What's new, Hivers? Let me borrow some of your time to read or skim my blog as I relive my experiences as a fisherwoman for a day. Not only we fished for fish— but also memories.
Since the classes are still on break, we have planned to find enjoyable and memorable things to do as a group. I have a friend who owns a fish pen in her hometown which is in Polambato, Bogo City (still in the Northern Part of Cebu) where they culture and grow fish mostly Bangus (Milkfish) and Danggit (Pinspotted Spinefoot). She invited us to travel there and visit their fish pen. We didn’t expect to go fishing. We just thought that she would tour us and just wander around the place.
It was noon when we met at our meeting place. We bought a pizza first since we decided to bring some for our snacks in case we got hungry when we reached the fish pen later. After everything that needed to be prepared, we looked for a tricycle that was headed to our destination. We paid our fare when we dropped off at the house of my friend. We left some of our belongings there as well. Before we headed to the shore, my friends had to find a store to buy some drinks.
We then walked our way towards the shore. The father of my friend (who kindly offered to accompany us) headed to the sea first to ready the boat. We walked about three kilometers under the scorching heat of the sun. All we did was complain as we walked, we’d feel relieved when we saw the shade of a tree. Before we reached the seaside, we'd have to go past the freshness and greenness of the huge farms here. After a decade of complaints and sometimes compliments of the place, we’ve finally reached the shore.
Mangroves are prominent in the area. It’s a good barrier to stop the waves from reaching the land. The tide was low, so we had to walk to where the boat was parked. As you can see from the picture, the fish pens are visible and it seems that the distance was swimmable. But it was really far away.
It was exhilarating as I placed myself on the boat. This was my first time to ride one. The rush was unexplainable. The boat was small and we were seven in total, so we had to minimize our moves and hold our breaths.
We entered the fish pen area, I could see that they were simply made from bamboo trees tied together by ropes and nets. I don’t know if they are strong enough, what I know is that they must have taken a lot of time to build these.
We stopped the boat near the ladder when we reached their fish pen. We had to climb this ladder. I was shaking, I didn’t if I could trust it and risk my life. But I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t come all the way here just to go back.
It was satisfying to feel when I successfully reached the top. It was breezy enough for me to forget the heat. I had to get some of the things we brought and hold them. The floors were made from bamboo. One slip or one crack from the bamboo, you’d be a meal to the fishes here. Just kidding, the fishes below don’t bite, they say.
We carefully crawled our way into the small cottage that was in the center of the fish pen. I can see that they have solar lights for night fishing and for other purposes. The handrails were distant so to get there fast, one must find their balance. But as a first-timer with shaking feet, it took us time to get there.
Finally, we reached the cottage, we sat down immediately on the wooden chair and on the floor. We placed the pizza on the floor to avoid it from falling. We were starved from all that walk and trials when we reached this place, so we ate.
Ny friend's father poured some feeds into the area of the milkfish. It was amazing to watch all the fish appear. They’ve been nurturing these fishes to sell when they’re big enough. Once they’re ready to be harvested, a large net would be thrown into the sea and trap the fish.
My friend asked us if we wanted to catch some fish. So we did, but we had to fish on the are of the Danggit fish. Her father mixed these feeds with rejected noodles. This should be the bait to be put on the 'taga' (hook). My friend demonstrated what to do first. She grabbed a single noodle and hooked it into the hook.
She then threw the DIY fishing rod (made from bamboo and nylon) into the sea along with the poured feeds (to attract the fish).
We were ecstatic when we saw her catch the first fish. She had to hold the fish and detach the hook from its mouth. It seemed so hard since the fish was flapping its tail so hard. After the hook was detached, the fish was placed into the styrofoam. The fish died slowly, it was painful to watch.
We volunteered to do some fishing next. We were to take turns- after the one catches her fish, it is then passed to the next (since there is only one fishing rod). It was my turn when I surprisingly caught a Milkfish. We were confused, about whether we should put it back on the water or not. Her father specifically told us to catch Danggit. We wanted to ask if it was okay, but he left us there and he told us he’d return at 5 pm. So, we decided to keep it.
My friend told us that we should bring home the fish we’d caught. So we took turns until the styrofoam was nearly half full. The fish we caught was getting stronger and bigger, so we had to cover it with the empty pizza box to prevent it from going back into the water.
When the box could no longer hold the fish, our friend had to use her feet to stop the fish. It was so funny to watch.
Eventually, I got tired so I now comfortably lay down on the bench and felt the warm breeze. The two of them, however, continued doing their business. They continued fishing until we were fetched.
I checked the time, it was already five and my friend’s father had not yet returned. As a sunset seeker, we were glad, because we could watch the sunset.
It was nearing 6 pm when her father returned. He brought plastic for the fish we caught. It was really thoughtful. We cleaned and gathered our things and crawled our way back to the ladder, where the boat was tied to.
The tide was now higher and the current was stronger than earlier, so three of us were sent first. The other three waited there for a while.
On the way to the land, I was in awe of the sunset. If a scene was called perfection, this was it—the boat, the sea, the fresh breeze, and the sunset.
When we reached the land, the boat had to go back so we busied ourselves with the pretty skies. When the three of them arrived we started to walk. It was a three km walk and it was nearing dusk.
On our walk, we carried the fish we caught. It was heavy, so we took turns in pairs. It took us about 30 minutes until we reached the house of our friend. She got us each separate plastics to put in our shares.
Her mother offered us a ride, and we couldn’t be more thankful. We got home feeling like the breadwinner of the family.
To be able to experience this is such an honor. Not only we fished for fish that are yet to be made a meal, but also for memories that are to be kept.