Fishing In Singapore

If we have to fish for a living here in Singapore, we would be dead. The fishing talents are there but where are the fish? Too many ships in the vicinity, too little mileage of the waters that belong to us in the sea. Yet there are many enthusiastic fishermen - young and old out there. Even the inland waterways of lakes, rivers, canals and their estuaries attract fishermen. Then there are the paid commercial ponds for your fishing needs. Despite these, we have ample shops and stocks of fishing gears for every fishing need. 

From the jetty.

To our shore line.

This was an old man casting a net in the sea. I hope that all who would cast a net would also release their catch especially if they have caught many smaller fish or fry. 

Or fishing for fun around beaches.

Fishing at the sea or where you do not have to pay for is fun because you do not know what you might get on your line. 

Our authorities should open up more channels for fishing and our sports fishing association or groups should engage them for more such places to be made available. We can even release more fish into our waters but need to regulate it to ensure that it must be only catch and release in certain places so that it is fishing for sports and not fishing for food.

Young people like a young toman can get hooked on the wrong things if they are not properly occupied like hanging around shopping centres, near cinemas or amusement centres.

Nature will calm all folks regardless of your status or age.

Even my dad's old fishing rods were well kept after all these years - the famous "Abu - Garcia" which would have cost a few hundred dollars back then when I was a teenager.

And this is the "Abu - Diplomat", another premium rod of the time which would have already fetched a handsome price at the time.

Just looking at old stuffs brings me back such fond memories. 

There are a few things in fishing that makes one feels good. Watching the line and its indicator moving, the anticipation, having a fish on line and the ensuing fight. This is the best "on line" game!

Equally exciting is landing the fish. Having a fish on a line which eventually snapped is like being poured with cold water. This is like a golfer putting it on the green, the greater the difficulty level required of the shot the more satisfying. 

Hauling in and landing the fish that is.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. There is nothing more satisfying than carrying your catch. It is like a trophy! A winner's medal.

You have to brave the elements of the sun and the rain and at the mercy of mosquitoes or the pangs of hunger.

It absolutely trains your patience. 

More young people should be doing it but paying to fish at a pond can be very expensive. 

Wherever you may fish, there will be some time for bonding.

Sometimes, any fish will do.

While peeking through at another pond through a hole, it appeared that this is the go-to place the next trip. Full of Sea Bass. It is a catch-and-release pond. Looking at it you are thinking you are going to catch one every few minutes.

You may have to wander and definitely travel. It can be a rough ride or a rough day.

You will learn new things all the time. Like Sea Bass or "Kim Bak Lor" can survive in brackish water. Even baby ones (fry) can be reared.

It is not just rough days but sometimes rough nights as you plonked through deserted places.

Their patience can be described as admirable but pity the driver and show mercy to old people who should not be eating their dinner at ungodly hours. 

You know why? After paying $60 for three hours each for "catch-and-release there was almost nothing but yet we saw a pond so full of Sea Bass (KBL) previously. We were about to leave as my tummy growled its disapproval of waiting any longer in the quiet of night. A catch and release pond should be full of fish for customers to enjoy the fight experience. We should go for GT.

Then it happened. A sufficiently huge Sea Bass! All your base are belong to us. Muahaha!

A soccer player would buy a soccer game on his Xbox or PlayStation or use it on his mbile phone. Ditto for some golfers and for fisherman? Well your smartphone can do too.

Keep the peace man and keep the fish!

My son and his friends could just go across to the canal that leads to the Sungei Serangoon and haul in 12-15 cichlids and tilapia just for fun. There'll always be interesting places to explore.

Well,  we need to explore and keep the adventure alive! Better and better luck next time. "Give the man a fish and he eats for a day.Teach a man to fish and he sits in the boat drinking beer the whole day".