The Pleasure Of Surf Fishing

Recreational fishing on surf beaches is a popular sport in many parts of the world. Indian angling fans gather on a remote Maharashtra beach to take part in the only surffishing competition in the country

- Murali Menon

How do you read the surf? Why is catching - and releasing - a jewfish considered more of an accomplishment than snagging a stingray? Exactly how long does it take to catch a fish? Even if you are not remotely interested in angling, the Ali Hussaini World Surf Angling Championship 2022 appears to be a salubrious way to spend time in the last week of November.

The three-day event, organised by the Mumbai-based All India Game Fishing Association (AIGFA), will be held at the little-known, infrequently visited Tondavali Beach, near Malvan, in Maharashtra. (The state government describes the stretch of sand as "generally deserted, but the soft sea breeze blows continuously, giving it a refreshing touch.") About 150 anglers from across India are expected to congregate on the beach between November 24 and 27 to vie for the title of India's surf fishing champion.

Surf fishing is particularly popular in America, where it was born in the early decades of the 20th century and flourished after WW II. The nine-week-long Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic, which is in its 68th year and held between October and December every year, is among the oldest competitions in the United States.