Fishing In Lombok

Being in Lombok and not going for a fishing expedition is like having a cake without the icing. The waters of Lombok is endowed with a multitude of Piscean species. Fishing enthusiasts can hope for an enthralling experience while on a visit to this island.

Fishing Spots: The south west of Lombok towards Bangko- bangko opposite to Nusa Pesida, Bali is suggested as one of the best trolling and deep fishing destination. The Gili islands north west of Lombok is another interesting fishing site. Apart from these two outstanding fishing grounds , the Kuta beach, the coastline along the Tanjung Luar Village and sometimes even the remotest corner of the Senggigi Beach.

Equipments needed for fishing in Lombok: The traditional fishermen in the area still uses the age old fishing apparatus along with the tiny outrigger called the sampan. But the professional fishing charters uses updated and branded equipments for fishing. The fishing experts can also bring their own equipments for their own ease.

Types of fishes found in Lombok: Barracuda, big tuna, stingray, sharks and nyale are the commonest occupants of the sea.

The Nyale Fishing Festival: Fishing is not only an activity sport in Lombok. It is also in someway entangled with the island’s culture. The Nyale Fishing Festival on the Kuta Beach is an annual affair for which the islanders eagerly wait throughout the year. The 19th of October according to the Sasak calendar, which is actually the months of February or march lots of Sasak people congregate on the Kuta Beach when bonfires are lit up and the youth compete with each other in rhyming couplets called Pantuns. The first Nyale caught next morning initiates the festivities and the entire Lombok plunges into merry making. Young boys and girls sail out to the sea in adorned boats and pursue each other with occasional shouts and cheers. The focus of this festival is the Nyale fish which resembles a worm and whose consumption is considered to emit aphrodisiac properties. If the catch is excellent then the harvest in that year is supposed to be high – flying.

So folks don’t miss fishing, the next time you are in the Lombok islands.