Every port or coastal town we have visited shares something in common. They all have hundreds of families "crabbing". From my observations, the crab population of the UK is safe.

Shops around piers and sea walls all sell crabbing gear. It consists of a crabbing line, which is a brightly coloured plastic double ended spool around which a length of twine is wrapped. Next you buy a fine mesh bag around 10cm in length and a bag of bait which you place into the bag and tie to the end of the twine. Next you need a brightly coloured crabbing net. This has a 3m long handle with a smallish net on the end. Finally, and this I find the most optimistic of purchases, a clear plastic bucket to put your catch in.

First lower or throw your bag of bait into the water and slowly reel it in along the bottom, hoping a crab will attach itself. If it does, carefully pull to the surface and use the net to scoop under the crab.

First observation: They are all extremely optimistic in that they first half fill the bucket with water, assuming they will catch a crab.

Second observation: I've never seen a crab in a bucket.

Third observation: I've never seen a used kit from the previous summer, so assume it's a once in a lifetime activity.

Fourth observation: I never witnessed a waining of enthusiasm and kids giving up.

Bill will identify with all of this as I once gave up on catching flathead and instead used the bait to net squid. He wanted to use the squid for bait, I wanted to eat it. He ate squid and liked it.