Angling in Chennai rides a wave of growing interest after COVID-19

At Olive Beach, Muttukadu, the fingers of the salty wayward sea are fast to erase the footprints of anglers on its financial institution. A billowing blue flows from each distance.  Bait containers are unfold out alongside the sandy banks and gusty winds reverberate. As the crabs scuttle with the ebbing waves, a string of anglers has their eyes on the drifting currents — to hook a prized catch.  

After a COVID-19-induced pause, skilled and leisure anglers have taken to the game like fish to water. As the pandemic noticed folks spending a lot of time on on-line platforms like YouTube — movies posted by angling associations in Chennai like Poseidon Sport Fishing Tackles and Charter and Anglers Fishing Tackles have despatched ripples amongst fanatics.  

Angling is a sort of sport fishing that requires a blanket of calm, crisp blue skies and serene climate. The meditative sport is performed with the assistance of a fishing rod which has a lure or bait connected to its tip. Lures are shiny plastic units that resemble smaller species of fish. There are primarily two varieties of fishing — seawater and river water fishing.

As interest in the game grows, folks have additionally taken to fishing in lakes, ponds, and smaller water our bodies. Angling tackles are priced between ₹2,000 and ₹2,00,000. While Poseidon has discontinued boat rides for fishing, Anglers Fishing Tackles presents boat rides that price ₹3,000 per individual for a 2-3 hour journey.

Catch and Release 

A redeeming function of the game is that the fish hooked by every angler is launched inside 5 seconds of it being caught. “In all professional angling competitions, fish must be released into the water within the stipulated time. On failing to do so, the participant is disqualified from the games,” says skilled angler Dinesh Kumar Ravindran, proprietor of Anglers Fishing Tackles. The thrill of the game depends upon hooking a fish, taking a {photograph} with it, and instantly releasing it again into the waters. Commercial fishermen, then again, go on to promote the fish in markets.    

Dinesh holding his catch — a yellow fin tuna
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

In Chennai, Anglers Fishing Tackles organises All India Game Fishing Association (AIGFA) Tamil Nadu Fishing Competition which is held on salt waters. Since its inception in 2013, the competitors has been held in the fish-laden waters of Malvan, Ganapatipule (Maharashtra), Mangalore, Mysore, Neil Island in Andaman and Kovalam seaside in Chennai.

The competitors normally attracts greater than 110 skilled anglers from throughout the nation. The participant hooking varied species of fish is given the primary place together with a prize cash of about ₹4 lakh.

A bait field
| Photo Credit:
Karunakaran M

Angling fanatic Nambi Rajan, a safety guard says, “I have been watching videos posted by Dinesh. In the process, I have learnt how to fish within six months. My biggest catch has been a 22kg Giant Trevally fish,” says a smiling Nambi — elated to serendipitously meet his digital coach on the seaside. 

Standing a few steps away from Nambi is his pal Sendhil, an AC mechanic, who has been angling for six years now. As he speaks about his ardour which can be his second job, he speaks with a glint in his eye. “Once you touch the fishing rod, that’s it!,” exclaims Sendhil. “Once you catch a fish, you get hooked, not the fish,’’ chuckles the professional.  

An angler for the last 23 years, Prasanna, owner of Poseidon, a hook and tackle shop in Chennai‘s Ayyavoo Colony in Aminjikarai says that the sport calms him. “When I am angling, I don’t just cast out the bait, I also cast out my worries,” says the angler lyrically. Prasanna’s prized catch has been a uncommon nine-foot marlin, which he caught in the deep waters of Chennai.  

A 9 toes marlin was caught by Prasanna just lately.
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Special Arrangement

Homemaker Anitha Visnu has been angling since 2018. “During the lockdown, angling was a stress buster for me and my household. Although there aren’t any all-women angling teams in Chennai, younger school-going ladies are taking to the game which is demanding, requires stamina and is dear to pursue,’ says the homemaker. Anitha’s greatest catch has been a 35kg stingray which she caught whereas shore-fishing in Chennai.  

Anitha angling at Kovalam Beach, Chennai
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

A wider internet

After the pandemic, Poseidon noticed a 30- 40% enhance in gross sales. “More people realised the need to be outdoors. Now, most of my customers are IT professionals, police officers and doctors who like to go fishing with their families in quiet environs,” says Prasanna. 

Speaking concerning the spurt in interest, Dinesh says, “Post 2019, we have seen a growth in interest and an increase in fishing equipment sales.” Anglers Fishing Tackles, together with Poseidon are two of the key models in Chennai promoting equipment important to fishing resembling fishing rods, reels, baits, tenting equipment, swivels and sinkers.

Talking concerning the development of angling societies in Chennai, veteran angler and software program skilled Suresh Kaul has an unpopular opinion. Circling the world of fishing, like an ominous black chook, are superstitions held even by senior anglers. Suresh says, “I thought my Juventus jersey was lucky for me. But everytime I wore it, I would return with small catches. When a friend asked me to switch clothes, I gradually was able to hook stingrays and sharks!” laughs Suresh. 

Previously Anglers Fishing Tackles used to see one or two walk-ins a day. After the pandemic increase the store has 15-20 walk-ins per day with a important enhance in on-line gross sales. “Per month equipment sales have gone from ₹50,000 in a month to ₹30,00,000 per month”, says Dinesh. As the world of angling in Chennai continues to rage in blue. Like a web page from a Hemingway novel, the salty waters are symbolic of the oceanic but fiery zeal of fishing fanatics. With every expertise and failed expedition, anglers proceed to journey the tides of time.