Night drift fishing
In New Caledonia drift fishing is accomplished at night by seating in a drifting boat with a hand held line. In this island nights are propitious as trade winds are replaced by a light land breeze. A heavy lead at the end of the line makes the baits staying near the sea bottom even when drifting tends to be a bit fast. There are two or three fishing hooks above it. Bait, when fishing starts, is generally a piece of octopus said to be very attractive to fish . But the first catches are often used then after to make fresh fish baits.
This story happened near Noumea. Our characters are two people from the bush now living in this city but still nostalgic of the times of fishing in the bush coastal waters where fish used to be plentiful. We will not disclose their names as they are shy people
To succeed in night drift fishing a thorough preparation is required. However our people were experienced sea people and mastered all the necessary knowledge. It consists in loading onboard, in addition to the fishing gear, food for a solid meal and refreshing drinks such as the local beer ("Number One") in sufficient quantity. Wine is not forgotten to accompany food and some spirit, such as whisky, does good for sustaining fishermen spirits and having them in the right fishing mood. These are absolute requirements. Catching periods do alternate with long times without strikes. Hunger and thirst may then affect the unprepared fisherman and diminish his ability to fish properly. And it can be a long night.
Our friends left land towards 8 PM using the outboard engine. It was already night time in this tropical island. A light breeze came from land. Using city lights alignments such as the ones of Mt Coffyn, Mont Ravel, Ouen Toro they located their fishing area. It is a very good and secret fishing ground so we cannot disclose it. Engine was stopped, baits put on the hooks, lines sent in the water. The light breeze pushed gently their boat. Leads dragged gently the bottom. Waiting started. A good cold beer was opened for getting in the mood and help wait, then a second one.
However soon first stikes were felt, numerous, light and fast. The boat was above a fish school. These were "communards" (Longspine emperor), always many but small, too small a fish to swallow the hooks, they just destroy baits. If however some are caught they are used as baits because they are too small for fishermen used to catch big fish such as "becs" (Longface emperor).
The "communards" school was past, waiting was on again. Some beers helped quench thirst and assist in waiting. New strikes but this time heavier started, these were from "rougets de nuit" (Yellow-banded snapper), excellent flesh, fair size. Unfortunately there was competition. Sharks were also after "rougets de nuit". Then when the fish is hooked and when the fisherman has to pull some 30 metres of line, he feels a gentle stroke along the way, his line gets lighter as only the fish head is left on the hook, the body having been neatly cut just under the gills. This was not to our friends liking and they left the place to another area much farther but expected to be with no sharks. Time to arrive there made them thirsty and hungry. It was no longer time for fishing but for tucker. The ice box was opened. They first got some saucisson and the whisky bottle, to get started. Then they ate some fish salad with the required rice which is the equivalent of bread for New Caledonians, although they did have bread too. With this food, a first wine bottle was opened, and drunk. A second one appeared necessary for starting the cold roast and also to take the time of telling stories to each other, tales of times when fish was so plentiful that fishermen had to push them aside with their hands in order to put their lines in the water!
We have less details on the follow up story. We know that our men made some unusual errors of location when coming back, that they ended close, too close, from a coast guarded by Marine Nationale, that the military having no knowledge of local fishing customs, wanted to put them under arrest for entering secret military zone without permission. Finally after very long and difficult explanations our fishermen were released. They came back very late indeed, with little fish and rather tired.
Eventually some additional information has filtered out. Our friends found themselves under flash lights and menacing machine guns from a Marine Nationale boat from which they had been summoned to surrender. The situation worsened when they proved unable to show any identity papers or proofs of the boat ownership. Actually never in the bush has anyone seen a fisherman taking with him such extraordinary papers. In addition, recalling the time when he was a serviceman, one of the fishermen giggling and ostensible military salutes were not appreciated. Careful in loading enough food and booze on board, our men had no place left for buoys, rockets and other useless and bulky safety apparatus. A search of the boat did not lead to discoveries other than a large number of wine and beer bottles. It took however some time for the military authorities to realize that these regulations shortcomings and the happy state of the men were actually proofs of both their genuine New Caledonian bush origin and fishing objective. What spy would have dared to navigate in forbidden waters with such disregard for regulations and with such intake of booze? Finally they were towed to Noumea port very late at night.
What a good night drift fishing it had been after all !.
Warning : If night drift fishing seems to be easy, one has to know how to locate oneself in the night. Untrained people are advised to practice with a local expert. They will learn a lot of great fishing tales and they will not get thirsty.