Fishing for Tourists

Fishing and culture are very interesting, but nothing is better than cultural fishing. This is why I like catfish noodling, paddlefish snagging, and sucker gigging so much. I guess you could say fishing with a purpose, or better still, purpose-driven fishing.

I've not had the opportunity to participate in any cultural fishing activities in Vietnam until recently. Here's how it happened.  A few weeks ago my Dept. Head at VNU asked if I would go to Ha Long Bay and teach a class at another campus. Sure, why not? The topic was promoting tourism at floating fishing villages.  Bingo!  This was a perfect assignment and she didn't even know I liked to fish!

It's hard to believe, but some people live in floating houses at Ha Long Bay all year round.  Many of the villagers only come to shore once a week for groceries and other merchandise.  Although they fish for a living, its a meager existence.  This is why they are looking for additional sources of income. Recently they started fishing for tourists, but needed some help. I was interested and available.  :)

So I asked the tour guide if I could go fishing with some local villagers.  No one had ever made this request before.  We pull-up beside a small boat and ask if I could join.  Sure thing.  I had a great time and gave the couple a $5 tip for the privilege of fishing with them.  I told the tour guide this would be a good strategy to hook the "big fish" (Western visitors).  Based on my enthusiasm, he wants to create a new tourism product at the bay - cultural fishing. That made me feel really good. It was a win-win situtaion. Talk about fishing with a purpose!