It was a long time ago in the 1970’s when a friend of mine (Kevin Rowell) suggested we go fishing. From memory it was a very basic fibre glass rod of unknown length, a very basic Diane reel and some quill floats and off we went. Minnows in the mighty river Wallington, Carp in Hilsea Moat. These were in the days Carp where a fraction of the size they are today.

In those days transport was your bike with rod tied to your crossbar and your tackle in a canvas rucksack. We travelled far and wide like this. My level of expertise and catches were not great, but it was the enjoyment of getting out and about and enjoying those lazy summer days of youth.

I also done some sea fishing as well. Digging our own bait at low tide and fishing on the high tide. Over my younger years fishing the Solent, I would not need any fingers to help me count up the number of fish I caught. But again it was the enjoyment and time with friends and family that make fishing an aid to mental well being. Back in those days, this was never an issue like it is today. The big question is what has changed.

Well flash forward to about 2015 ish, Our adopted son Zico announced he wanted to go fishing. This is were the Angler in me started to stir again and begin to awaken.

We had an inflatable Kayak at the time and on a camping (Extreme Glamping) holiday in Cornwall. So on one of our trips into the local town we bought him Telescopic Shakespeare rod and reel set with a set of Mackerel feathers. Then his journey stared, and what a start he had.

So we inflated the kayak, got it rigged and fashioned a sea anchor with a bucked and another for what we might catch. Rod rigged and off we went. We went out a little way, and my son put his rod in the water for the first time. The line was in the water for no longer than a second when my son asks me ‘How do you know when you have caught a fish’. Well I had to come clean, “Well son, with all the times I have been fishing in the sea, I have never caught a fish. But I think the line will feel different”. Well I never said I was a great and knowledgable angler. Well his response was “I think I have caught something”. “You can’t have, you have just put your line in the water, son”. “Well I think I have caught something ,Dad”. Well the line was pulled in and low and behold a little Sand Eel. First ever cast in his fishing life and he has already caught infinitely more sea fish than me. Not envious at all. But that was only the start. Unhooked the Sand Eel and line over the side. Faster than I can type or say this he says “I think I have caught another one”. “You can’t have you have only just dropped your line in the water”. Well in comes the line again and a very nice looking Mackerel, a proud moment for Fathers and Son. But it goes on. Unhooked the Mackerel and put it in our bucket, line over the side. Second later the line was back in the boat with another Sand Eel. The cycle was repeated again with a second Mackerel. And then………

In goes the line yet again, the sunlight glinting of the crystal clear blue sea. Calm with a light breeze drifting us out to sea. The sea anchor was not that good. Then my son’s line went tought and stared moving from port to starboard in front of our bows (Some nautical terms for ambiance). Game on and what the hell has he caught now. With the Jaws the movie foremost in my mind, he slowly brought it in. What ever it was broke surface in front of us and there was a glint of silver, before it went down again. As it did flash silver, that counts out Mobby dick, the great white whale and Jaws the great white shark. White being the common theme here. Finally we got it onboard. Five hooks/lures, five large Mackerel. They had managed to spin themselves into a ball. So I just suspended them over the bucket and cut the mainline, announcing to my son “That’s it son, Fishing has finished for the day”. Felling very proud of my son we made the long haul back to shore.

Zico bring his filleting skills he learnt in Scouts with a little help from his Dad we had all seven mackerel filleted and on the barbecue. That was some Barbie. It does not get much better than that. From the Sea to plate in a couple of hours.

The fishing fever was still growing inside me but still no kit for me at this time. I just played number two to my son, Zico.

As time went on and my son’s kit starting to fall apart. It still caught fish for the barbecue but was starting to break up. So that was that, we ended up in Angling Direct in Milton Keynes (Where we live) and bought ourselves some basic/cheap Beach casting kit. During this process, I could not notice that fishing has moved on a bit since the 70’s. Carbon Rods that even the cheapest looking good. Reels that look out of this world and what the hell happened to bait. Shelves of the stuff. And the tackle that was available was unreal. The fire was beginning to catch.

My son was always out fishing me off the beach. Nil points for Dad and Zico bring back the catch for our supper. I would change nothing, even though it got frustrating setting up his rigs (He still needs to learn some knots). But I fully enjoyed his achievements. You cannot go far wrong with fresh Mackerel cooked on a barbecue. Zico, you do your Dad proud. I should tell you that a bit more often.