Braving the sea!

marine

It is one thing to stand on the beach at Clifton or Hawkes Bay to enjoy seeing the gushing Arabian Sea waves and the ebb of the tides, but sitting in an eighteen-foot long howrah (small motorised fishing boat), knowing that the water is about ten meters deep, is quite another matter.

Those who are on a fishing expedition for the first time are found gazing into the dark, fathomless depths of the sea and cursing themselves for the misadventure. Problems are compounded if you start getting sick too. All other seasoned boat-fellows appear like assassins hired by some imaginary enemy as they unanimously avoid to appreciate your condition and refuse to return to the shore. "Ship Ahoy" is your call rather cry while the serenity of the sea and the beautiful sunny day tempt your fellow travellers to move on, into deeper waters.

I do not want to discourage anyone who wants to test his or her seaworthiness by embarking on a cruise or a fishing trip. Believe me, once you have overcome the fear, and the nausea, you will find yourself up close with the nature at its best.

One can commence the voyage from different and spread-out locations. Keamari is the most commonly used harbour where you can get a relatively bigger boat - the Keamari launch. Other options are Ibrahim Hydri on the east side of Keamari and Mubarak Village, Sunehra Village and some other smaller villages on the west side of Keamari. Marina Club in Defence Housing Authority is another option, though restricted to its members who own a yacht.

My favourite harbour is Mubarak Village, firstly for its topography, its environs, and its arch-shaped promenade and secondly, for its proximity to the majestic Charna Island which is a unique landmass and considered a paradise for anglers. Mubarak Village, like most other neighbouring villages, does not have a pier. You have to hop on to the boat from knee-deep water or you would be catapulted by others.

You can trawl around Charna all day long to gaff Mackeral (Surmai), Tuna, Snapper (Heera), Trevally (Kakan), Barracuda (Kundh) and what not. And when the boat is stationary (stopped for lunch, for instance) you can do the bottom fishing with handheld reels and lines. Bottom fishing can be done on either side of the island depending on the wind direction. In the winter season, the Siberian wind (what many Karachiites call Quetta wind) virtually turns the tide at times. Most people, who frequent the fishing grounds near Charna, must have observed the waves being generated from the coast while the outer or sea facing side of Charna remains absolutely calm.

During winter, (say from November to February) the sea is normally so serene that it appears like a big blue lagoon. This is the time when most amateurs venture out into the sea. During these days, the sea is so quite that if you switch off the engine of the boat, all you can hear is your own heartbeat.

Many a time, one is encountered with a pin of dolphins. It is a mesmerising sight. Dolphins are not shy creatures and sometimes they come perilously close to the boat, escorting it for a few hundred meters or more, depending on your luck. These seemingly bronze-coloured creatures are no less than six feet in length. Or maybe more.

Whenever you see a flock of seagulls hovering over a particular spot and diving in water, don’t take your eyes off that spot because you are about to see a beautiful shimmering effect on the surface of the sea. This is caused by the presence of large school of small fish reflecting sunlight with their silvery skin and in the process attracting the sea-scanning gulls. You also stand a chance to see some big fishes chasing the pin of small ones - a Mackerel, a Tuna or a Dorado (Mahi Mahi) jumping a few feet above the surface in the feeding frenzy. Luckier still, you may catch a glimpse of a green turtle and be amazed to see these one of the slowest creatures on earth swimming at hell-for-leather speed.

There are many more attractions in the sea for you if you truly love nature especially marine life. Once offshore, you feel like riding the crest of the wave. The dawn-to-dusk excursion makes you forget all your worries.