Monday, March 31, 2008

Stingray At the Shoreline

Just recently I visited a friend living at the shoreline. I arrived in their place at around 5 o'clock in the afternoon. I was amazed, some of our friends are already there.

We had some chit chats, reminiscing college days and the fun we had. After a few more minutes, we decided to go fishing.

We brought out the fishing net and some other fishing materials to be used. I know there are sizes of fishing nets to be used in some areas like the shoreline areas. The whole of the net should is being regulated here to protect other small fishes not to be caught.

Fishing is one of the source of food and income in the place and is normal to see fishermen with different catch. Around 200 0r 300 meters away from the shoreline, there bamboo tress piled in a rectangular manner. They called here "baklag" where sea shells (i don't know the name). After a couple of months this "baklag" is harvested.

The net we used is operated only by two master fisherman. Each is holding both end while walking up to shore. Fishes are taken off the water up to the shore. My other friend and I started to put down the net in the breast water level and started to pull it through the shore.

The net, our friend told us it about 50 meters long and it will be heavy when pulled and he's right. We called another two member of the group to accompanies us in pulling the net to the shore.

On this first attempt, we caught an stingray with around 24 inches in diameter. The fisher who are watching came closer to see what we caught and they told us we were lucky to catch such fish. The other fisherman suggested the best recipe to be cooked with.

Some of my friend and I knew that stingray is an endangered specie already, but some of friends and the fishermen watching us are hesitant to cook the stingray. And so, the stingray was cooked with coconut milk.

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