The Tanner Hill - Life & Leisure

With three sides of it surrounded by the sea, Hong Kong is home to a great number of fishing enthusiasts, including Billy Lam, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Sport Fishing Federation, whose love of fishing began in secondary school years. "I would organise fishing activities with my classmates back in secondary school, and by the time I graduated from university, I could afford overseas fishing trips to countries like Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United States. It's been four decades since I started fishing, how time flies!"

The ABC of Fishing

Fishing generally can be done in saltwater and freshwater, and surfcasting, boat fishing, and rock fishing (or 'iso tsuri' in Japanese) are the common techniques for saltwater fishing. "Surfcasting is the most popular kind of fishing. You see people fishing spinefoots at the piers? That's surfcasting," explained Billy. "Boat fishing, on the other hand, is fishing by anchoring your fishing boat at 'strike zones' in the sea (fish is likely to concentrate where ocean currents meet). Rock fishing, while also done by fishing in the open sea on a fishing boat, is about attracting schools of fish with bait and fishing from the rocks on the shore of an island." With the scanty freshwater rivers in Hong Kong, freshwater fishing is usually done at reservoirs, fish ponds, or flood relief channels.

Fishing essentials are all very basic, and they come in different prices to suit different budgets. "For surfcasting, basic fishing tackle such as fishing line, sinker, hooks, baits, a pair of scissors and a bucket for the catch can keep you going for a whole day," said Billy. "Now that people are able to learn more about fishing, an increasing number of fishing enthusiasts have become interested in fishing bigger fish, and with that comes the necessity of more advanced equipment, such as rods with guides and reels, or rods especially designed to catch particular types of fish, with the expensive ones coming in a price tag of over HKD10,000. Naturally enough, stronger lines are needed to catch bigger fish, and in terms of bait, there are the choices from the common earthworms to fresh prawns, crabs and octopus. In addition, boat rental is part of the expense too if you're thinking of boat fishing and rock fishing. For beginners, however, basic, financially affordable fishing tackle should suffice."

Blessed with a favourable geographical location, the variety of fish to be fished in Hong Kong exists in abundance, and fish of exceptional quality can be had further into the sea, where the water is less polluted. Snubnose pompano, grey snapper, Moses' snapper, and grouper are among the commonly fished saltwater fish; while carp, grass carp, tilapia and bighead carp are the commonly fished freshwater fish. "On a fishing trip where we took off from Sai Kung, our accumulated catch was 13 big Malabar groupers that weighed a total of 300 catties. We had a restaurant cooking the fish after we returned to the shore and sold the remaining catch to the restaurant. On another fishing trip we caught over 100 yellowfin seabream, a species known to be the most difficult to catch and as fish enthusiasts, we couldn't have been more proud. We ended up selling the remaining catch and used the money to pay for the boat rental," said Billy as he recalled two of his most memorable fishing experiences.

Fishing as a Physical and Social Activity

On top of being a recreational activity, fishing, in the eyes of Billy, is also a hobby beneficial to health. "A big part of fishing is about absolute concentration to detect the movement of the fish, feel its feeding on the bait, and promptly tug at the fishing line. With this level of focus you can easily put the stress of life behind, and enjoy the fresh air and azure blue sky," said Billy. "The necessary preparation work before fishing includes checking the weather and wind velocity (level 5 by the Beaufort wind scale is deemed unsuitable for marine activities), boat rental and route planning, as well as the selection of the right fishing tackle and baits – all of which are helpful in training your judgement and organisational abilities. Moreover, balancing yourself on a rocky boat can train muscular strength and balancing power. For those who are prone to seasick, fret not, as all it takes is some getting used to."

For experienced fishing enthusiast Billy, the greatest thing about fishing is not a sizeable catch, but the sharing of the catch afterwards. "We normally board the boat at eight in the morning and return to the shore at five in the afternoon. Honestly, nothing beats having the restaurant cook the fresh catch and sharing it with friends and family over chats and fine wine, when we are all relaxed and happy after a day out fishing," said Billy, who admitted that socialising with members of the Hong Kong Sport Fishing Federation has brought out the cheerier side of members who were initially reserved and reticent.

Be Part of the Fishing Troop

Composed of the Four Seas Fishing Club, Hong Kong Angling Association, Sea Dragon Fishing Club, and MTR Fishing Club, the Hong Kong Sport Fishing Federation is active in the promotion of fishing through the organisation of fishing activities for its members, as well as fishing activities and talks for non-profit institutions, schools and corporations. "Hong Kong Angling Association, for instance, holds fishing activities for its members every week. By all means choose a fishing club that matches your preferences, learn from the club's more experienced fishing enthusiasts and share the marine catch while enriching your social life."

Fishing is an activity fit for people of all ages, whose camaraderie transcends generations. Go on now, become part of the fishing troop!

Special Thanks:
Billy Lam, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Sport Fishing Federation
www.hksff.org