Have you ever passed by a quiet rocky cove on the shoreline, and watched a fisherman in action?  You may have stopped to wonder what can be gained from standing for hours with a rod, casting a line into the water, sometimes without a catch. Think again. Those who ever tried it know what a mind consuming sport it can be. First, there’s the importance of the cast. The rod is your ‘lever’ which controls the line. Let the line out incorrectly and you may hit rocks beneath the surface. Your hook is gone in no time and they cost quite a lot of money to replace. Avoiding seaweed is another skill. Many a hook has been snared in a bed of seaweed, never to be seen again. Distance is important in the sea, where you need to reach a decent depth to avoid all the rock and weed pitfalls and get to the spot where the fish lurk. A keen eye for bubbles or rings breaking on the surface of the water is a clue to where the fish are. So you must learn to observe, listen, then cast accurately and smoothly – and it takes practice! Then there’s the movement of your hook or bait, – the line needs to be reeled in so it moves  in a way that attracts the attention of a potential catch.  If you are lucky enough to get one – well that’s a story in itself. Keeping that elusive fish on the line and reeling it in successfully is another matter altogether – especially with bigger fish like  sea trout or pollock. How many stories are there of ‘the one that got away’?!  It happens more often than not. Sea angling is a skill with a serious competitive edge. As an amateur, it will definitely bring out the hunter (or huntress!) in you. Even a sniff of a catch makes you want to go back for more. What could be a gentler way to end the day than an hour or two spent on a summer evening, just before dusk,  as the tide is coming in, (tide times are also important if you want to the biggest chance of success),  pitting your wits against the sea,  in the hope of providing yourself with a free meal? Seagulls whirl above. Waves lap gently on the rocks. A sea trout may jump from the water in front of you, as if to say ‘you can’t catch me!’ If you see a seal swimming languidly by, you may as well give up because he will have got to the fish well before you do! Still its nice to watch these lumbersome creatures turn into graceful movers in the water. There’s a lot to be gained from learning to fish for your supper. Find a willing companion who has some experience, and you may end up with local free food,  as fresh as it gets. At the very least you will return with a relaxed mind, and a sense of achievement in learning the basics of a new skill that could feed you handsomely,  if you ever get stuck on a desert island! If you are holidaying by the sea, give fishing a go this summer…