A beginner's experience

Peprina · June 08, 2009, 22:21:42 CET

Hello there.

Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm 37, mother of two, and about 4 weeks ago I bought a cheap fishing pole for my 8 year old son and I fished for the first time. Since then I've been hooked. I haven't enjoyed myself like this since I was a kid. I can't believe that you can have such fun with a rod and tackle that cost me something like 10 Euros in total. I have a 3m pole, with a line and hook. I fish with frozen prawns which I buy from the supermarket (not cooked). And I go round the shore. I have to go to shallow places because my daughter is 3 years old and I have to keep an eye on her. I've been mainly in the St Julians area.

The first couple of times I went I didn't catch anything with the rod, but we took a large jar with us, and covered the mouth with a cloth with a hole in the middle and put in some flour and bread. And we placed it in a rock pool. And sure enough we caught a small fish and 2 shrimps. It was a relief that I could show my kids something!

Second time round, again I caught nothing on the pole, but we caught a small fish using a small net and some floating bread. Again my kids were very proud of me. They were having the time of their life on the beach throwing pebbles.

This was in May around the time when the jelly fish were coming in. I was terrorised my daughter might try to go in the water with all those jelly fish around. I never saw that many.

On my third trip I caught my first fish on the line. And boy did we scream and jump! It was a small one but it proved a point. I could catch a fish.

I've been fishing two to four times a week since then, often straight after work. I take a packed lunch for the kids: they eat so much more willingly outside, and some tea for me. I've seen so many beautiful things. We saw a serduq il-bahar. I had never seen one before. One time I saw what I think was a barracuda. Some small fish were biting at my bait, then all of a sudden there was a confusion, and this large, long, narrow fish swam eerily past me. As I tried to move the pole to go towards it, one of the small fish, a cawla, ate a bite and got caught. Thinking back, I should have tried using that as bait. But I'm learning. I'll do that next time. After that fish passed, no other fish came along. They just vanished.

I've caught a few combers, wrasses, a kahla, some cawl and a vopa. Sure, sometimes we go home not having seen something new, but it's very rare. I try different locations, different types of sea bottom, different depths, different times, and I try to fish in the shade, may be of a boat. I've been learning how to pull just when the fish bites enough. But last Sunday I got a special treat. Within five-ten minutes I caught three 'sawrell' about 19cm long. I caught two of them with the same prawn because the first one didn't eat it! I kept those. I couldn't believe it. I finally caught something relatively decent. I think we must have made quite a scene with our screaming and jumping because passer-bys started clapping (Luckily there was no one fishing around me so I was not disturbing other fishermen).

My uncle and I would love to go fishing around Comino and we're seeing if we can hire a little boat from somewhere up North. If any of you know from where we could get one at a reasonable price, would you let me know? Also, he used to like to go for 'Rosette' or 'Rozett' bir-rixa. Do you know what fish that is? I remember it used to be a pink fish. But I can't find it anywhere. He tells me if I go once with him I'll want to keep going! So I'm itching to go.

I'm enjoying the forum. I found it because every evening I spend an hour or so looking up what fish we caught and I was always hitting on it.

What a lovely hobby you all have. Why didn't anyone ever introduce me to fishing when I was a kid? I feel I've missed so much time. I have a lot to catch up on. I'm also wondering whether I should be getting some better equipment but I have no clue really about what would be good for me. Or is it fine to continue with what I've got? Should I try different bait?

I'm using a bobber, but many times I keep it just above the surface and I prefer to feel the tug of the fish. Is that wrong?

I'll be waiting to hear from you. And happy fishing to all.

Thanks

mulett75 · June 08, 2009, 22:33:51 CET

Peprina. welcome to the forum. Nice to know that you enjoy fishing. To help you out on types of fish go to this link and you will find all fises round Malta. Like that you will get to know what fish is around.
www.fishbase.com/Country/CountryChecklist.php?c_code=470&vhabitat=all2&csub_code=&CFID=6136635&CFTOKEN=98553439

Fishing "al tocco" or in maltese "fuq id dejk" will give you direct contact with the fish. You are doing nothing wrong, keep on fishing the way that makes you more confident and keep experimenting. Do not worry about disturbing other fisherman, keep enjoying fishing. Remember fishing is not catching, but cathing is a bonus or a reward for yor effort

robby017 · June 08, 2009, 22:51:57 CET

If you are from St julian's area we could meet up and i can show you some tricks of the trade as from tomorrow afternoon.... I grew up fishing in St Julian's and know that bay inside out, from the shore and from a small boat. I remember i used to go down with my family on the 'cementa' under the Park Towers and whilst they have a swim, i go fish... and when i was forced to swim, i'd go off snorkling with a line in my hand, catching and releasing fish... those were the days...

I have my last exam tomorrow morning, so, odds are that straight after i might be going down to st julian's to fish a bit. feel free to join in.

noztheviking · June 08, 2009, 22:52:42 CET

HI Peprina Welcome to the forum you will find as much imformation as you will ever need off the good people on this forum, All you have to do is ask and someone will help you or put you in touch with someone who can, you have now dicovered the secret behind that magical thing that is FISHING, That its fun for all Men, Women, Young,and Old now youve found it ENJOY it. and remember you dont have to catch fish every time out.(but it helps especially if you have youngsters with you ) as for your fishing tackle dont worry about having all the latest fishing rods, reels, and gadgets. most of these are there to catch the fisherman not the fish. Use wot you have until you feel ready to go on to some thing more exspensive, More than any thing go fishing with your children and Enjoy yourselves. SO titelines and I will look out for your posts. PS My wife goes fishing with me and useually catches more than me any way.

Peprina · June 08, 2009, 23:00:40 CET

Thanks to all for your comments. Thanks mulett75 for the link. It sure is useful. And Robby, you might see me in St Julians, though I'm not sure if it will be tomorrow. But I'm very easy to pick out with 2 kids around.

robby017 · June 08, 2009, 23:07:33 CET

LOL, my favorite spot is the pier of OKI KOKI Banis.... its best using a hand pole there, always great results for a funfilled afternoon.

Peprina · June 08, 2009, 23:22:22 CET

I've found the Ruzetta. It's called Pearly Razorfish. I once remember my uncle returning from a boat trip with around 60 of those. That was about 25 years ago. Do you still see any around?

http://www.fishbase.com/Country/CountrySpeciesSummary.cfm?c_code=470&id=4581

Better pictures here:
http://www.fishbase.com/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.php?ID=4581

The_Gaffer · June 09, 2009, 08:01:22 CET

Hi Peprina, and welcome to the forum. Enjoy your stay here. I can see that you're hooked

Buddhagrass · June 09, 2009, 09:47:36 CET

Hi Peprina, I really enjoyed reading your story on how much your enjoying fishing. Over here we are like one big family, and I'm sure you'll find loads of help from my fishing friends. As from my side I really can't help that much as my fishing style is spearfishing and shore squid fishing 4 months a year (October - February). But if you would be interested in learning shore squid fishing you can PM me a month before their season begins (around September) and I'll guide you about what kind of equipment you'll need, good spots and anything else that might get into squid fishing. Till then take care and happy fishing

skip · June 09, 2009, 18:25:18 CET

Hi Peprina, welcome to the forum. You can use the forum search function to look for a particular fish which should be indexed from here http://maltafishingforum.com/talk/index.php?action=gallery;sa=slideshow;id=2774

Arti2's large gallery upload of Fish Found in Malta - Maltese/English Names.

One can always invest in better equipment once you see which type of style you like and there's no need to go OTT you can take a small step up. Ta' Bormla in Mosta near HSBC have some very good packages and can give you excellent advice, or you can go to Mister Fish in Gzira or Iklin as well.

Great writeup by the way

acciola · June 09, 2009, 18:35:44 CET

Hi Peprina,

Welcome to the forum. I was really touched by your writeup and enjoyed reading it very much.

With regards to the 'Rusetta' they are delicious to eat, to say the least and pretty easy to catch once you know where. You'd definately need a boat, a hand line for bottom fishing with small hooks and shrimp as bait will do just fine. I used to catch loads when I was young but be careful... They BITE!! They have these 2 very sharp long teeth and no matter how you hold them, they always manage to curl round and bite your finger.

Anyway, if interested, I'll be more than pleased to pm you with details of location and possibility of a small boat hire close to the spot

.

Peprina · June 09, 2009, 19:09:58 CET

Hello acciola. My uncle knows a good spot, but we need a small boat hire from the North of Malta cause he sold his boat about 5 years ago. Do you know of anyone who hires boats around there? I asked at the Tunny Net but it costs a bomb.

Isma, what does pm mean in this forum?

And thanks for the offer Buddhagrass. By September I'll surely be wanting to try something new.

Destination Sea · June 09, 2009, 19:12:01 CET

Welcome peprina. I think PM means private message.

camkev · June 09, 2009, 22:09:07 CET

Hi Peprina,i have a good place for Pearly Razorfish.Usually(if possible never) i go with the wife and kids to fish for them.You are free to join us on our boat.It will be in summer cause now it's albacore season so i dont waste time on Pearly Razorfish

They are very good fish to eat.When you know how to use the PM send me one.

mike.d. · June 10, 2009, 06:52:20 CET

hi peprina, and welcome, i understand notanic on bugibba seafront hire small boats, they seat 5 and are 50 euroes for 5 hours, i know some people that hired last year just for fun and enjoyed themselves, " may the fish be with you ".