Fishing With A Filipina - What Can You Catch Here?

Pea spends the day with her father, a lifelong fisherman she calls "the Charles Bronson of the Philippines," tagging along on his daily fishing run. The video is a lighthearted vlog showing the full experience: paddling a small outrigger boat down a muddy, trash-filled river to the ocean, hand-line fishing for grouper, and bringing the catch home. Along the way, Pea captures the economics and realities of fishing as a livelihood in the Philippines.

The boat and gear ​

• They use a "carig" — a small outrigger canoe with bamboo stabilizers tied to both sides to prevent tipping
• The boat accommodates about three people depending on weight
• Essential gear: an ice box for the catch and drinking water, hand fishing line with hooks, tiny shrimp for bait, and a paddle — no rod, no reel, no motor
• Pea gets the smaller "baby paddle"

The river journey to the ocean ​

• They paddle about a kilometer (Pea suspects more) down a river to reach open water
• The river is muddy from overnight rain, with a strong current
• The river is full of garbage — trash floating everywhere, and Pea spots a sewer line emptying into it
• She spots a dead cat in the water: "they throw everything in the river"
• She also notices nipa leaves and bamboo along the banks — joking that "you have everything here to build a house"
• She compares the canal-like sections to Venice

The fishing itself ​

• They need to reach water at least 20-25 feet deep before they can start catching fish
• No life jackets — but both Pea and her dad can swim
• Target fish: "tagaropo" or grouper
• Technique: bait the tiny hook with shrimp (covering the hook completely), drop the line, and wait for a bite — purely by feel through the hand line
• Pea's dad says you need a "special sense of touch" to detect a fish on the line — Pea compares this to dating a Filipina: "you have to be very observant to know if she's biting"
• Pea catches her first fish and is simultaneously excited and apologetic: "I'm sorry Mr. Fishy, you didn't even finish your shrimpy"
• She doesn't like the sliminess or the idea of hurting them: "I like eating fish but I don't like catching them alive — I just like them in the supermarket"
• Her dad catches a notably large grouper — his biggest of the day
• They keep fish alive longer by putting salt water in the boat

Economics of fishing ​

• Her father fishes 5 to 8 hours daily — equivalent to a regular job
• Average fisherman earns about 400 pesos per day (roughly $7-8 USD)
• Fish sell for 200 pesos per kilo to neighbors
• Most of the catch is eaten by the family; only surplus is sold
• Pea jokes: "Do you put rocks inside the fish so it will be heavier?" — her dad is an honest man
• Sometimes they salt the fish to preserve it or freeze it
• Her dad's biggest catch ever was a 1.5 kilogram grouper (a single fish)

Fishing permits and enforcement ​

• A permit is required from the Bureau of Fisheries (a government office)
• Many fishermen don't have permits, but Pea's dad does
• Ocean police patrol and check for permits
• Penalty for fishing without a permit: boat gets impounded, fish get confiscated, and a fine must be paid to get the boat back

Pea's dad's background ​

• Started fishing at age 15 as a "professional," but went along with his mother before that as a child
• His own father taught him how to fish
• He never takes Pea's mom fishing — Pea suspects "this is his way to get away from Mom"

The day ends when a storm rolls in ​

• Pea spots black clouds approaching and they decide they have enough fish for the family
• They paddle back home
• Pea's final take: fishing here is "therapeutic and frustrating at the same time"
• She emphasizes that fishing in the Philippines "is not really a hobby but a trade — something you do not for fun but to feed your family"
• Many fishermen can't afford proper fishing tools, working with the most basic hand lines

📺 Watch the full video on YouTube

🔔 Subscribe to The Filipina Pea