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:

Check out the Friendly Fishers Category for Kap Larry’s own website. It was made by Fam. Its loaded with pictures making the place more inviting than ever. View the pics and drool over previous catches. Motivate yourself to go there. Who knows, you might make it to their Champions page.

Below is a trip report from Aling Nene, one of Filipino Anglers favorite pond owners.
http://www.filipinoanglers.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=2995

Emil, as usual after arriving home from work, went fishing at “the spot”

After his first cast, he noticed his lure tangled with his line.

After fixing the problem, tried his first (again) cast… After a few seconds….

ZZzziiiittt!!! He fought for about 10 minutes and landed a 3.8KG Barramundi!

3.8KG BARRAMUNDI caught by Emil

Emil with me

Emil was saying “Baka ito yung nakawala dati na nahuli ko ahh… Bumigat lang ng konti.”

The following is a trip report from Obetrj, posted in http://www.filipinoanglers.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=68&t=2957

Since Aling Nene’s pond were always crowded with apahap anglers almost everyday (specially weekends) , me and Alex planned to target dalag on our next visit to Coloong.

I arrived there first with one of my newly recruited angler, we met Dowie and Rechelle just before they left. Rigged our gears targeting for tilapia and bangus. Then Alex arrived, rigged with a spinner courtesy of Bong, after a few casts, Bam! he landed a dalag (pic is on Alex’s fone)

Getting envy with Alex’s catch , I started casting (rigged with the same spinner ), after a dozen or more casts, the water literally explodes right in front of me!, Bam! My first dalag! 1.35 kilos:

Sadly, Alex’s catch somehow find it’s way out of my holding net, I brought mine home and gave it as a gift for a friend.

Master Bong, your killer spinners truly are Haruan Hunters! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!

MESSAGE
Welcome fishing enthusiasts!

Valenzuela City boasts of rustic area amidst the metropolis. The First District of the city still holds the beauty of nature that one will feel space-warped once he gets here after just about an hour or less drive away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the Metro. Our City is known as an aquaculture center. The entire First District is practically surrounded with fishponds where milkfish and tilapia are just some of our biggest produce. Our fishpond owners have also introduced other varieties of fish such as apahap (barramundi) and biya.

To promote greater awareness and interest in caring for the environment, the City Government of Valenzuela launched on April 2008, the Mayor WIN Fun Fishing Tournament held at Brgy. Coloong and Brgy. Tagalag. Approximately 500 fishing enthusiasts from all over the country, with foreign participants coming from as far as Australia and Japan, participated the event which we plan to hold yearly.

Organized in cooperation with Filipino Anglers Organization , through the tournament, the City Government hopes to promote tourism in the city and its fishponds as prime sport fishing destination.

I, therefore, encourage all fishing enthusiasts to come and visit our city and its fishing havens. Enjoy the beauty of nature and spend quality bonding time with your family in Valenzuela.

Mabuhay kayong lahat!

SHERWIN T. GATCHALIAN
City Mayor

Condura Run for benefit of whale sharks

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 07:53:00 03/13/2009

Filed Under: Marathon, Running, Animals, Conservation, Ecotourism

MANILA, Philippines—The annual Condura Run on March 22 is raising its standard with the addition of a half-marathon and the selection of whale sharks as this year’s recipients.

“The mission of the Condura Run is to inspire people to run because we believe that if everyone runs then the country will be a much better place,” said Concepcion Durables president Ton Concepcion.

“We will also help save the marine environment and promote eco-tourism by making people aware of the richness that lie beneath our seas.”

Proceeds of last year’s Condura Run went to the protection and preservation of the Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan.

This time, the Condura Run will be staged for the benefit of the whale sharks, which congregate in Donsol, Sorsogon, from January to June to feed on its plankton-rich waters. These gentle giants locally known as “butanding” are the largest fish in the world, growing up to 40 feet in length and weighing up to 15 tons.

There will be prizes for the top finishers in the 3K Fun Run, 5K Discover Run, 10K Challenge Run and the inaugural 21K Half Marathon to the Skyway.

Registered runners will get the cool collectible Condura Run for the Whale Sharks T-Shirt, certificates, and giveaways from Vitwater, Sunkist, Selecta and Swift. Finishers of the 21K half-marathon will get the special finisher’s medal

Another 3.1kg trophy for Ruben…but where’s Aling Nene in the picture?

Below are some pics shared by Aling Nene herself at the filipino anglers forum.

Mr. Nonoy Villapando caught this 14kg barramundi this afternoon at around 4:30.

It seems like the barramundi bite is on at Aling Nene’s. It reminds me of the glory days of lure casting at Kapitan’s pond last year. Unfortunately, all fishes were kept. Lets just hope there are still more sizeable barras left to be caught…. =( I dream that someday, catch and release will be an accepted norm and anglers, pond owners and the mighty fishes will all be happy with the symbiotic setup.