fishing is not a sport

Sunday morning on an August day, I driving along and saw a sight across the street; a little boy at the back of the truck eating ice cream on a cone, shone upon by the glorious morning sun. I got off, grabbed my shooter, slammed the door and hurried past some fierce looking men carrying spears. Not enough reaction time; I shot them at the back instead. Halfway across the street, I lost interest in the little boy and his ice cream, and decided to follow these men. They were on a mission and I want in.

Target sighted. I had a hunch as to where they were heading to – there are not many places where one can use a piece of board with rubber straps. Again, no chance to get in front of them as they were moving too fast, and not a smile on any of their faces.

Four men, hunting for fish on their day off to feed their families. The pay for piecework is sometimes good, oftentimes inadequate.

The wind feels cold, and most definitely the water is too. Too late to go back, and it’s not even a choice. They can brave the cold and spear some fish, or brave the cold and catch no fish.

Styrofoam boxes or plastic water jugs tied to their waist to store their catch, wooden spear guns fashioned with strips of rubber from inner tire tubes, thick bare electrical wires for spears, and a piece of board with more strips of rubber straps attached to use as fins, and a face mask. These are their survival tools.

8 thoughts on “fishing is not a sport”

bleubug on September 6, 2011 at 9:40 am said:

I love the the rich, even if sparsely worded, stories your images bring to us. Thanks for another great one.

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- Orlando Uy on September 13, 2011 at 11:44 am said:
  
  thank you likewise, Thomas.
  
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jack faye lee on August 22, 2011 at 2:03 am said:

nice work, sharp and interesting . i love classic black and white too. what gear did you used?

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- Orlando Uy on August 22, 2011 at 9:10 am said:
  
  thank you. i use a Canon EOS450D & EF-S 17-55 lens
  
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Orlando Uy on August 17, 2011 at 8:42 am said:

thank you, everyone. In a way, doing these documentations is very similar to fishing; there are good days, and there are days when I come home empty handed.

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LEILA on August 16, 2011 at 10:08 am said:

now this is full of suspense!! was at the edge of my seat while reading it. Thank God there was a catch. Good story telling once again.

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betharr on August 16, 2011 at 4:05 am said:

impressive photo reportage!

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jonery on August 16, 2011 at 2:21 am said:

Nice documentation sir…

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