A recreational fishing event in Mohanpur, Rajshahi, ended in a settlement after several anglers complained that they failed to catch the expected amount of fish despite paying Tk 18,000 for a ticket.
The fishing event was held on Friday (August 14) at a pond in the Mugrail area of Maugachhi Union in Mohanpur upazila. Anglers from Rajshahi, Dhaka, Gazipur, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj took part in the event.
According to the organisers, 21 fishing spots were arranged at the pond, with around 80 anglers participating. Each spot cost Tk 18,000, and the spots were allocated through a lottery.
The event began in the morning and continued until the evening. A large number of local residents, including children and teenagers, gathered around the pond to watch the anglers fish.
At the venue, anglers were seen preparing bait and casting their lines. Whenever someone caught a large fish, fellow anglers cheered.
Businessman Delwar Hossain came from the Gazipur City Corporation area with a five-member group.
“We enjoyed fishing in such a beautiful and pleasant environment,” he said. Members of his group caught fish weighing between 1.4kg and 5-7kg. Delwar himself caught several Rui, Katla and Mrigal weighing between 3kg and 4kg.
He said he had taken part in fishing events at different places before, adding that the weather may have contributed to the relatively low catch that day.
Azim Uddin, a recreational angler from the Baya area, said his nephew had bought a ticket and brought him to the event.
“I take part whenever there is a fishing event somewhere. I liked the arrangement here, but I was disappointed because the fish were not biting,” he said.
An angler from Chapainawabganj, however, alleged that the fish had already been fed heavily before the event, leaving their stomachs full. He also claimed that the fish had red mouths because fertiliser had been applied to the pond.
“I have been sitting here since morning, but by 2:30pm I still hadn't caught a single fish,” he said, alleging that the pond owner had not kept his word.
Rony, an angler and pond owner from Kakonhat, had a different assessment. He said the problem was related to the pond's treatment and maintenance.
“The organisers are not at fault. The fish were not biting because of problems with the pond's treatment and maintenance,” he said.
Pond owner Belu said this was the first time he had organised a ticket-based fishing event after communicating with anglers from different areas.
The pond, covering around three bighas, contains various species of fish, including Rui, Katla, Mrigal, Parimni, Kalibaus, Pangas, Bighead carp and Silver carp. According to him, some fish weigh as much as 12kg.
He claimed that many anglers participating in the event had caught large fish.
The organisers said participants were required to use specific types of hooks and bait. Sweet bait and chemicals were prohibited, while the pond owner also arranged food for the fish.
However, complaints from some anglers over the poor catch led to a meeting between the anglers and the organisers.
Representatives from 20 fishing spots took part in the meeting. Following discussions, it was agreed that Tk 4,000 would be deducted from the Tk 18,000 ticket price and Tk 14,000 would be refunded to the participants. The settlement helped ease the situation.
According to the organisers, in addition to the Tk 18,000 ticket price, an angler could spend another Tk 10,000-12,000 on related expenses. In some cases, owners of fishing spots hire anglers to fish on their behalf, paying them Tk 2,000-3,000.
The organisers said some participants joined the event simply as a hobby, while others came to gain experience of fishing events held in different parts of the country.
The event also drew considerable curiosity among local residents, as such an arrangement had been held in the Mugrail area after a long gap.
