We didn't have any crabbing equipment so prior to setting off, I had divested some satsumas of their orange netting bags and while driving to Cromer, I was adding stones and sewing the tops of the nets to use as bait bags.
Once we had arrived in Cromer, Diamond Dave shared out the bait (liver <shiver>), we added some to our satsuma bag, added the weight and plopped it over the rail at the end of Cromer Pier.
For those that don't know, the sea at the end of Cromer Pier is about 30 feet below the pier. Every time we pulled the string to bring the mesh bag up, the crabs were clinging on to it but by the time we'd hauled the line in, they'd all dropped off. Time and time again we threw the dripping bag of liver back into the water, every time, the crabs let go before we could get the bag near the rail. (Much to the increasing amusement of the children, Lil and Dave!
I had an epiphany, if we could reduce the time it took to haul the net up, we would stand a better chance of capturing the crabs. I explained my plan to Mr Fink, he stroked his chin and nodded. GAME ON!
We lowered the bag full of (by now) saturated liver back down into the water. We waited for a few minutes, then swung our plan into action. Mr Fink started running up the pier, pulling the string along with him, brushing surprised old ladies hither and thither as he went. As he reached full velocity, the satsuma bag smashed against the top rail of the pier, showering everyone in close proximity with sea water and saturated liver.
In a scene out of a horror film, offal everywhere, old ladies a inch from being garroted by the crab string, children crying....We still didn't catch a crab.
(the story is true, the details may have been embellished for comedic effect - "never let the truth get in the way of a good story." I always say.)
