Angling is an addiction for some. For some it’s a time-killing hobby. For many it’s a simple means of carrying home a bundle of fresh fish for the curry pot.
It really does not take too much to go fishing on any day of your choosing, even if you are here on a quick holiday. It’s safe, it’s cheap, it’s hands-on and it teaches you to be patient. And that’s not a small virtue, considering the busy lives we lead.
How to go about organizing a cheap angling trip? First, there’s a small shopping list. You need a ball of fishing line, appropriate hooks (small hooks for small fish, big hooks for the meaner ones), a fishing rod (you can make do with a simple line and hook too) and of course bait.
Goa’s river bridges provide excellent fishing opportunities, especially at night. If you are careful to keep clear of the traffic on the bridges like the ones across Mandovi, which connects Panaji to Porvorim, Siolim, Nerul and Velsao, it already has regular anglers lining up along the railings looking for a bite nearly everynight.
Squeeze up some bait onto the hook and swing the line over the railing and wait like the rest do. Look for an unusual wiggle of the line or jerks, which means a fish is trying to take a piece of your bait. If you do feel one, just snap it and pull the line back up. You may have just fished out your prize.
Popular spots: The Mandovi and old Patto bridge in Panaji. Bridges at Siolim, Nerul and Velsao.
