53o 



ANGLING AROUND BOMBAY. 

 By G. D. Traylen. 



_ Of Votaries of the Rod resident in Bombay, comparatively few practice or 

 give thought to this form of recreation, although excellent fishing is within easy 

 reach of anyone seeking it. It may be that it is not generally known what fish 

 are to be taken, where to look for them, or what gear to use ;" others again may 

 possibly have made an attempt, but owing to their venture having been made at 

 the wrong time and place, results were not conducive to further trial. In as few 

 words as possible I will endeavour to write down my experiences regardinf' • 

 Firstly, the Fish which may be taken. Secondly, Places where they may be found 

 and lastly, Suitable Tackle, and Lures. 



The Bahmin {Polynemus tetradactijlis), local vernacular, "Raos," comes easily 

 first as a really good fighter who gives excellent sport. He takes the lure with 

 a rush, gives several runs, and is not one's fish until actually in the boat, more- 

 over he is good for the table. 



Quoting the late Mr. Afalala, as an authority, "the Bahmin is stronger weight 

 for weight than the Salmon, quite as game and without the vice of sulking ". 

 The Begti {Lates calcarifer), local vernacular " Dungara" or "Kajura", known 

 in Southern India as the " Nair " is another excellent sporting fish. 



When angHng for Bahmin and Begti one occasionally is taken by a " Seer"; 

 this seldom happens, as he rarely comes into the estuaries, but the " Gobra " 

 or Rock Cod, the " Tamas " a species of bream, the " Powla "of the Shad family 

 will take the same lure, a small Shark sometimes bolts the bait, and if too near 

 the bottom, a repulsive species of Eel will intrude, and give some trouble in 

 cutting away and bending on fresh gear. I limit further remarks to the Bahmin 

 and Begti, these two fish being best worth attention. 



The Bahmin may be taken anywhere in Bombay Harbour and round the 

 Coast, where a strong current runs over rocks. The Shoal at Sunk Rock Beacon 

 is a favourite haunt, but he will be found off the Prongs Light House and in the 

 openings through the reef which extends from Colaba to Malabar point ; at the 

 Kansas Rock or Gull Island, the Shoal at Middle ground Battery, at Tucker 

 Beacon, Hog Island, and as far up as the rocks at the Customs Bandar, Thana, 

 and he no doubt feeds at other places in the harbour where the tide runs 

 strongly over a rocky bottom. Though Bahmin may be present, one never 

 gets a run excepting at the very end of the flow at slack water and during the 

 whole of the Ebb tide. 



From August to October he will certainly be in evidence at these times of 

 tide ; From November to May he is somewhat irregular in attendance, in June 

 and July he may possibly be present in force, but few would care to venture 

 in the early part of the monsoon, because of Squalls and the heavy combers 

 which roll over the Shoals. Sometimes the Bahmin comes up stream in 

 numbers, and takes voraciously for about an hour or hour and a half, at other 

 times he takes right down to the last of the ebb, so that one need not be dis- 

 couraged should there be nothing doing for an hour or so after anchoring, for 

 he well repays a Uttle patience. I have already stated that the Begti is occa- 

 BionaUy present in Bahmin waters, but in the monsoon months he ascends the 

 creeks and rivers and will be found beyond Kalyan, a good pool for Begti during 

 August and September is near the Railway Bridge over the Uhas nver at 

 Kalyan going north, i.e., towards Titvala, this pool will be seen on the eft hand 

 side of the bridge and near the right bank of the river. A deep ^li;^""«'/'^'"^"gj 

 the rock opens out into a broad reach in appearance somewhat like the necK 

 of a bottle, and the pool is just where the neck joins the shoulder. Un!^ one 

 has a boat it is better to approach from the left bank and cast from the rocks A 

 small silvery fish which the native fishermen will procure, or a live prawn, Uoatea 



