My Fishing Diary

Trincomalee: I was busy by the afternoon getting things arranged for the most looked forward expedition. First of all, few light clothes. Lots of boxer shorts which I always liked to be in. Toiletries, torch lights (water-proof), Swiss-knife were some of the bits and pieces included in the bag.

Next comes the most interesting part of packing. The trolling rod which was given to me by my 'Guru', whom I will introduce later in a full chapter. Two other rods used for casting. Spinning reel to cast and another 'Penn' reel to troll with. They were well oiled and packed in the previous week. All the lures checked for their hooks. Extra hooks and line were included in the tackle box. Pen sized torch was something that I really fail to notice in many of trips.

After keeping everything packed by the side of my stairway at home, I had my dinner.

Hit the bed soon after. I always keep two alarms ready. But as usual before a day of fishing, I never could sleep. I get up at least thrice every hour before the alarm starts to scream.

Managed to get myself off the bed by quarter past three. By four in the morning I was very much alive and kicking to join my crew. Dicky the 'Old Fisherman' who never looked old and Yohan came to pick me up by half past four in Dicky's double cab.

Loaded my gear and we were along the Colombo - Kandy road in no time.

Yohan drew the cab while Dicky sat in front leaving myself in the back seat. Dicky never leaves us in silence with his stories and yarns which are related in a manner that not many people are able to do. Most of them end with laughter which we find difficult to even breathe.

Sunrise began when we entered the little forest in Malsiripura. We managed to empty our bladders at the venue. At half past seven we reached 'Habarana Rest'. We had 'Cheese Sandwiches' for breakfast. Dicky had his jab of Insulin just after. We started our drive moments later.

Across the thick jungle we reached Kantale tank, where we had a breather.

We manage to reach 'Nilaweli Beach Hotel' by half past ten. Unloaded the fishing gear and other accessories into the room with the help of some boys from the hotel.

No sooner the room became a fishing tackle store. There were at least twelve or more rods and at least ten reels of various brands. It was a very picturesque sight to see. We all tackled up all gear ready to catch from 'flat heads' to giant 'Marlene'. All anglers are never short of their optimism.

Then we had the most delicious meal for the day at the hotel followed by a snooze to settle ourselves. By half past three the team was geared up for the adventure. Mohideen, our boatman was ready with his twenty feet boat with a 25 HP Yamaha engine en suite to it. We loaded our fishing gear on to the boat in no time. We started our journey soon after.

The sun was beaming its rays through a very clear blue sky. Sea was ever so calm as if we were trolling a lake. The water very clear and so nice was jade in colour. And according to the tide charts, it was the low tide. I still have a strong belief that low tide always gives better results for most anglers.

We circled the 'Pigeon Island' and entered the deep seas of Trinco towards the north.

Half an hour later we were trolling parallel to the Signal Transmitting Towers of Deutche Wella. The first screaming of the ratchets came from Diky's Penn. This noise made us jump to our rods in a flash. Both I and Yohan reeled our lures in, letting the lucky-one fight his fish. Quick witted Dicky went on to say it was a plastic bag. But from the sound of the ratchet running all of us knew it was a fish.

It is a treat to watch someone fighting a fish in the sea. When Dicky does it, it's even better. He fought the fish as if he was just winding in line. No sooner we saw the gleaming teeth of a Barracuda. Yohan had to do the honour of gaffing the fish in. It was approximately a five kilo Barracuda.

We all gave high fives to Dicky for his catch. If someone can explain this feeling to another it would be only an angler.

21st to 23rd May 2005

The Team

Damith Wickramasinghe

Hemaka Jayasekara

George Paldano

Tony Ismail

Harin Gabriel

McArthur Gooneratne

Laksiri

Eraj Fernando

Saman Hewage

Lushington Prerea (TUTU)

Sathyamoorthy (Cook)

It had rained the day before we reached Kallarawa. We had lunch and trolled in the afternoon at Podduwakattu. It was not very productive. We had one "WHITING" and few trevallies.

The most remarkable incident was how Laksiri took off the hooks from his leg. The lure was a MIRO 68. Approximately a 4 k Barra hooked on to the same.

Sunday afternoon was a Carnival for the anglers since everyone had fish fights.

Compared to the earlier trips to Kallarawa, there were small fish this time.

We had a good meal of Mussels thanks to McArthur.

Tony prepared a Sashimi meal out of a trvally.