The Ubiquitous Cockle
Created | Updated May 22, 2002
The cockle is found around seashores in great numbers. It is best harvested Sept. Oct. in shorts, with a bucket.
First invite a son daughter, grandson granddaughter, nephew or niece,anybody? when the tide conditions are right, to come cockling.
The Blood Sport
Cockle shooting is a major sport in Fleetwood, it is very exciting as the quarry is very cunning. The tide must be followed out and the cry of spurter will be heard all along the ebbing waters edge, this is followed by the loud report of many double-barrelled shotguns. The experienced hunter waits for the cockle to spurt, then blast the spurt spot with both barrels. This usually ends in the quarries demise and fresh seafood for the table. This sporting activity is not recommended, as it makes a mess of the cockle, and is rather cruel, most people preferring to boil the cockles alive to finish them off.
The Old way
Hunting cockles with bare feet is an ancient way of harvesting the bivalve, handed down from father to son. Squige the mud between your toes with a delicate treading motion to an approximate depth of six inches or 150mm,as the toes feel the lumps (cockles) the bare hands come into play. With a bit of luck a nest of five or six cockles may be caught. Anyone accompanying you on the mission should be advised to collect only the tightly closed cockles as a cockle with a limp shell is dead. At the end of your cockling expedition everybody will be absolutely covered in mud, the easiest way to clean off is to find holes dug by worm diggers. These holes will be filled with clean seawater, a good place to wash off. The cockles can be emptied and rinsed with the same water, then put back in the bucket.
The Method
The secret of cooking cockles begins as you arrive home. Empty the cockles and fill the bucket with fresh water, put the bucket under the tap replace the cockles and give them a good rinse. When all the sand has been removed from the bucket add a couple of large spoonfuls of salt then a good handful of Quaker Oats. Leave the cockles to stand overnight. The Quaker Oats are eaten by the cockles and through natural events clean all the sand and rubbish from the bivalves.
Always cook the cockles on the BBQ as cooking in the house can cause marital stress, the stink from cooking cockles is horrendous, the smell hangs around the kitchen for weeks. Find your largest pan, light your barbie, fill the pan with boiling water from the kettle. The cockles should be carefully put into the boiling water and only left approx. five minutes. Cockles are cooked when their shells open, a good indicator.
Sort the meat from the shells, a little pepper salt and vinegar. Delicious.
First invite a son daughter, grandson granddaughter, nephew or niece,anybody? when the tide conditions are right, to come cockling.
The Blood Sport
Cockle shooting is a major sport in Fleetwood, it is very exciting as the quarry is very cunning. The tide must be followed out and the cry of spurter will be heard all along the ebbing waters edge, this is followed by the loud report of many double-barrelled shotguns. The experienced hunter waits for the cockle to spurt, then blast the spurt spot with both barrels. This usually ends in the quarries demise and fresh seafood for the table. This sporting activity is not recommended, as it makes a mess of the cockle, and is rather cruel, most people preferring to boil the cockles alive to finish them off.
The Old way
Hunting cockles with bare feet is an ancient way of harvesting the bivalve, handed down from father to son. Squige the mud between your toes with a delicate treading motion to an approximate depth of six inches or 150mm,as the toes feel the lumps (cockles) the bare hands come into play. With a bit of luck a nest of five or six cockles may be caught. Anyone accompanying you on the mission should be advised to collect only the tightly closed cockles as a cockle with a limp shell is dead. At the end of your cockling expedition everybody will be absolutely covered in mud, the easiest way to clean off is to find holes dug by worm diggers. These holes will be filled with clean seawater, a good place to wash off. The cockles can be emptied and rinsed with the same water, then put back in the bucket.
The Method
The secret of cooking cockles begins as you arrive home. Empty the cockles and fill the bucket with fresh water, put the bucket under the tap replace the cockles and give them a good rinse. When all the sand has been removed from the bucket add a couple of large spoonfuls of salt then a good handful of Quaker Oats. Leave the cockles to stand overnight. The Quaker Oats are eaten by the cockles and through natural events clean all the sand and rubbish from the bivalves.
Always cook the cockles on the BBQ as cooking in the house can cause marital stress, the stink from cooking cockles is horrendous, the smell hangs around the kitchen for weeks. Find your largest pan, light your barbie, fill the pan with boiling water from the kettle. The cockles should be carefully put into the boiling water and only left approx. five minutes. Cockles are cooked when their shells open, a good indicator.
Sort the meat from the shells, a little pepper salt and vinegar. Delicious.
