We hope we’ve inspired you in our previous foraging posts to get out onto the coastline and start helping yourself from the ocean’s larder.
If you’re new to foraging, it really is a great way to put beautiful fresh food on the table, for free! Look at these typical supermarket prices for comparison!
- Small whole lobster : ยฃ13.50 or FREE if foraged!
- 6 scallops : ยฃ11.95 or FREE if foraged!
- Oysters : ยฃ1.25 PER oyster or FREE if foraged!
- Mussels : ยฃ3 per small box or FREE if foraged!
- Small whole crab : ยฃ8.95 or FREE if foraged!
- Winkles : ยฃ9.95 per small box or FREE if foraged!
- Spider crab legs : ยฃ26.70 for a 1kg bag or FREE if foraged!
Are you starting to get the idea here? Thereโs so much to forage too, from delicious light seaweeds to add to salads and stir fries, to shellfish and crustaceans a plenty: and there are tasty lobsters, crabs, octopus and kina awaiting if you’re willing to venture into the shallow water.
Foraging is not only a way to not only beat the soaring supermarket prices but also, to improve the quality of your diet because freshly foraged seafood is not pumped full of antibiotics, growth hormones, preservatives or other nasties.
Foraging gear: what do I need?
The gear you need to forage along the coastline depends whether or not you plan to venture into the water. Thereโs plenty to be found at low tide on the sea bed, but the really big bounties lie in the shallow water, where there are decent sized crabs, lobsters, octopus and kina waiting to fill your freezer.
The following gear will all be useful to your new coastal foraging adventure (you donโt need everything here but it is all helpful to have):
Lobster gauge โ this is needed for measuring scallops, crabs, crawfish, lobsters, etc. Find out more about minimum sizes in our foraging introduction.
Oyster shucker – these are handy for opening those tricksy, tightly-closed oysters.
Foraging bags – These are to put your catch in. Theyโre really handy as they are made from mesh so the water can drain out. If youโre staying on the shore, you can attach the bag to your waist. If you are getting into the water, you can attach the bag to your float. Picassoโs mesh bag with a handle is really good for this – the wide mouth saves on faff, especially on the spiky spider crabs โ itโs much easier than a standard mesh bag!
Something for your feet โ for the shore, youโll need wellies or thermorubber shoes (a bit like crocs) to protect your feet from sharp rocks.
Waterproof torch – this is essential for finding your catch tucked away in nooks and crannies in the water.
Crustacean snare โ this is a genius little contraption that can be attached to your float. No more fighting with your crabs or lobsters to get them into the catch bag.
Lobster crook โ this is a handy tool that pins the body in place giving it no escape routes to jettison out to.
Wetsuit โ a wetsuit will help you stay in the water for longer, keeping you warm. If you have an old surf suit, this will get you started, but as soon as you begin to dive, youโll notice it feels pretty cold. This is because the material used in surf suits is designed for the surface and compresses flat when you dive down. Our wetsuits are made from a different kind of neoprene that is resistant to compression and keeps you warmer for longer. We have a lot of wetsuit options and we can help you choose the perfect suit for your body type.
Recommended : Moray Pelagic Reef 5mm- Ladies Full Wetsuit / Moray Classic Black Full Wetsuit
Mask โ we recommend something like the Epsealon MiniSub Low Volume Mask. Low refers to the amount of empty space in the actual mask cavity once worn. Low volume feels better when you dive down.
Snorkel โ this allows you to swim around on the surface looking for catch.
Float, line and winder โ we recommend something like the Salvimar double torpedo float, the Picasso Line Winder and the 4mm heavy duty float line (order x10).
You can attach your catch bags to the float, together with crustaceans. They also give you something to rest on if you are tired and you can clip a drink to them. Last but definitely not least, they make you highly visible to others in the water, whether to dive buddies or watercraft users. Many floats also come with a dive flag that shows the international sign of โdiver in the waterโ.
Knife โ these have various uses such as cutting seaweed and opening shells. Theyโre also an essential safety tool if youโre getting into the water, in case you need to cut a line for example. If youโre taking a knife into the water, you can use an arm strap to keep it out the way but handy.
Lobster snare – this is a spring-loaded snare that can be operated single handed. Hold yourself in position with one hand and once the snare is around the body, release the cable to auto close the loop! Makes catching lobsters much easier.
Fins โ these are used if youโre venturing into the water to find those bigger bounties. Fins help you to move more quickly and efficiently through the water and give you more control. If you just use your feet, you wonโt get very far (if anywhere!) very fast. The Labrax Boom 76 Plastic Fins are a fantastic budget option – see more.
Belt and dive weight โ these help you when you spot something tasty holed up and you need to dive down to catch it. The Labrax 4mm plastic rubber belt is a great low cost option, coupled with the Spearmaster 1kg dive weight.
We also offer a foraging gear package with big discounts on all items, including the optional extras.
