Aff 105 Report post Posted November 15, 2017 Hi all, Went down to Goolwa on Sunday to collect some cockles for bait now that the season has reopened. The hot weather and light winds made it a perfect day for frolicking among the crashing waves. What was surprising was the average size of the cockles we were gathering, being well over 3.5 cm across (legal minimum size). Got enough to last a little while but well under our quota. Didn't take long because finding legal ones was so easy which hasn't been the case over the last few years. They're now packed and stored in the freezer ready for summer sessions. Thought I'd do it early in the season before PIRSA shuts it down yet again. We don't eat them anyway & I don't think fish are to worried so I don't see why bait collecting is stopped even if there is microbe contamination detected. Let's face you can get seriously ill from not cooking your food properly & bureaucrats don't monitor the contents of our fridge, anyway that's another story now we're all living in this post common sense world, nanny state, economic dictatorship! So those of you who like foraging for your own bait Goolwa beach seems to be providing good cockles this year. Bear in mind please just take what you think you're going to realistically use so there's plenty for all and plenty left over for nature to replenish itself. Cheers 7 gregtech, Underpants, Meppstas and 4 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Underpants 1,543 Report post Posted November 15, 2017 Thanks for the heads up. My thinking too was to head down earlier in the season, at least to take my son for his first shuffle. Don't actually want any for bait but might keep a few. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug73 51 Report post Posted November 15, 2017 Any particular distance down the beach or straight out the front? Hoping to take the kids for a bit of fun, when it warms up again Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nosaj 121 Report post Posted November 15, 2017 Thanks for letting us know. Sounds like another opportunity for a Strike and Hook catch up and cockle day like a few years back.... 1 bjorn2fish reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn2fish 4,442 Report post Posted November 15, 2017 Very good to know Aff, thanks for posting up. Not a bad idea catching up for a cockle day @nosaj. 1 nosaj reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gregtech 858 Report post Posted November 15, 2017 That's good news Aff. Last two seasons have been tough for size. Plenty of cockles but a lot of measuring. We'll make the effort now you've given us the heads up Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aff 105 Report post Posted November 16, 2017 You're welcome guys. @Doodlebug73 I don't have a 4x4 so have to leg it , but good news is they were pretty much right in front of the entrance to the beach from the kiosk. We went a bit to the right away from people swimming, surfing etc, found a bit of our own space and did the pippi shuffle. I think the further you go from the masses the more chance of finding them easier because people are generally a bit lazy walking further & so they're less are likely to have been taken further away. But you don't need to go far to find good ones at the moment. 2 Poppa Snake and Underpants reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meppstas 4,409 Report post Posted November 16, 2017 I don't know where you guys go for your cockles but here's where I used to get mine from at Goolwa.. cheers Adrian 2 archerfish and bjorn2fish reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Underpants 1,543 Report post Posted November 16, 2017 Nice one Adrian. Never even knew you could get in to the beach past the main carpark (Beach Rd) ! 1 Meppstas reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
archerfish 684 Report post Posted November 16, 2017 If you want head even further west, you can try a spot at which I've previously had success a few years ago. It's at Middleton, just out from the car park near Bondi Place...lot less crowded as well. Cheers af 1 SaltyFlyer reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Underpants 1,543 Report post Posted January 5, 2018 Took the young fella and my old lady down for a swim & cockling session today. Wanted to try Adrian's suggested but went Goolwa's main beach instead - to do the right thing & swim between the flags . Arrived ~10am carpark was full, easily 50+ 4x4s parked up the beach towards the mouth. Beach pretty popular with families, grommets ect and a few other groups of 'cocklers' out. Given we were pretty close to the main carpark, things were a bit thin, as expected! Still managed 100 or so in a casual hr. Only measured a few and probably discarded a 1/3. I'm pretty good eye-balling sizes and also recon "if i have to measure, it's too small and can go back". Son was more interested in in digging holes, making sand castles and mucking around at his first true surf beach (apposed to West or Semaphore). Nevertheless i had him chasing some in the wash as i did the 'shuffle'. Also managed to get a blister on the end of a big toe which split and filled with sand Left after 2.5hrs of hot sunshine. Almost mandatory d**khead bogged on the 4x4 beach access. (im no car person) looked like a Territory. Wonder if he thought he had a 4x4 but was only the 2x4 model? Was impressed that i saw one (but only 1 ) bloke dropping his tyre pressures. 6 doobie, gregtech, SaltyFlyer and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doobie 5,080 Report post Posted January 5, 2018 Nice to get down there UP and the kids to muck around too on the beach. Yep in front of the main car park is pretty thin for cockles as you say, but still fun for all without having manouvre between all the 4x4's further down the beach. Just go down there when a more serious collect is needed 1 SaltyFlyer reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aff 105 Report post Posted January 6, 2018 New Years day was even worse UP for 4X4s and people in general, had to look both ways before venturing towards the water. Unfortunately the cockles in areas that are more easily accessed by foot are under more pressure and are thinning a bit. Good you managed some and had some fun with the family. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter69 1,218 Report post Posted September 18, 2018 Wouldnt mind getting down there soon for a session. Geez there expensive atm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Underpants 1,543 Report post Posted September 18, 2018 2 hours ago, Hunter69 said: Wouldnt mind getting down there soon for a session. Geez there expensive atm Just under 2 weeks to go.... you'll certianly be beating the crowds. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David_C 671 Report post Posted September 19, 2018 21 hours ago, Underpants said: Just under 2 weeks to go.... you'll certianly be beating the crowds. Bit more than that. Doesn’t open until 1 November 1 lofty64 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Underpants 1,543 Report post Posted September 19, 2018 27 minutes ago, David_C said: Bit more than that. Doesn’t open until 1 November indeed must have been the 2 David_C and doobie reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Softy 2,555 Report post Posted September 19, 2018 Opens the 1st and no doubt closed by the 7th with e-coli bs 1 doobie reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David_C 671 Report post Posted September 19, 2018 I'll be going when it opens, as I have run out of them in the freezer. Glad I have the cockle rakes - makes the process so much quicker and easier David Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Del 243 Report post Posted September 19, 2018 never used a rake... just shuffle.. rake is higher return? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimmy. 167 Report post Posted September 20, 2018 16 hours ago, David_C said: I'll be going when it opens, as I have run out of them in the freezer. Glad I have the cockle rakes - makes the process so much quicker and easier David Dave if you need some before then let me know, I have a few bags in my freezer you gave me last time left! I will be keen to go down, found minimal advantage over driving along the beach compared to by the kiosk though. 1 David_C reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter69 1,218 Report post Posted September 20, 2018 No 4wd required ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Softy 2,555 Report post Posted September 20, 2018 You can get them pretty close to the carpark. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Underpants 1,543 Report post Posted September 20, 2018 1 hour ago, Hunter69 said: No 4wd required ? No point unless you want to join the 4wd w**ker brigade, park 200m up the beach...and churn the sand up with your highway pressure cheese cutters! Keep the beast salt and sand free. Either walk from the beach Rd carpark or as Adrian suggested: On 16/11/2017 at 1:06 PM, Meppstas said: I don't know where you guys go for your cockles but here's where I used to get mine from at Goolwa.. cheers Adrian On 19/09/2018 at 5:40 PM, Softy said: Opens the 1st and no doubt closed by the 7th with e-coli bs Yeah as the 'Armchair Guru' cynically suggests, get in at the start of the season, before they close it .......although given how dry the season has been there's unlikely to be much coming out of the mouth (ie the upstream dairy and sewerage discharges, where the E Coli comes from!!!) Also if you go earlier on, they will be easier to get in size and numbers 1 Squid Inc. reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David_C 671 Report post Posted September 20, 2018 4 hours ago, Hunter69 said: No 4wd required ? I've got a SUV and I normally head between 5 to 7 kms down the beach. You can just seem them rolling in the surf and there is no pressure from others. With the smaller limits though, you can definitely get them in good numbers without taking the car. David 1 ScottyDog reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites