Humans are capable and brave enough to adapt to various environments. Their goal is to learn about and survive in all parts of life. Humans excel in various methods, ranging from the easiest to the most precise and dangerous.
The seas around the Maldives are home to the fastest and strongest fish in the world. This account describes how specialised Maldivian fishermen hunt sailfish and wahoo. Not every fish is caught with a hook. This technique needs talent and quick reflexes.
This approach does not use live or dead bait on the hook. It entails exposing wood or dead fish on the surface to attract the fish, similar to the harpoon approach.
Harpooning is a traditional method of catching huge fish in the ocean. In various regions of the world, it was also used to impale fish in rivers. This method necessitates expertise and complete concentration.
When a harpooner or fisherman locates a fish, he or she typically lunges or discharges a long aluminium or wooden harpoon into the fish and hauls it aboard. This approach is used worldwide to catch large fish such as bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and swordfish.
In the Maldives, our fishermen had acquired the knack of impaling one of the sea’s fastest and strongest fish.
Expert fishermen set out to use this technique when the moon is bright and the sea is calm, or during a full moon. The usual time they leave is early in the morning.
Back in the day, this move was done with bokkuras, small wooden boats, and sailboats. Normally, two to three people were involved in this technique.
They use a strong hook, line, and pole. In the beginning, a fish-shaped wooden bait was used to draw these animals.
This lure is cast on the water’s surface and connected to a pole and a line separately. This is done to draw the predator. The lure’s shadow attracts predators.
If predators detect the lure, they stalk it. The predator must be struck before bolting from the lure. The fishermen must remain alert. Accomplishing the precision strike requires timing and quick reactions.
When the swift strike is unleashed on the fish, the line becomes detached from the pole. The predator swims away while the fisherman reels it in with both hands.
Now, fishermen use flying and mackerel scad to attract fish. However, now only a few fishermen in the Maldives are capable of using this unique fishing technique.
