Persimmons
Store lambs farmers don't want to winter (cheap)
Most wild game is in peak condition at this time of year

Eating seasonal = eating cheap!