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In my younger days I would be sea fishing all times 3 tides a week sometimes 4 if the cod were in, dig the worm low water and fish the tide up and down I had an arrangements with a mate who managed a butcher shop he would take all of the cod and swap it for meat. Talking of butchers shops where have they all gone used to have 4 of them in the high street now it’s the metros like Tesco and others that sell the meat. 😏

I can remember a fair few nights getting home at 3am, and before going to bed filleting a few bass or cod and then freezing the fillets, with 1 left out for dinner that day. My bass fishing is often quite cheap, almost like deadbait fishing for pike with a popped up bait. Even my chub fishing is cheap, bread, slugs, lobworm and dog biscuits, those same baits work for other species. On my 'Distances and Wraps' thread I mentioned the 'need' or lack of, of distance sticks, and alliterated to it above. You DON'T need to buy distance sticks, 2 banksticks will do, but there are other products that probably come into the same boat. I'm trying to compare my tackle to other anglers I know, my mates etc, and I'm probably the most guilty of spending money on 'shiny': Five rod holdalls, three bivvies and umbrellas, seven bite alarms (3 Delkim TXI'd and 4 ST's), carp rods, spinning rod, float rod, specialist rods, marker rods, spod rod and reels to suit and two barrows, two bedchairs, oh gawd, stop now... There's still more to say!

Totally agree with all this. As i predominantly sea fish now I can confirm it is a cheaper form of our hobby. Yes you can buy a £500 rod and £500 reel but you can also get a rod and reel combo for £30 and catch fish with it. The hooks are on average £2-£3 a pack, put those hooks in a fox, korda, gardener, nash etc packet and they are £5 - £6 a packet. Yes lugworm and ragworm are expensive but you can also pop into your local supermarket and pick up a whole mackerel or pack of sardines for little more than a pound and catch fish and as you rightly say , fish that you can eat.

Unfortunately, probably wise advice. My mate was always on Facebook market place as he chops and changes his gear regularly. He got his garage broke into by a couple of pro's who disabled his alarm and were in and out in 5 minutes with about £8,000 worth of kit. He said on reflection that a couple of likely lads he showed around a few months previously were probably the culprits. My local club are also glad of gear for youngster and it might be worth asking around. It does seem a shame to chuck away stuff that could have a second lease of life.