Racepics, to answer the last part of your question first. At my age (I will be seventy next month) once established on the beach I stick it out, other than moving short distances to cover the next gutter or heavy empty shellfish deposits on the beach. Quite often this brings a quick reward. I wouldn't repack the car and move any real distance. This may alter in the future as in the new year I hope to purchase a quad bike.

Your first two paragraphs have summed up the situation nicely, although I would rather have anchovies than pilchards, a personal choice but I can use them whole and they look so natural. Skippy has always been productive but I must say what is in the tackle shops at present is absolute crap, brown with freezer burn and only fit for burley.

I have recently been experimenting with a new bait, or should I say a reintroduction of a very popular bait from yesteryear. So far (three trips in two weeks) is has been most productive and rewarding. I will continue experimenting and then write a piece on here as to the bait, the presentation and the rewards, at present this is really looking good.

It does occur to me there maybe times when the fish are a little shy there may be too much 'bling' backing up the bait. I have used beads as an attractor for most of my fishing career and I am a great believer this really helps, but if using two rods, try one without the accessories just to see if there is a difference, this experiment at times has worked.

Finally there is the evergreen of casting past the fish. For some strange reason distance has become all important and yet very often the larger fish, snapper and kingfish, will be feeding on the bait fish shoals just behind the breaking waves and baits are sailing way past them. Next time you are sitting on the beach take a look at where the terns are diving for their tea, they can see what is going on and usually they will be no more than thirty metres from the shore.

Food for thought surely.