In this episode Joff Elphick is up at 2:30 in the morning to travel the 250 miles through Somerset, and Devon before and passing through Cornwall to its southern tip and Penzance. From here a 28 mile journey by  ferry, plane, or helicopter gets me to the Isles of Scilly an archipelago of over 200 islands lying 28 miles off Cornwall's coast. The Islands have been part of the Duchy of Cornwall since the 14th century with the Duchy owning most of the land and approximately one-third of residential buildings across the islands, of which only five are inhabited: St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, St Agnes, and Bryher.

Joff is here to meet Jof Hicks a Designer/maker from St Agnes who fishes commercially for lobsters  without the help of internal combustion engines, rowing or when possible using wind power to get his zero plastic lobster pots and gear to the most productive locations around the Island. Any angler who enjoys using traditional tackle such as cane rods or centrepin reels should enjoy the ingenuity Jof employs with his methods and materials to get his hand-crafted pots amongst the rocks and reefs that surround these beautiful islands. 

We discuss Pilot Gigs. Inkwell Lobster pots and their construction. Manilla rope and cork buoys. And Bait. You can hear the storm raging outside Jof’s workshop.

Tourism dominates the local economy, accounting for 85 percent of economic activity and employing 70 percent of the population. Flower farming, particularly the cultivation of scented narcissi, has been significant since the 1860s. At its peak in the early 1900s, over 40 tonnes of flowers were shipped weekly to London markets. The islands' mild climate, characterized by rare frost and snow, creates ideal growing conditions in the sheltered, small square fields.

Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1975, the islands feature pristine beaches, granite headlands, white sandy coves, and rugged moorland. The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust manages 60 percent of the area, including uninhabited islands, paying a symbolic annual rent to the Duchy of one daffodil.

And yes. That's two Jof/Joffs!