Swimming and Ultra Light Shore Fishing at Kahawa Beach, Sri Lanka

As a part of our group’s rest and recreation, we decided to make a short swim on one of the many beautiful beaches of southern Sri Lanka last Sunday. Since we were at the Koggala Beach Park the other week, where I did some quick shore fishing as well, it has been suggested by some members to re-visit Kahawa Beach this time. We have been to the nice and highly visited swimming place one time and would like to check it out once again.

Like Koggala Beach, Kahawa Beach is particularly a safe, easily accessible and highly suitable swimming area, even for kids, frequented by many locals due to the natural pool that the rocks on the water several meters away from the beach creates. Basically, the place is offering quality swimming opportunities for families and friends, uninterrupted by the roaring waves pretty normal to most Sri Lankan coastlines. The enclosing rock is serving as a natural breakwater, providing protection for the pool of crystal clear water over fine white sand.

As featured before, Sri Lanka is a beautiful tiny island surrounded by rich waters offering an abundance of white sandy beaches, lush greenery, exciting water adventures and amazing marine ecosystem. It has a very healthy coral reefs and wide oceans providing shelters to numerous varieties of coral and sub tropical fishes and other astounding marine life. Kahawa Beach, though public and not really a top tourists destination, is aptly one of them.

While I have mentioned in my posts some well known and popular beaches in the past such as Hikkaduwa Beach, Unawatuna Beach, Bentota Beach and Koggala Beach, I considered Kahawa as also important and worthy of praises. Its fine white beach and clear blue water pretty much support that statement of mine.

Mixed Bag of Fish Caught Shore Fishing in Sri Lanka

To be able to have a good supply of fish that we can cook for posting here, I see to it that I visit the Playground for some shore fishing action whenever I have time during weekends. You see, freshly caught fish are among the most wonderful ingredients for a really delicious seafood culinary fares. Fish in particular are not just tasty but are really very healthy. It is rich in calcium, potassium, omega 3 fats and many more vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Okay, okay I made the first sentence up. It is just my lame excuse for my fishing obsession. :-) The truth is, fishing, just like cooking is really something I have always wanted to do. For me, being with nature or outdoors during weekends, more especially when shore casting from a lush beach, can provide me with the much needed boost and invigoration, in order to alleviate my tired body and mind from what seem to be a very long weekdays working in a construction project.

Well, I think the above is a good enough reason for the spouse to grant me an absolute permission to regularly go fishing in this foreign land at least during weekends when I am not obliged to work. :-)

Shore Fishing at the Playground in Sri Lanka Continues

As the monsoon season is now fast approaching, the productive fishing spot in Bonnavista, Galle City in southern Sri Lanka which I considered as my Playground will inevitably be unfishable soon. The rainy season is expected to bring lots of water and gusty winds which will create raging sea waves which will continuously pound the said Playground all throughout the monsoon period. As a result, my ultimate passion of shore fishing will simply be not possible due to safety consideration. While there will still be days of moderately favorable fishing condition, constraints on my schedule might not provide the opportunity.

The monsoon season, which usually last for about 4 months, would be quite a long wait for an avid angler that I am. Whilst there are other inland bodies of water that could provide an alternative freshwater fishing adventures, the Playground is always my preferred place due to its still unexplored possibilities. The abundance of big game fish and other delectable schooling fish, just within reach from the shoreline provides shore casting opportunities unparalleled elsewhere. This has been mentioned in my previous adventures in the area here and here.

Shore Fishing at the Playground in Sri Lanka

The Playground is my self-declared favorite shore fishing location which I found along the natural coastal refuge of Bonnavista, also called Roumasalla, in Galle City of Southern Sri Lanka. The rocky coast is my gateway to the highly guarded and well preserved Bonnavista reef considered as the most diverse coral reel of this tiny but majestic island nation. The fishing spot is thriving with rich marine and aquatic life and home for many sought-after game fishes that can be caught while casting right from the comfort of the coast.

Among the type of fish I have either caught, hooked but not landed, saw or spotted from the rock platform serving as my little angling paradise of sort are several kinds of trevally, barracuda, groupers, rabbit fish or spinefoot, burrfish, trigger fish, parrotfish, wrasse, yellow tail, emperor, mullet, yellow and red snappers, bonefish and some other reef fishes I have yet to or cannot yet identify. Lots of huge fish were also seen roaming the waters from white to silver to blue to brown in color but we failed to entice using shrimp and squid cuts and several types of lures.

Since the last post of my fishing adventure in the Playground entitled “Fun Shore Fishing in Bonnavista (Roumassala) in Sri Lanka”, I have twice returned to the place. The first comeback was quite worrisome because waves were huge and fiercely hitting the shoreline though not as strong as the one we experienced before and posted here. :-)

In constant search of fishing adventures though, I always manage to carry out the passion even in seemingly unforgiving condition. Applying some safely measures and precautions and the fun still went on. After all, we were on the shore and it was less risky even when faced with a rather rough sea. :)

It is really fun shore fishing in the Playground although what we have been catching lately are small to medium sized fishes only. The rabbit fish or “kitong” as called in the Philippines is really a good eating fish which we always look forward to take home for wonderful culinary creation.

For that particular day, our fish were very fresh when they reached our accommodation as they were kept alive during the entire fishing activity by putting them in a small packet of water right on the surface of the rocky coast, probably formed by the huge splash of water the night before, and only taken out when we were about to leave the Playground.

The second return was welcomed with a really tranquil sea. The whether was fine, the water was calm and shore fishing was at its best as far as the condition is concerned.

Whilst we have been catching good eating fishes every time, I am still dreaming of the big catch capable of pumping the adrenaline high like the huge trevally I fought and lost last year. My friend Rene had a good start catching delicious rabbit fish and juvenile grouper.

Hopeful of a massive pull to my rod which would indicate a big catch, I tried casting several types of lures - poppers, shallow divers, swim bait, soft plastic, etc. but still the elusive strike did not happen. Maybe I am doing it the wrong way. I changed to casting chunks of squid to target the small fish schooling the site. Surprisingly, a moderate pull of my rod happened. My reel slightly screamed and I realized I was fighting a nice fish bigger than Rene’s takes. The fight was short and not so intense but has provided the biggest catch of the day.

We caught another small but colorful reef fish, probably a juvenile parrotfish. It’s really strikingly gorgeous but tiny. :-)

Suddenly, the same kind of huge burrfish or “tugatongan” we hooked 5 times before but failed to land, appeared in the water. I immediately changed tackle and attached a wire line and a bigger hook. I baited it with huge piece of squid and casted where the burrfish was seen. After less than a minute I got a bite and saw the big burrfish at the end of my terminal tackle, I slightly jerk the rod tip to properly set the hook but unfortunately I missed setting it right. As I was struggling to put some bait again, the hungry burrfish bit Rene’s offering and he had the chance.

Rene played the fish in an attempt to tire it while thinking of ways on how to lift it from the water using his small line. I must admit that while we are always hoping to catch a big fish, we are ill-equipped to handle such a situation. The surface of the water is about 3 meters below us and we do not have gaff or landing net yet. Both essential gadgets are still under construction in my room.

Our only chance of landing big fish like that one is for the line to hold on and not snap as we are reeling the fish up. The burrfish’ sharp teeth are another problem for the mono leader of Rene. For several minutes, Rene very carefully kept the fish afloat thinking it will eventually die if maintained on the surface for a long time.

Surprisingly, another burrfish approached the hooked fish as if it was trying to offer some help but swam down below the rocks after several seconds. Rene patiently maintained the fish on the surface. But as he was trying to bring the fish to the other side where it was lower, the inevitable happened. The line snapped leaving the hook on the fish’s mouth but once again free. Rene was a bit exhausted and dumbfounded. It was the second time that the burrfish outsmarted us. :-)

It seems the appearance of burrfish drove other fishes away. We found it quite hard to get another bite. Since the sun was then feasting on our rough but sensitive skin, we decided to call it day and return some other time – definitely with either a gaff or landing net or both.

The modest catch and big enjoyment we had were enough reasons to consider our weekend grand. We look forward to another weekend when by that time, we hope to finally outsmart that burrfish. c“,)

Shore Fishing at Bonnavista (Roumasalla) in Sri Lanka

It has been a while since I last visited the Playground - the exciting fishing site I discovered mid of last year somewhere beside the protected diverse reef area of Bonnavista or Roumasalla, Galle City in Sri Lanka. The adventure I experienced there was in fact the subject of the first post, in two parts, of this blog entitled “Shore Fishing Under the Rain” Part 1 and Part 2. While I have returned to the Playground several times after that discovery, the prevailing monsoon period, that actually lasted until mid of December 2009, created huge and unforgiving waves that made the fishing site quite unsafe. I also posted one of the unproductive fishing trips under “Natures Way of Maintaining the Balance”.

Since it is already fishing season in the Southwestern Sri Lanka, the first thing I wanted to do since I returned from my short Christmas Holiday in the Philippines was to revisit the Playground. Last week, we had the opportunity to do it so I asked Rene, a new friend who prepared the “Kinilaw na Tanigue” I recently posted, who incidentally, also has a fascination with sport fishing and who loves fish a lot, to join me in the adventure. The plan was to leave our place early so that before the morning breaks, we are already wetting our lines. Fish are usually eating during that period so it is considered among the best times to fish. We intend to only fish until before noon, probably up to 10 am, to avoid the intense heat of the sun.

We arrived in the area quite early. It was still dark when we left our vehicle to hike down the scrub towards the shoreline. As always, the view of the place that appeared before us was magnificent. It is an untainted beauty of nature in its innate form. The place is really a natural refuge for the outdoorsman.

We immediately positioned ourselves in the Playground. We prepared our gears and tackles. We don’t want to waste any time as the crystal blue sea was serenely inviting. In a short time, Rene and our local friends were already casting shelled shrimp-baited hooks. I decided to try my luck popping and casting shallow diving lures.

Casting lures did not make any progress. I had no strike even after trying different colors and types of artificial baits. I decided to join Rene and our driver and focused my attention to the reef fishes using chunks of shrimps and squid. Whilst we have been feeling a lot of bites and actually seeing school of fish swimming around in front of us, we were unable to hook any fish. As suggested by Rene, we decided to use smaller hooks and it paid off. Rene was so delighted to have the first catch of the day - a tasty spinefoot or “samaral” or “kitong” as known in the Southern Philippines. Quite luckily, he also had the second catch of a colorful wrasse or “mameng”.

Our driver also managed to land one “kitong” that he hooked in the body and not in the mouth. :-) Only confirming there were lots of fish playing around. After more than an hour these were our modest catch but I still yet to get my first fish.

I persisted. Getting skunked is not part of the plan. Whilst we were having a great time and enjoying every moment even when the fish were seemingly outsmarting us and consistently able to steal the shrimp and squid baits without getting hooked, I am determined to catch fish. Badly! Finally, my prayers were answered, I landed my first catch…….bigger than the previous catch of Rene and our driver. The same “kitong” fish who’s probably among the school of fish feasting on our baits. :-)

And then it was catching time. I managed to catch several more fishes. Even a sharp toothed “papakol” or trigger fish was landed. The great time just became a grand time. And we were overjoyed and extremely satisfied. :-)

Just before we call it a day by around 10 am, Rene got a massive full from his rod. The hook and line easily gave to the fish but Rene saw the big fish just before it swam back to the rock. As Rene changes his terminal tackle, I immediately casted to where the fish was last seen and waited for a while. It did not take long before I hooked the same huge fish. It was very heavy, colored brown which I initially thought was a grouper of about 3-4 kilos. But my hook, too, was easily cut off. Yes, it was the hook that was cut by what seem to be a steel toothed fish. I was dumbfounded to see the remnants of my hook. Definitely it’s not a grouper.

I changed tackle and attached a steel line with a swivel in the end. In the swivel I attached a 1/0 hook and baited a large piece of squid. I immediately casted it to the same spot. The same stubborn brown fish took my offerings. I was happy and said to myself you are mine now. The fish was so massive, not really a ferocious fighter but very heavy. I was able to bring it up the surface to finally see it. It was a fierce looking not so handsome fish with a square jaw….a burrfish, probably birdbeak. It is known as the type of “butete” that can be eaten. In Samar where Rene lives, it is called “Tagutungan” and Rene swears it is one delicious fish.

But I was trying hard to land the fish my line snapped and the fish was again free in the water. I checked my terminal tackle to find out that my 1/0 hook was cut. The fish’s teeth are probably sharper than my long nose. As I changed my terminal tackle again, Rene casted his line with relatively smaller hook on a mono leader. The hungry fish again bit the offering and was at the end of Rene’s line.

Rene took his time; slowly he dragged the then already exhausted fish close to the shoreline. Rene’s intention was to tire the fish and carefully lift it by hand from the water. How I wish I have gaff that very moment. Our driver eagerly helped Rene. We saw the fish almost gasping for air, trying to catch his last breath, as it was kept afloat the surface. Everyone was already excited, but our driver made a terrible mistake, instead of reaching out to the fish to grab and lift it, he pulled the line which once again was broken by the sharp teeth of the burrfish. And the fish slowly swam back to freedom.

We again tried casting several times in the hope of hooking the fish once more, but it was nowhere to be found. Probably after that near-death encounter it had, it decided to keep away from our offerings. Even the school of spinefoot fishes or “kitong” was gone. Since it was already past 10 in the morning and the heat of the sun was starting to hit us, we decided to call it a day. With several tasty spinefoot fish or “samaral” or “kitong” in the bag, we already had a fine catch.

Before leaving the place we decided to eat our lunch first. The struggle with the burrfish likewise exhausted us somehow and we needed to load some food to regain our strength. What could be better than with steamed jasmine rice and a rich “humba” which I cooked the night before? And we ate whilst enjoying the scenic view of the Playground.

On the way to our vehicle, we once again enjoy the breathtaking view of the shoreline from the top. Can be seen from our vantage point was the Playground from the other side of the shore. It is really a gorgeous place.

As we continued our trek towards our vehicle, we were already planning our return. The season will end by mid of April and we need to comeback whenever we have time. We only have 2 months to enjoy the Playground until the season ends and massive waves pound the place.

For all I know, the school of “kitong” or spinefoot and probably the burrfish will also be waiting for us for the fun to continue. c“,)

Koggala Beach Park, An Awesome Fishing Site

Koggala Beach Park is just a small ordinary recreational area situated along the beautiful coastline of the southern corner of Sri Lanka, close to the historic city of Galle. I often pass by the park but never really developed an interest to enter and check out the amenities or activities that it is offering. I am more fascinated by the stilt fishing which can be seen not very far from the park as I traverse the coastal road. It is such an astonishing sight with the local fishermen perched atop their stilts on the shallow water while pole fishing for the tiny but tasty smooth belly sardinella and other small reef fishes.

However, when I stumbled upon a UK based fishing website which ran a story about the fishing adventure of a British tourist in Koggala during his short visit in Sri Lanka, my interest was suddenly awaken. He mentioned about experiencing a barracuda bite while shore fishing using a live sardinella fish, caught by the local stilts fishermen, as bait. That part of his short tale is convincing enough for me to consider going to Koggala to verify the fishing activity. And the park, I thought, is a good starting point.

The beach park is clean, well vegetated and properly maintained. It has such amenities as children’s playground, boutiques, bench, tables, rest rooms, gardens, lawn and of course a magnificent beach. And what makes this park a special treat for me is that it is in fact a fishing site. The stilts used for the famous stilt fishing stand right in front of me on the waters.

But that isn’t all. The beach, it appeared, is also a potential spot for one of my favourite passion: Shore Angling. There were in fact about 3 shore anglers busy castings from the beach.

Eager to learn how the locals are fishing from the shore, I immediately approached them to investigate. Probably sensing we are sharing the same hobby, they, without hesitation taught me their method of fishing using small shrimps and sea weeds as baits.

They cast as far as they can and slowly retrieve the offering hoping to get a bite. They can catch several varieties of reef fishes and at the right condition, long nose emperor, trevalley, grouper and barracuda. The condition that day, according to them, isn’t very good for fishing but still gladly showed me some of their modest morning catch.

With fervent desires to learn something about stilts fishing, I decided to wait if someone would come to fish from the vacant stilts. Unfortunately it seems there is no sardinella in the area and thus no stilt fisherman is bound to climb the stilts that day. Not willing to go home without seeing the famous Sri Lankan scene of stilt fishing, I checked the far end of Koggala and found about 4 fishermen sitting atop their stilts and enjoying pole fishing.

I was not able to see the rig and bait they are using but was lucky enough to take photos of their collective fresh catch which they sell from the roadside. Delicious little sardinella. :-)