Bridge Fishing

For many years now I have been bridge fishing. It means exactly what it says. We go underneath a bridge and stand out on the support pillars right to the edge. I am using a 7 foot bamboo pole that is so limber I can bend it double and it won't break. But it's still very strong. There is no reel. The extra line is wrapped around two studs that are tightly wrapped to the pole. I usually use 100 pound test line because you have no idea what you will latch on to. We use very small shrimp for bait. fish. We usually go when the tide is just coming in high. The fish come in with the tide and many of them hang around the base of the support pillars. We are not trying to catch big fish. we are trying to catch some specific types of fish that are good to eat, and hard to catch. They usually range from 1/8 lb up to a lb. We let the line out with the current and angle it so it goes down to the base of the pillars. Many times the water is clear enough that we can see the line all the way down. Then you just jig it a bit til you get a bite.

I go bridge fishing for a few reasons. One; there is a bridge going across an inlet only about a quarter mile from my house. The bridge is about a half mile long, and has four pillars to stand on. Two; my wife and family like to eat these types of fish we are catching. Three; I can use my trike to go there easily and back. It's very convenient and close. We frequently catch a few fish that are bigger; some up to three lbs. It is relaxing, which is why I go at all. Many of the local guys go there every day to catch fish for their family.

In the baranguay (district) next to ours, they bring a big catches of fish from netting in the ocean. Many guys go there very early in the morning to help the crew pull the nets in to shore. By helping them, they are allowed to take some fish home with them for free. Other who go around selling fish from their motorcycles, buy their fish from the catch, put it on ice on a container rack that fits on their motorcycle, then round all over the area everywhere selling the fish to families for a small profit. They don't make much, but they help lots of families get fish to eat by doing this. My brother-in-law does this in the morning all the time, but his main job is using a large chainsaw to cut up trees for lumber. He can make two-by-fours with his chainsaw that are almost as straight and good as the ones you buy that are cut on a table with a saw.

But back to fishing; it's a nice enjoyable day when you can fish. There are a few tricks to catching these fish. It's not as easy as just droppoing a line. You h.ave to keep the bait alive; that means hooking or attaching it so it does not die. then you ahve to jig it slowly. If you jerk it, the fish will run away. It has to look like the shrimp is swimming with the current. Then, alot of times, they will nibble at it; not really biting. You just have to wait until they really take it. After you learn what they do, and how they behave, it's not that hard to catch them.

If we are going after bigger fish, then we will go much further down the road to a much bigger bridge. The inlet is much wider, and alot deeper. But we don't fish under this bridge, we fish on top. You need a lot of line, as it is a long way down, then it needs to play out quite a bit. And you need a certain weight attached that is not too heavy, but can't be too light either, or the current will not let it sink. If we are having any luck there, we can catch fish weighing from 3 to 10 lbs. But they are much wiser and do not bite all the time. Most people who catch more than one of these fish will kkep one only and sell the rest. There is always somebody who wants to buy fish, as it is the main food eaten here.

There is no set day to go fishing here. It is not like the States. Everyday is pretty much the same. Sometimes I don't even know if it is a Tuesday or a Saturday. Peopl ehere go fishing whenever they get a break; during a work day or not. They try to catch fish as often as they can for the family, since buying fish in the market all the time would cost too much. Almost every day someone comes by our house asking my wife if she wants to buy fish. She most usually does; not because she always needs the fish, but sometimes just to help out the ones who are trying to sell them. She is very considerate, and I'm always proud of her. And she has great common sense.

I hope tomorrow is a nice day, because right now I sure feel like going fishing!