Every morning, 365 days a year, the people of the village La Boquilla, get up to go fishing. La Boquilla is the home to many families with African origins whose principal source of income is fishing.
There are two big lagoons: the Cienaga de Juan Polo and the Cienaga de la Virgen. Different species of fish can be caught in these lagoons and the fishermen use their own traditional technique of fishing. They catch sea bass (róbalo), shad (sábalo), common two-banded sea bream (mojarra), ocean-bass (pargo negro), mullet (lebranche), as well as sea snails, clams, shrimp, crawfish and lobster. Three common techniques are generally used: fishing line, nets and traps.
The fishermen will wait for us in La Boquilla to take us to the lagoon in their canoes. The tour guide will help us communicate with the fishermen. For about 2-3 hours, we will fish in the lagoon. The fishermen will explain how to use the fishing line, how to throw the fishing net and how to position the traps in order to catch shrimp and crawfish. If you wish to eat the fish and crabs you have caught, keep your catch because we go to one of the fishermen’s house to cook and have lunch together!
