Is Sea Angling 'working Class'

[arthurcodsbody]

I would say possibly, obviuosly some of us fish to stock the larder as it were, and yes I keep a bit but essentially I fish for pure pleasure, not food being in great surroundings is reward enough for me some (if not all) our coastline is absolutly amazing from clean sandy beaches to shear cliffs 200ft high and a lot of the time a mix of both in a few miles of each other.

 

On the plus side for sea angling if you are doing for grub, the gear is not really any cheaper nor expensive than an other form, however the bait is essentially free if your prepared to put the effort in and lets face the product is a damn site tasteir, who would pass a cod or plaice for a tench or roach!! (salmon/trout excepted obviously) but still give me a haddock over these any day!

Matt

[Stoaty]

Ahh thank you Newt. It is tucked away, a bit late now though.

 

I wonder how many of us were introduced to sea angling by our fathers/grand fathers I was and it probably goes back generations before that.

Edited November 18, 2005 by Stoaty

[RichardB]

" wonder how many of us were introduced to sea angling by our fathers/grand fathers I was"

 

Yep, certainly was in my case. I'm set on continuing the tradition too - just starting my six year old daughter off with sea fishing.

[maidstonemike]

In my many years angling, I have never met gentry while fishing. If I were a trout or salmon angler, no doubt I would have.

I think angling can be divided into class segments..

Sea angling, usually considered to be unrefined and not as skillful, chuck it and chance it, attracting ordinary people, including some really nice chaps, and including absolute yobs. Mullet anglers would not agree of course.

Fresh water angling, more specialised in many ways, more complicated and refined, finer and more delicate.

Probably attracting the more thoughtful and dedicated angler.

Game fishing, trout and salmon, considered elitist and upper class, although not so much these days of course, but attracting the more wealthy angler.

As for a reduction in small boat anglers, I think the high cost of outboard motors puts many people off, including me.

Also the high cost of fuel, both for a boat, and for the tow vehicle.

I have to say, I refuse to be duped by hype into spending hundreds on rods and reels, but still complain about the cost of live worms, that's why I don't use them now.

Having just bought a score for the first time in years, I found they caught the smallest fish compared to fish baits and shellfish.

Edited November 18, 2005 by maidstonemike

[geffaz]

In my many years angling, I have never met gentry while fishing. If I were a trout or salmon angler, no doubt I would have.

I think angling can be divided into class segments..

Sea angling, usually considered to be unrefined and not as skillful, chuck it and chance it, attracting ordinary people, including some really nice chaps, and including absolute yobs. Mullet anglers would not agree of course.

Fresh water angling, more specialised in many ways, more complicated and refined, finer and more delicate.

Probably attracting the more thoughtful and dedicated angler.

Game fishing, trout and salmon, considered elitist and upper class, although not so much these days of course, but attracting the more wealthy angler.

As for a reduction in small boat anglers, I think the high cost of outboard motors puts many people off, including me.

Also the high cost of fuel, both for a boat, and for the tow vehicle.

I have to say, I refuse to be duped by hype into spending hundreds on rods and reels, but still complain about the cost of live worms, that's why I don't use them now.

Having just bought a score for the first time in years, I found they caught the smallest fish compared to fish baits and shellfish.

great words mate! im an uneducated sort of bloke! i scratch a living from hand to mouth! pay the bills and get down the pub, like 80% of the uk! i started sea fishing as a kid digging my own worms and paying the 50p ticket on worthing pier! with my nan! she used to like sunning her self with the other old bids (a quarter of my pocket money), got onto fresh water and got rapped up in it! (this for me is when the passion started)

im 31 now and have been a keen carper with a pb of an uncought 27lb common, then fluff chucking and got a 3lb browny! done a cheep as chips back pack into the unknown and nailed a 85lb mekong cat, 30lb king mack, in thailand

it can be done its nothing todo with background! just a case of getting off your arse!

[Stoaty]

Sea angling, usually considered to be unrefined and not as skillful, chuck it and chance it,

 

Ah reminds me of many days spent pirking on the Varne Bank.

[Pugs]

With the risk of backlash here, I think there is a certain side of our sport that is growing in to snobbery but what side I ain't going to say . They do think other sea anglers get in their way though.....

[guernseybass]

my experience is that shore angling is mostly working class, but boat angling is a mix.

 

i also think that flyfishing is a much more working class activity than it was, especially with sea naglesr turning to SWFF and coarse anglers FFing for pike, perch chub, barbel etc.

 

that said i have quite often met posh people coarse fishing.

 

GB

[MJB]

If I remember correctly as Saltwater Fly-fishing is becoming more popular,............ the profile of the sport is beginning to move upmarket.

 

 

I'm trying my best to drag saltwater flyfishing down to my level.

[Stoaty]

Any tips on how I can make a pirk look like a fly?