Fishing and Foraging at the Beach!

judsoncarroll4

I am finally at the beach for my annual fishing trip. The Home Medicine Summit is particularly nice to watch on this schedule. I fish a few hours around every high tide, gather shellfish and go crabbing at low tide. As for foraging, the prickly pear cactus are really abundant this year. These were planted by early settlers on the southeast coast, so they are all over old homesteads and used ornamentally. They are covered with dark, purple fruit this year. I think a beverage made with the strained juice (lots of seeds), some lime juice and wine would be good this evening. I saw a lot of Jerusalem artichokes just inland a few miles and the burdock is growing all over the place with abundant greens. So, I think I have most all my needs covered - grilled fish, roasted oysters, clam chowder and fish soups with the bones, crab cakes, wild fruit and veggies.... and, I was given a nice basket full of Cherokee purple tomatoes! I can see and hear the waves crashing as I write this, the air is clean.... the bounty of the Earth and God's benevolence laid out before me. And, as a nice surprise, I got a bit lost yesterday evening due to some closed/flooded back country roads. When I stopped for directions, I ended up stopping at my great, great grandparents' old homestead (I did not recognize it at first) - it is being renovated by a new family and they are keeping up the old family cemetery! So, my purpose in posting this is not just as a personal note. I would like to urge everyone, if and when possible, to go out foraging, hunting, fishing, etc and to really learn to cook wild foods in ways that preserves the nutrition and does not cover up the flavor (as many recipes I see for game, especially, do) - I feel energized and relaxed... this is truly good for the soul! This is a big part of my lifestyle at home, in the mountains, too. Time to go cast-netting for shrimp.... that is a fun workout!

judsoncarroll4

PS. The persimmon trees are absolutely loaded with fruit - limbs bent down, heavy like I've rarely seen. t think we are in for a hard winter..... better stock up and preserve as much as you can!

Obiora E

@judsoncarroll4 Thank you for sharing everything, including "stumbling" upon your great-great grandparents homestead. It definitely looks like what has happened on your annual fishing trip was meant to be. I also like the idea of foraging when you are not home.

I was at the beach in July with my immediate family for a vacation but my mother in particular was worried about me foraging anything that I saw in case they were spraying but I didn't think that they wouldn't spray -ides (insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, etc.) so close to beach (it was along one of the paths).

I saw wild Black cherries, Persimmons (they were not ripe yet), Yarrow, and other things. We did try to go fishing but nothing was caught. We talked about going crabbing--it's been about 30 years--but it didn't happen. Hopefully though if we go again next year we can catch fish, maybe doing a little crabbing, and maybe even do a little foraging too?!

judsoncarroll4

@Obiora E I highly recommend giving it a shot. Today. I found billions of nasturtiums growing as a ground cover, elderberries (not in fruit, but very abundant... maybe another time), passion fruit vines... and a protect, public nature are with no restrictions.... woohoo! I spent a few hours in the "creek" at low tide. I brought homme around 20 lbs of select sub-tidal oysters, clams and mussels. I'll likely use most of the mussels for fish bait tomorrow morning. It was a spur of the moment decision to wade the creak at low tide... I did not bring gloves, an oyster "hammer" or a spade for digging clams... My hands are sliced to ribbons on razor harp oyster shells... but I had a great time… it was paradise. Even just bird watching the pelicans, cranes, terns, etc... the occasional bald eagle.... no people, no motor boats.... that would have been well worth it. Everyone "trophy fishes" now. I'm just here for the food!

Ruth Reyes-Loiacano

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/847076#Comment_847076

UH OH! Have you ever cut them open to see what they reveal?

judsoncarroll4

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/847176#Comment_847176

I never have - some folks swear by them though!

Obiora E

@judsoncarroll4 Thank you for the encouragement and your story. I will definitely have to do so next year.

judsoncarroll4

@Obiora E Try this recipe if you get a chance - it is very good!

Mixed mollusk chowder: 1) Gather oysters, clams and mussels at low tide. 2) wash off the mud. 3) Roast in a roasting pan (to catch the liquid) in a 400 degree oven just until the shells open (about 10-15 minutes). 4) In a large pot, cook some chopped bacon - remove the bacon- then heat and melt some butter and or some olive oil, toss in a finely chopped onion and a few ribs of celery, reserving the leaves. After the veggies are sweated, ad some cubed potatoes, all the liquid from the roasting pan and milk or half and half. Bring to a low simmer. Add the celery leaves, a good amount of parsley, some chives... and either salt and pepper to taste or Creole Seasoning. Simmer until the potatoes are cooked. Then add the shellfish. Turn off the heat and serve before the clams get chewy.

Obiora E

@judsoncarroll4 Thank you for sharing.