Fishing with George Monbiot

Deep thinking ‘You can launch it from anywhere and catch just about anything – even tuna, sharks and giant skate. I didn't want to hunt those species, but I did want to become self-sufficient in fish’ Photograph: Dominick Tyler/Dominick Tyler

Hooked ‘Mackerel pour into Cardigan Bay in summer, and are easy to catch. There are big shoals of herring in winter, though kayak fishing is more dangerous then’ Photograph: Dominick Tyler/Dominick Tyler

Easy meat ‘I found mackerel almost straight away and was bringing them up in ones and twos, tiger-striped, fast and stupid’ Photograph: Dominick Tyler/Dominick Tyler

Taste the difference ‘When I catch mackerel, I always eat some on the beach. The best way to cook them is not to. Raw mackerel straight from the boat is the best fish I have ever tasted' Photograph: Dominick Tyler/Dominick Tyler

Splendid isolation ‘Apart from a few crabbers and a small but destructive fleet of scallop dredgers, there's scarcely any commercial fishing here in Cardigan Bay' Photograph: Dominick Tyler/Dominick Tyler

The reel thing ‘So here's the score so far. Plenty of mackerel. Too many greater weevers. The odd pollock, whiting, gurnard and bass; no grey mullet. Lots of energy expended; one or two near-death experiences. A tough way to feed myself. But very much alive’ Photograph: Dominick Tyler/Dominick Tyler