Beautiful carnage

[thewisestfish]

Ok.

Just got back from a weekend in Pembrokshire. The most phenomenal diving I have ever done. Lobsters everywhere, crawfish, crabs, dogfish, all variety of life in complete abundance (even boring sea slugs) sea cucumbers, which are bearably more interesting. Did 40 meters, and it was still light(ish) 15 meter vis - i just couldn't ask for any more. Total heaven.

But - oh, and here is where I feel justified in being alive.....I caught stuff. I faced the fear of crabs and their pincers, and bagged a big edible crab - cunningly attaching it the the gloves of my buddy, and also her finger - laugh, I flooded my mask 3 times in hysterics as she screamed under water trying to get it off - actually, it was kind of her fault because she wanted to hold it (and knew how to do it because she's been diving for ages, so I don't feel too guilty). Also got a lobster - was even calm enough to hold it (WITH claws intact) and turn it upsidedown so it just lay there. Then it all got a bit stupid as me and my other buddy (swapped my one with a sore finger for another one with a little more aggresive grrr) dived the hen and chicks and decended into the land that time forgot inhabited by dinasaur sized spider crabs - now they really are difficult to get into a bag - spiney buggers. I mean these things really were enormous - the size of a bin lid at least I reckon. And they have also re-inforced my belief that crustatians are really bad tempered.

So - a weekend of absolute bliss - and complete success because I finally caught stuff and didn't run away!!!

[Allan Carr]

So is it going to be a simple salad or out with the Rick Stein books for something more exotic?

[Lou]

Originally Posted by thewisestfish

Lobsters everywhere, crawfish, crabs, dogfish, all variety of life in complete abundance

Until you got there

[thewisestfish]

Hey - there were loads of them - AND if we weren't s'posed to eat them, they wouldn't taste so nice would they?

I gave them all to my Mum - because I'm nice like that - at 10 o'clock last night we were trying to jam the ridiculously big spider crab into a pan - she (my Mum) did look a bit frightened ha ha. I don't know what she's going to do with all the crab meat - we did eat the lobster between us though. Fair payment for a nights accomodation in Shropshire on the way back to Yorkshire I think.

Ummmm, lobster - lovely. I don't feel bad at all - I am very proud of myself.

[Lou]

What is there to feel proud of? You picked up a creature that, at worst, can give a bit of a nip and put it in a bag? Hardly stalking a maneater on the Serengeti with only a penknife is it?

As for there being loads....well there is until everyone takes too many. You now say you have crab meat you don't know what to do with. Maybe next time you should think about how much you need before you take it?

[SCUBA Chick]

Originally Posted by thewisestfish

Ummmm, lobster - lovely. I don't feel bad at all - I am very proud of myself.

So well done for upsetting even further an already delicate marine eco-system...

If every diver went down with the same philosophy we'd be looking at a very barren landscape...

Kathy

[thewisestfish]

Originally Posted by Lou

What is there to feel proud of? You picked up a creature that, at worst, can give a bit of a nip and put it in a bag? Hardly stalking a maneater on the Serengeti with only a penknife is it?

As for there being loads....well there is until everyone takes too many. You now say you have crab meat you don't know what to do with. Maybe next time you should think about how much you need before you take it?

Oh no - a rampant veggie. Here, you can try with the rights for crabs all you like - I have had a lovely weekend - and I did take only what I needed, and was going to eat and enjoy. Lighten up hun - we all do things differently, and enjoy different things - that for me is my ultimate pleasure.

And many other peoples I think that you'll find.

[SoggyFox]

what do spider crabs taste like compared to the usual edible crabs?

not tried a spider crab cos someone once told me in the past that they weren't as good. Still if it tastes good chompy time is 2 what i say.

[thewisestfish]

Originally Posted by SCUBA Chick

So well done for upsetting even further an already delicate marine eco-system...

If every diver went down with the same philosophy we'd be looking at a very barren landscape...

Kathy

Chill guys - has everyone got PMT or something. Nothing was taken from the marine reserve - only from where we were allowed to take stuff from. And only enough to eat - anyway - I'm not defending myself for doing what many other people do, and like doing. Everyone's different - and I respect and enjoy, as much as i take and eat. I am privilaged to be allowed to able to look under the water - and I savour every second of it....

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by thewisestfish

Chill guys - has everyone got PMT or something. Nothing was taken from the marine reserve - only from where we were allowed to take stuff from. And only enough to eat - anyway - I'm not defending myself for doing what many other people do, and like doing. Everyone's different - and I respect and enjoy, as much as i take and eat. I am privilaged to be allowed to able to look under the water - and I savour every second of it....

Don't worry about it, we can't please everyone all the time.

I hope you enjoyed your catch. A somewhat more discriminating method compared to traditional means.

From a fellow hunter who has had far more failures than successes - I put the berried ones back and don't bother with edible crabs less than 7inches across. Unlike the supermarkets.

Adrian