The bond between fishing and Kochi goes a long way. For generations, our ancestors have been practising fishing as an occupation and there were specific social groups who constituted the fishing community in Kerala. But now, fishing has evolved into much more than just a source of income. If you travel the coasts of the city, you will be amazed by the number of anglers waiting patiently for a big catch.Biju Prakasam is a well-known angler and businessman residing in Kochi. He travels across the state, exploring the potential ‘hot spots’ for fishing. Says Biju, “Fishing has been my passion since childhood. I usually engage in the sport with friends. Even preparing your tackle the previous night is fun and if you hook up a big fish the thrill lasts at least for two weeks. But very few people understand it as a sport. What people do not know is that there are tourists who come to Kerala just for fishing. In Kochi, it is still confined only to a few people living near the coast.”He feels that people need to be made aware of this sport in order for it to flourish. There are two kinds of fishing - salt water and fresh water. “Both differ in more ways than one.Salt water fish are easier to catch as compared to fresh water fish which are more careful and sensitive to external objects. Hence the approach used by anglers in presenting the bait or lure the fish differs,” says Biju. The ‘scavenger’ fish like to feed on dead creatures unlike the majority which prefer live bait. There are three kinds of fishing techniques that are commonly used. “Bait fishing is the traditional type where the angler uses a dead or live creature as bait. In lure fishing, the angler uses artificial lures that are designed to imitate live bait. These lures are usually made of rubber, plastic, wood or metal and it triggers a striking instinct in the targeted fish.The last kind is fly fishing which requires skill on the part of the angler. It uses an artificial fly artistically tied on to the hook to attract fish,” says Biju.Vypeen, Fort Kochi, Cherai and Munambam are the major fishing areas in Kochi. “If you go during the peak season you can actually see many anglers in these areas,” says Jaichandran, an advertising professional who travels to Fort Kochi often."I am very passionate about the sport and will not miss any opportunity to go fishing. I mostly go with friends but I also like to fish alone at times. I get restless if I do not go at least once a week,” says Toji Mampilly, an engineering student.Sam Thomas, CEO of Eben Telecom, is a passionate angler. He says - “Fishing is an addiction for me. I make sure I go at least once in two weeks to fish. Sometimes, if I am busy, I club my business and fishing trips together. It relieves me of stress.”Biju also runs a shop in Palarivattom which caters to the needs of anglers, trekkers, those interested in remote controlled miniature vehicles and more - Hobby Drome."We specialise in fishing gear. We have almost everything you will need from rods, reels, lures, soft baits and mono lines to snaps, landing nets and fillet knives,” says Biju.The shop has products from internationally acclaimed brands like Shakespeare, Daiwa, Tufline, Lamiglas and many more. Sharath Chandran, head of Total Gas, in Kerala is another enthusiast who makes sure he keeps some time out of his busy life for fishing. “Fishing unwinds me. I need this recharge as frequently as possible. Being close to the water itself is a great feeling,” he says.“The adrenaline rush that you get when you hook a huge fish is irreplaceable. It’s so much fun and it takes your mind of all kinds of work and family problems,” says Biju.For more details about Hobby Drome, contact [email protected].
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