Valenzuela Fishing

Catch and Release is still a foreign concept to most local anglers. We feel that it would be such a waste if we let the small ones or the hard to catch ones go. When I was starting out, and that was not a long time ago, I used to think that even the littlest tilapia should be kept since it will just die when released. When I catch small groupers when bottomfishing, I keep them and give them to the boatman since they would certainly go back and steal my bait again.

Nothing can be farther from the truth. It is a proven fact that fish, when handled properly, have a high survival rate when released. When they appear to be stealing your bait, there are other ways to outsmart them and make their big brothers bite instead. This separates the better anglers from the rest: an understanding of the bigger picture… that fishing is not just about catching your fish for the day, but rather, also being mindful of how you impact the environment and how that affects the future generation of anglers.

I am an expectant father of twin girls and its very likely they won’t be fishing with me when I grow old. Still, I am for catch and release. Maybe someday, I can bring their boyfriends along for a fishing trip so I can grill and interview them from head to foot, body and soul. If they don’t meet my standards, at least Im sure there are big fishes in the water who can eat them up if I decide to push them.

Kidding aside, Catch and Release it the way to go if we want the local fishing scene to improve and be sustainable for the current and future generation of anglers.

Its a good thing that the recent discussions in the Filipinoanglers.org forum have raised awareness about CnR. Below is a proposed patch by jojo:

Below is good news for anglers who are looking for supplies. Cebu based TCE tackleshop has partnered with Alex’s to bring their products closer to Manila customers. No need to worry about freight charges! Yehey!

Posted in http://www.filipinoanglers.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=2612

To our Dearest Filipino Anglers,

We at TCE Tackle are pleased to announce that Alex Tackle Shop is now the “Exclusive” distributor of all our products namely but not limited to the following:

1. Lemax
2. X Puyu Rods
3. Sufix Lines
4. Tomman Reels and Accessories
5. St. Croix Rods
6. Banax Reels
7. Strike Pro Lures
8. Figo Rods
9. Aji King Rods

We would like to invite you over this Friday Dec 19 for the soft launch.

Alex Tackle Shop
72 Sgt Rivera St (Infront of Damar Village)
Quezon City
363-2679/364-5915

Rain Aguas
TCE Tackle

Valenzuela City’s motto is “Valenzuela, may Disiplina!“. And this is no mere slogan. The city government is serious about making Valenzuela a better city. Bikers without helmets are apprehended, men walking around shirtless are not tolerated and littering is a no no.

It is a common Filipino trait that when we visit another person’s house, we take off our shoes so as not to muck up the floor. Nothing less is expected from anglers. While it is true that most of the ponds have a lot of leftover plastic bottles, plastic bags, styrofoams and other trash floating about, anglers should be responsible enough not to add to the pollution.

So next time you pack up for fishing, be sure to take a plastic bag with you so you can dispose off your trash properly. Every angler wants to haul in fish, not sunken garbage.

Below is a scanned copy of the flyer included in last years Fishing Tournament participants kit. Its a list of pond owners who welcome anglers to fish their ponds. I have not been to most of them so better call the owner to confirm availability.

Click on the pic to zoom in:

Want to know more about fishing in general? Visit my home forum and join the discussions by clicking the picture below:

Brough to you by Alex’s Tackleshop, TCE Tackles, Tobys Sports and China Merchandizing

Subic Bay, Bravo / Riviera Pier
November 23, 2008

Registration Time: 5:30am
Fishing Time: 7:00am to 4:00pm

PRIZES:

1st Prize: 50,000.00
2nd Prize: 25,000.00
3rd Prize: 10,000.00

4th - 15th Place: Consolation Prizes

Tournament fee: P1,000.00
- Free Shirts to the first 250 paid signups
- Free Snack to all Participtants.

For Inquiries, Call or text:
0917-8338884 / 0917-8856239
492-2702 / 364-5915

I was driving by Tagalag and noticed that some gates had large horseshoe signages on them. Horsehoes are said to bring good luck. In this case, the Horseshoe meant one thing to me: one of the best developed ponds in Valenzuela, where if you get lucky, you might land a big one.

About the place
This ponds distinct feature, aside from the horseshoe, is the amount of investment put into its development. Instead of bamboo cottages, they offer aircon rooms. Instead of muddy and uneven banks, they have railed concrete walkways. Top class amenities compared to the other ponds.

How to get there
Drive past Coloong 1 and Coloong 2 and just follow the main flow of traffic and stay on the main road. After about 300 meters, you would pass a Pancit Restaurant to your right. Get ready as you need to turn right on the next street, which leads to Barangay Bisig and Tagalag. Just drive keep an eye out for the Horsehoe sign.

Here it is at Wikimapia: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=14.7268763&lon=120.9348983&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2

Amenities and costs
Parking space fit for you classy SUV is available near the pavilion. Its free, has a gate and well kept.
They even have a pavilion which you can rent out for wedding, birthdays and just about any celebration. They have a coffeshop and bar with a very clean restroom to boot. The pics below show the prices. Im just to lazy to retype them so please bear with me.
The receptionist’s name is Nini, you may contact her for inquiries: 2946688 and 2946699

Rating
Here’s a running poll for the BEST POND in VALENZUELA:
[polldaddy poll=1093279]

Pictures of the Place

Share your lovely pics! Here are some examples from a fishing bud’s gf.

http://arollera.multiply.com/photos/album/161/Gone_Fishing_…._Part_4
http://arollera.multiply.com/photos/album/159/Gone_Fishing_…._Part_3

valenzuela fishing, angler, angling, apahap, bangus, barramundi, bulacan, coloong, filipino anglers, fish, fishing, manila, pinoy anglers, tagalag, tilapia, valenzuela, philippine fishing, philippines,tilapia, valenzuela, philippine fishing, philippinesvalenzuela fishing, angler, angling, apahap, bangus, barramundi, bulacan, coloong, filipino anglers, fish, fishing, manila, pinoy anglers, tagalag, tilapia, valenzuela, philippine fishing, philippines,tilapia, valenzuela, philippine fishing, philippines

I have been living in Valenzuela since 1986. Admittedly, it’s not a first class municipality like Makati yet. It doesn’t have high rise buildings, flyovers nor an MRT system.

In fact, Valenzuela has been loosely classified as an “industrial / residential area”. Most people still think that its part of the province of Bulacan. In reality, Valenzuela is one of Manila’s younger cities and is very much part of the urban metropolis.

This identity crisis is actually Valenzuela’s hidden charm. While warehouses and factories abound in Valenzuela, very few people know that it also nestles what can be considered the best urban fishing spots within Metro Manila. Valenzuela is a unique mix of urban industrialization and rustic rural relaxation.

The barangays of Coloong and Tagalag are both gifted with numerous private ponds. As one drives through its narrow streets, it is hard not to notice that most houses have ponds instead of backyards! And those are just the small ones. Drive further and you’d eventually see even bigger ponds that seem to stretch as far as your eyes can see.

Allow me to let Google Earth and Wikimapia do the describing. Click on the link or the pic below:

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=14.7231304&lon=120.9468985&z=15&l=0&m=a&v=2

Valenzuela is my hometown and I am cordially inviting you to pack your rod and reel and try fishing here! Come on, its just within an hours drive from Manila!

[polldaddy poll=1035889]

About the place
If Elvis is the legend of Rock and Roll, then Kapitan Larry Ramos is the legend in Coloong. Aside from being a past Barangay Captain, hence the name, Kap Larry is considered one of the pioneers in developing his pond for urban anglers.

How to get there
Check the Coloong and Tagalag Quick Info tab on the main page for general directions to get to Coloong.
Drive thru Coloong 1 about 2 kms from the main road. Once you pass the public school to your right, look ahead for a small street on the right as well. That leads to the gate and parking lot to Kaps pond.

See the place from Wikimapia:

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=14.7262485&lon=120.9448653&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2

Amenities and Cost
His paypond is open on weekdays and weekends, from 7 am till the sun sets as there are insufficient lighting around the area. Ample parking is however available. Several nipa cottages can be rented at 300-400 day, good for 6-8 persons. For those who choose to just fish under the trees, a 50 php entrance fee is charged upon weigh in of catches.

On weekends, a modest service boat (banca) ferries people to the bigger outer pond for 25 pesos per head, to be paid on the return trip. Grills are available for use but is on a first come first served basis, so it is best to bring your own grill and charcoal.

Bait is available on site, on weekends but rarely on weekdays. There are vendors near the entrance in the early mornings who sell them for 20 pesos per cup.

Unfortunately, there are no swimming pools on the area. There are two comfort rooms in near the huts but there are none on the outer pond where the boat takes you.

There is no restaurant on site so you need to bring your own food.

What you may catch
The typical catch at Coloong are bangus (80-100/kg) and tilapia (80/kg). However, recently Barramundi up to 8 Kilos have been successfully taken on lures, but this comes with a hefty price of 250-300 /kg. Other fishes such as kitang, dalag, hito, bidbid and buan buan are also occasionally caught in the area.

Catch and Release is discouraged by the pond owner.

Rating
Here’s a running poll for the place:
[polldaddy poll=1093279]

Pictures of the place

valenzuela fishing, angler, angling, apahap, bangus, barramundi, bulacan, coloong, filipino anglers, fish, fishing, manila, pinoy anglers, tagalag, tilapia, valenzuela, philippine fishing, philippines,tilapia, valenzuela, philippine fishing, philippines