Tekong muda dirasuk cahaya lampu

Oleh Nuri Angkasa

KALI ini, kita mencungkil pengalaman seorang tekong veteran nelayan laut dalam di Kuala Terengganu...
KALI ini, kita mencungkil pengalaman seorang tekong veteran nelayan laut dalam di Kuala Terengganu yang cuma mahu dikenali sebagai Tok Wan yang kini sudah berusia 72 tahun. Beliau cuma sesekali saja turun ke laut untuk mengisi masa lapang.

Menurutnya ketika ditemui di Jeti Pulau Kambing, Kuala Terengganu, baru-baru ini Tok Wan masih terus percaya bahawa beberapa tempat di sekitar perairan pulau di sini terdapat kawasan keras (ada penunggu) yang kita tidak tahu atau tidak dapat melihat makhluk halus yang mendiami kawasan berkenaan.

Ceritanya sebaik saja menghabiskan sebungkus nasi dagang dari warung Mek Yam, bahawa satu rombongan pemancing dari Temerloh, Pahang yang diketuai oleh Haji Salim yang dibesarkan dalam keluarga nelayan di Sungai Pahang. Ketika itu, beliau berusia dalam lingkungan 45 tahun. Namun kedewasaan beliau sudah dapat memberikan kepercayaan oleh rakan pancing untuk melantiknya sebagai ketua kumpulan itu.

Kumpulan sepuluh orang itu dianggap sebagai team lasak di laut mahupun di sungai, tasik atau lombong tinggal di hutan belantara. Ekspedisi tiga hari dua malam kali itu menggunakan khidmat tekong muda berpengalaman luas di laut sebelah sini. Lokasi bakal diteroka ialah di Pulau Bidong tapi pilihan bukan di situ saja kerana karang atau unjam yang berselerak pastinya menjadi pilihan untuk memburu spesies ikan gred A.

Mereka meninggalkan Jeti Pulau Kambing selepas solat Jumaat dengan membawa bekal sotong segar yang dibeli dari nelayan pukat jerut yang baru pulang dari laut. Namun sotong yang disauk atau dicandat pada waktu malam tetap umpan paling digemari oleh spesies ikan di laut sebelah sini.

Selepas dua jam perjalanan, unjam pertama ditemui. Pancing apollo diturunkan untuk mendapatkan ikan segar sebagai umpan. Tekong Wan Nik Su turut membantu dengan menggunakan apollo 50 mata. Dalam tempoh yang singkat, tong nelayan berwarna merah sudah hampir setengah penuh isi ikan umpan. Mereka kemudian berpindah ke kawasan karang semula jadi untuk memancing ikan kerapu dan tambak.

Malam itu cuaca gelap. Bintang tidak ada di langit. Angin bertiup lembut tetapi sesekali bagaikan terdengar bunyi suara berlagu nyaring di kejauhan. Sambil itu keadaan sekitar kawasan itu bagaikan ada pesta dengan lampu berkelip sana-sini.

“Wah! Kita dah ada kawan!” Seorang pemancing bersuara.

“Jangan tegur. Itu bukan lampu biasa,” Haji Salim menjawab dan serta merta lampu yang bagaikan pesta itu hilang daripada pandangan.

Sesuatu sudah dirasakan berlainan terutama angin yang bertiup dan desiran air laut yang mula menggoyangkan bot besar yang mereka naiki, cerita Tok Wan yang diceritakan kepadanya oleh seorang pemancing dalam kumpulan dari Temerloh itu.
Keadaan menjadi kelam kabut apabila tekong Wan Nik Su cuba mengekori sebuah cahaya lampu yang kelihatan agak jauh di tengah laut. Kononnya, cahaya lampu itu adalah petanda lubuk ikan paling banyak. Justeru, tekong Wan Nik Su bagaikan terpukau memandu botnya menuju arah lampu yang bertambah jauh.

Haji Salim menyedari bahawa tekong Wan Nik Su sudah dirasuk. Namun sukar untuk tekong itu dipulihkan serta-merta. Bagaimanapun, dia mesti diselamatkan sebelum keadaan lebih buruk.

Bot tambah kuat bergoyang ketika Haji Salim memulakan bacaan ayat suci al-Quran dan pilihan pada ayat tertentu dalam surah ayat al-Qursi.

Beberapa kali Haji Salim menghembus ke muka Wan Nik Su tetapi dengan garang tekong itu melawan dengan bola mata merah menentang.

Haji Salim terus membaca ayat tertentu lalu menyembur air dari mulutnya ke muka tekong Wan Nik Su yang sudah mula lemah namun masih belum mahu menyerah kalah. Haji Salim terus berusaha. Dan akhirnya, tekong muda itu menyerah kalah lalu pulih dalam keadaan yang masih lemah. Namun keadaan masih belum selamat kerana tidak jauh di hadapan bot sudah menunggu sebuah pulau berbatu besar yang tentunya bakal menghancurkan bot mereka. Maka dengan pantas Haji Salim sekali lagi bertindak sebagai tekong. Enjin bot diperlahankan lalu memutar arah kemudi dan bot selamat daripada merempuh pulau berbatu besar itu. Semua menarik nafas dan bersyukur kepada Allah.

Tetapi yang aneh apabila tekong Wan Nik pulih sepenuhnya, tidak ada pulau berbatu besar pun dalam kawasan itu dan kelip-kelip api yang memukau beliau ketika dirasuk adalah petanda paling buruk bagi trip memancing kali itu dan bagi tekong Wan Nik Su juga.

Walau apa pun adalah baik jika dalam setiap trip memancing disertai sekurang-kurangnya seorang yang kuat pada agama untuk menguruskan sesuatu keadaan yang aneh dan pastikan membaca ayat Qursi sebagai satu amalan harian.


Source:   http://joran.bharian.com.my/Current_News/Joran/News/Misteri/20071112140759/Article/index_html

Ikan Yang Berkepala Transparent

Melayukini.net – Subhanallah! Ikan Yang Berkepala Transparent | Kita sudah melihat pelbagai jenis ikan yang yang mempunyai bentuk fizikal yang pelik. Namun pernahkah kita melihat ikan yang yang berkepala transparent ini? Ikan ini dikenali sebagai Macropinna Microstoma adalah satu-satunya spesies ikan dalam keluarga Macropinna dari ordo Opisthoproctidae dan dari keluarga Barreleye. Yang membezakan spesies ini dengan ikan lain pada adalah bahagian kepalanya yang transparent di mana didalamnya berisi cecair , dan juga matanya dapat terlihat dengan jelas. Jom lihat gambar di bawah ini.

Matanya memiliki bentuk yang agak lucu ckit dan unik,ianya dapat bergerak ke depan dan kebelakang serta keatas bawah sampai berputar 360 darjah, sehingga ikan ini dapat melihat kebelakang melalui bahagian kepalanya yang transparent. Macropinna Microstoma memiliki mulut kecil dan sebahagian besar tubuhnya ditutupi dengan skala yang besar.

Pada umumnya Ikan ini mampu diam dan hampir tak bergerak di dalam air, pada kedalaman sekitar 600 meter (2.000 kaki) sampai 800 meter (2.600 kaki), dengan menggunakan sirip yang besar untuk menjaga kestabilannya, sambil sesekali matanya berputar mengawasi sekelilingnya. Pada keadaan cahaya yang minima ikan ini mampu mengesan mangsanya melalui siluet. Kim Bruce Robison, yang telah sekian lama mengamati spesies ini mengatakan bahawa ketika mangsanya seperti ikan-ikan kecil dan ubur-ubur mulai terlihat, maka matanya berputar seperti teropong, dan menghadap ke depan dengan merubah posisinya dari horisontal ke posisi vertikal untuk menangkap mangsanya.

Macropinna Microstoma pertama kalinya ditemukan pada tahun 1939, oleh Chapman, dan pada masa itu sempat pula di abadikan gambarnya, namun pada gambar yang diambil Chapman pada waktu itu tidak terlihat kepala yang transparent dari spesies ini.

Melayukini.net - Sungguh hebat ciptaan Allah SWT. Inilah kali pertama admin melihat kepala ikan yang transparent yang mana kita mampu melihat di bahagian dalamnya. Walaupun melihat daripada gambar sahaja, itu sudah membuatkan kita memuji tentang kebesaran Allah SWT.

Sumber: Oh Video Tv | Koleksi Luar Biasa Dan Pelik Melayukini.net

Beruk gergasi kaut ikan dalam bot

Oleh Saiful Bahrin Mohd Shariff

CERITA yang hendak dikongsi ini benar-benar berlaku ketika sekumpulan pemancing meneroka perairan Pulau Jerejak pada April 2003 lalu. Pada suatu malam selepas selesai mesyuarat di pejabat, penulis dan seorang rakan - Suhairi, singgah makan dan minum di sebuah gerai di Kubang Semang, Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang. Sambil berbual datang pula rakan baik kami seorang peguam. Uzair namanya.
CERITA yang hendak dikongsi ini benar-benar berlaku ketika sekumpulan pemancing meneroka perairan Pulau Jerejak pada April 2003 lalu. Pada suatu malam selepas selesai mesyuarat di pejabat, penulis dan seorang rakan - Suhairi, singgah makan dan minum di sebuah gerai di Kubang Semang, Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang. Sambil berbual datang pula rakan baik kami seorang peguam. Uzair namanya.

Perbualan kami malam itu semakin rancak apabila kehadiran seorang lagi penduduk tempatan yang memperkenalkan diri sebagai Pak Long Din juga dari Bukit Mertajam. Topik malam ini bertambah menarik apabila tajuk cerita bertukar mengenai memancing. Pak Long Din orang yang paling menyerlah cerita pengalaman pasal ikan dan memancing.

Maka terjadilah perjanjian bersama Pak Long Din untuk keluar memancing di perairan Pulau Pinang seperti yang diceritakan. Masa yang ditunggu tiba. Maka bermula operasi kami dengan menaiki bot Pak Long Din di Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang. Kumpulan kami - Suhairi, Uzair dan penulis.

Jam tangan menunjukkan hampir jam 11 malam. Di lokasi pertama tiada sambutan memberangsangkan. Hanya anak kerapu dan gelama saja. Oleh kerana kurang yakin, Pak Long Din mengubah haluan ke lokasi Pulau Jerejak. Di perairan pulau berkenaan sambutannya juga hambar. Pak Long Din mulai tercabar dan agak malu dan apa yang digebangkan pada hari itu tidak menjadi.

Kami bertukar tempat lagi. Kali ini tidak jauh dari lokasi kedua tadi. Di lokasi ini agak menarik. Terdapat dua batu besar yang hampir tenggelam di pinggir Pulau Jerjak. Di sini barulah ada keyakinan sedikit. Ikan lapar agaknya. Kami tidak jemu melayan sentapan yang agak besar seperti kerapu, jenahak dan sebagainya. Pak Long Din tersenyum puas. Rasa malunya kian hilang. Apatah lagi beliau menaikkan pari hampir 15 kilogram dan hanya menggunakan tali koyan saja. Manakala Suhairi tidak henti-henti memutar kekili pancingnya sambil berteriak kegirangan.

Dalam keghairahan, Uzair tiba-tiba terpandang sesuatu lantas mencuit bahu penulis lalu bertanya: “Kau nampak sesuatu tadi?”

Sambil dia menunjukkan ke arah batu besar yang berdekatan dengan bot kami. Lantas penulis menjawab: “Aku tahu, tapi jangan bising. Diam sajalah”.

Beliau bertanya lagi: “Macam mana ada orang duduk atas batu tu. Macam mana dia panjat batu tu?”

Penulis cuba menenangkan fikirannya dengan memberitahu mungkin ada nelayan tempatan menunggu pukat yang dipasang dan datang dengan bot sendiri.

Kelibat orang di atas batu itu amat nyata seolah-olah sedang menghisap rokok. Pak Long Din merasainya dengan apa yang penulis beritahu dan mengakui dengan soalan Uzair, cuma mereka buat selamba saja.
Tiba-tiba kelibat orang itu hilang daripada pandangan. Penulis mulai cuak dan risau. Sementara itu, Suhairi tidak henti-henti menaikkan ikan sambil bergurau. “Hoi.... kau orang tengok ni.... Jenahak besar...,” katanya.

Penulis dan Uzair hanya senyum tawar.

Tiba-tiba Uzair bersuara: “Syok la... nanti naik hantu air baru padan muka...”

Penulis dan Pak Long Din tersentak dengan gurauan Uzair.

Tidak lama kemudian perkara pelik berlaku apabila hasil tangkapan Suhairi hilang satu persatu dari atas bot. Lantas beliau bersuara: “Siapa pulak sapu ikan aku ni...!”

Kemudian Pak Long Din bersuara: “Kamu duduk diam-diam... dia datang dah...”

Kami kehairanan. Kemudian bot kami rasa terumbang ambing seperti ada orang memanjatnya. Tiba-tiba wajah seekor berok berbulu tebal dengan sepasang mata yang merah berada atas bot . Penulis, Uzair dan Suhairi kecut perut dan seperti hendak pengsan. Suhairi terkencing dalam seluar. Apa boleh buat, kerana dia terlalu takut. Lembaga berkenaan merayap dengan menghulurkan tangannya yang panjang mengambil ikan kami.

Pak Long Din naik angin lalu bertempik dengan sekuat-kuatnya. Apa lagi meraunglah lembaga itu dan terjun ke laut berenang menuju ke Pulau Jerejak. Ketika lembaga berkenaan berada di pulau berkenaan suara jeritannya bergema hingga jelas kedengaran oleh kami dalam bot.

Hampir sejam menyepi, Pak Long Din menyambung semula aktivitinya selepas membelit semula ekor pari yang melibas badan lembaga tadi. Selepas itu, Pak Long Din menaikkan beberapa jenahak manakala kami yang sudah hilang semangat duduk berehat saja. Selepas itu kami pulang ke Jeti Batu Maung. Dalam perjalanan pulang Pak Long Din menceritakan semuanya supaya kami faham.

Kelibat orang di atas batu itu bukanlah manusia cuma penunggu pulau. Lembaga seiras dengan beruk pula adalah jelmaan syaitan dan iblis untuk mengganggu.

Old School Fish Story: Giant Grouper Mauls Spearfisherman, Revenge Taken

Old School Fish Story: Giant Grouper Mauls Spearfisherman, Revenge Taken

 

by Alex Robinson

David Sikes of the Corpus Christi Caller has uncovered a classic fish story from the 1970's that's worth checking out.
The story revolves around a massive Goliath grouper that attempted to eat then 25-year-old spearfisherman Steve Withers.
From the Caller...
" 'He was so big he looked like the bottom," said Withers' diving partner John Beard. "He raised up and I got the hell out of there. I ran around the pipe and got Steve. As we came around we headed toward the bottom beside the fish.'
That's when the Goliath turned, opened its gaping maw and engulf part of Withers, head first.
'He just inhaled him,' Beard told the reporter.
Silt and sand stirred from the bottom by the strike clouded Beard's view of what happened next. Unable to see and therefore unable to help, Beard ascended to the boat, where the wives of the two divers awaited. Beard was prepared to proclaim Withers a lost diver when he spotted his partner bleeding and sitting on the stern nursing his wounds."
After this story was reported to local news outlets, another young spearfisherman named Brian Gulley set out to catch the man-eating Goliath grouper. A few days later Gulley and his dad found monster fish.
Here's the report from the Caller ...
"The big-eyed grouper backed up and maneuvered slowly to one side of a motionless Gulley.
Gully pivoted, aimed and fired in a single motion, plunging the barbed projectile deeply between the fish's eye and gill plate. In a blur, the powerful jewfish turned and bolted.
'He jerked me out of my fins,' Gulley said. 'And he circled around the pipe I don't know how many times with me hanging on. It was 20 minutes of pure rodeo.'
The fish measured 7-foot-4. It was six feet in circumference."
Gulley's fish had an estimated weight of about 650 pounds. He was sure it was the same fish that attacked Withers. But after seeing the fish, Withers said the grouper that attacked him was even bigger.
If you're curious, the world record Goliath grouper weighs in at 680 pounds and was caught off Fernandina Beach, Florida. Swim carefully folks.



Article Source:   http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gone-fishin%E2%80%99/2012/06/old-school-fish-story-giant-grouper-mauls-spearfisherman-revenge-taken

Berkayuh belakang buaya disangka sampan

Berkayuh belakang buaya disangka sampan

Oleh Nuri Angkasa


ENTAH macam mana, hatinya pada malam itu tergesa-gesa hendak ke sungai memancing udang galah seperti yang di harapkan oleh isterinya yang sedang hamil empat bulan, cerita Suhaimi kepada penulis sebaik tiba di rumah Tok Penghulu Batin Itam, di sebuah perkampungan orang asli hulu Sungai Pahang.




















ENTAH macam mana, hatinya pada malam itu tergesa-gesa hendak ke sungai memancing udang galah seperti yang di harapkan oleh isterinya yang sedang hamil empat bulan, cerita Suhaimi kepada penulis sebaik tiba di rumah Tok Penghulu Batin Itam, di sebuah perkampungan orang asli hulu Sungai Pahang.

Kerana tidak mahu menghampakan hajat isterinya, Suhaimi bersama seorang rakan karibnya (Alang Ali) terus menghulu sungai berkenaan yang sudah biasa dengan mereka malah lubuk-lubuk udang dan liku sungai sudah terpeta dalam kepala mereka. Justeru atas keyakinan itulah membuatkan isteri Suhaimi tidak merasa bimbang pemergian suaminya meredah malam itu untuk memancing udang galah yang diidamkan sejak kebelakangan ini.

Begitu juga dengan Alang Ali yang berketurunan darah waris orang asli masih kukuh berpegang kepada kepercayaan bahawa sesuatu yang berlaku itu datangnya dari Allah maka kepadaNyalah kita minta pertolongan. Alang Ali dan keluarga sudah lama memeluk agama Islam.

Beliau masih bujang tapi berkeluarga rapat dengan Penghulu Batin Itam yang terkenal dengan dakwahnya untuk menarik lebih ramai masyarakat orang asli di kampung itu memeluk agama Islam.

Sebaik tiba di pangkalan dengan tidak menggunakan sebarang lampu, cuma bantuan cahaya bulan di langit mereka menaiki sebuah sampan kecil yang cuma selesa untuk dua orang saja lalu meneruskan perjalanan ke hulu sungai dengan berkayuh.

Keadaan cuaca pada malam itu seperti biasa saja, cuma sesekali ada rasa berlainan ketika berkayuh. Pengalaman dua rakan pemancing udang di sungai berkenaan tidak diragukan jika dengan pantas mereka berjumpa lubuk udang galah.

Oleh kerana kawasan lubuk itu terlindung dari arus deras, sampan tidak dilabuhkan, tapi ianya terapung diam bagi memberikan keselesaan memancing kepada Suhaimi dan Alang Ali. Lubuk berkenaan mendatangkan hasil tangkapan yang lumayan spesies udang galah bersaiz besar.

Masing-masing dengan hanya menggunakan dua batang joran setiap seorang sudah menghasilkan belasan udang galah dan dalam waktu yang sama sampan bergerak perlahan ke lokasi yang lebih tenang tapi kurang disenangi kedua-dua pemancing berpengalaman itu.

Alang Ali cuba berkayuh menghala arah lain tapi sampan tidak mengikut arah yang kemudian oleh Suhaimi, tapi lokasi itu juga mereka banyak mendaratkan udang yang lebih besar.

Kerana rezeki sudah lebih dari mencukupi mereka pulang semula ke pangkalan tapi sepanjang jalan mereka merasa berlainan dengan sampan yang mereka naiki, kerana sesekali bagaikan ada air menyimbah masuk dalam sampan. Alang Ali dan Suhaimi tidak mahu memikirkan itu semua kerana yang lebih di harapkan agar mereka selamat tiba di pangkalan.
Sebaik mendarat di daratan sampan yang mereka naiki tenggelam dan timbul tidak jauh dari pangkalan lalu menghilang ketengah sungai. Suhaimi dan Alang Ali menarik nafas panjang kerana tidak menyangka rupanya bukan sampan yang mereka naiki sepanjang melakukan aktiviti memancing.

Mereka tidak sepatah pun bersuara tentang sampan yang mereka naiki, cuma isteri Suhaimi saja yang ada menyebut tentang sampan yang digunakan oleh suaminya serentak dengan itu Suhaimi teringat bahawa isterinya adalah waris cucu kepada Awang Dolmat (Pawang buaya).



Sumber Cerita: 
 http://joran.bharian.com.my/Current_News/Joran/News/Misteri/20091218113204/Article/index_html

Manta ray at Poor Knights thrills spectators

Manta ray at Poor Knights thrills spectators

Kristin Edge | Wednesday, February 15, 2012 10:10

MAJESTIC: A graceful manta ray at the Poor Knights Islands makes the metre-long Kingfish look very small. PHOTO/GINES PASTOR

 

 

For Spanish dive instructor Gines Pastor swimming with a manta ray at one of the world's best dive sites was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The manta ray spotted near the Poor Knights Islands was one of a few seen by boaties along Northland's coastline over the past few days.

As warm sea currents flow closer to the coast, not only are they bringing game fish like marlin and tuna but huge manta rays.

Mr Pastor, an instructor with Dive Tutukaka, was with a chartered dive group at Calypso Bay last Saturday when he saw the impressive fish.

"It's fabulous when you see a majestic 4-metre-long fish just gliding along," he said.

"I've been diving for half my life and this is the first time I have seen a manta ray. No doubt it's one of the best dive experiences I've had and the Poor Knights are one of the best dive spots."

He managed to take some pictures of the graceful fish and said the metre-long kingfish seemed tiny as they swam alongside the manta ray.

The ray circled over the top of Mr Pastor before swimming off into the blue.

"It was quite awesome."

Dive Tutukaka marketing manager Kate Malcolm said there had been plenty of sealife action on the coast over the past few weeks with a variety of whales as well as a pod of orca. Dolphins were being spotted on a daily basis.

She said manta rays had also been cruising the waters around the Poor Knights Islands.

"This is another example of a marine reserve that works."

Marine conservationist Wade Doak, who lives on the Tutukaka Coast, said manta ray were regular visitors and were attracted by plankton, which they fed on.

When feeding, they did somersaults in the cloud of plankton rather than swimming straight through.

"They are inspiring creatures," Mr Doak said.

In the Bay of Islands, a manta ray provided a rare but welcome sight for a number of people cruising around the weekend.

The ray was seen by about 65 guests, as well as staff, on board a Discover the Bay cruise run by Explore NZ on Saturday afternoon.

Department of Conservation marine scientist Clinton Duffy said the sighting was a treat because, although they migrated here each year, they were rarely seen.

 

 

Manta Rays
Have the largest brain to body ratio of all sharks and rays on Earth.

Have an average life span of 20 years.

Are close relatives of the shark and also closely related to the stingray, but don't have a stinger.

Are classified as fish.

Don't have a skeleton made from bone.

Are only surpassed in size in the marine world by sharks and whales.

Have many rows of sharp teeth - they aren't used for eating, but as a filtering system.

Are completely protected in New Zealand waters under the Wildlife Act.



Article Source:   http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/gentle-giant-sighting-thrills-spectators/1272618/

Artificial fly

 

Classic 19th Century Artificial fly-The Triumph

An artificial fly or fly lure is a type of fishing lure, usually used in the sport of fly fishing (although they may also be used in other forms of angling). In general, artificial flies are the bait which fly fishers present to their target species of fish while fly fishing. Artificial flies are constructed by fly tying, in which furs, feathers, thread or any of very many other materials are tied onto a fish hook.^[1] Artificial flies may be constructed to represent all manner of potential freshwater and saltwater fish prey to include aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans, worms, baitfish, vegetation, flesh, spawn, small reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds, etc. Effective artificial fly patterns are said to be killing flies because of their ability to put fish in the creel for the fly fisher. There are thousands of artificial fly patterns, many of them with descriptive and often idiosyncratic names.

Contents

Construction

Fly tying is a common practice in fly fishing, considered by many anglers an important part of the fly fishing experience. Many fly fishers tie their own flies, either following patterns in books, natural insect examples, or using their own imagination. The technique involves attaching small pieces of feathers, animal fur, and other materials on a hook in order to make it attractive to fish. This is made by wrapping thread tightly around the hook and tying on the desired materials. A fly is sized according to the width of the hook gap; large or longer flies are tied on larger, thicker, and longer hooks.

 Types

Generally, fly patterns are considered either "imitations" or "attractors". Imitations seek to deceive fish through the life-like imitation of insects on which the fish may feed. Imitators do not always have to be precisely realistic in appearance; they may derive their lifelike qualities when their fur or feathers are immersed in water and allowed to move in the current. Attractors, which are often brightly colored, seek to draw a strike by arousing an aggression response in the fish. Famous attractors are the Stimulator and Royal Wulff flies.

 History

First known illustration of a fishing fly from 4th. edition (1652) of John Dennys's The Secrets of Angling, first published in 1613, probably the earliest poetical English treatise on Angling.,^[2][3]

The first literary reference to flies and fishing with flies was in Ælian’s Natural History probably written about 200 A.D. That work discussed a Macedonian fly. The Treatyse on Fysshynge with an Angle was published (1496) within The Boke of St. Albans attributed to Dame Juliana Berners. The book contains, along with instructions on rod, line and hook making, dressings for different flies to use at different times of the year. Probably the first use of the term Artificial fly came in Izaac Walton's The Compleat Angler (1653),^[4]

Oh my good Master, this morning walk has been spent to my great pleasure and wonder: but I pray, when shall I have your direction how to make Artificial flyes, like to those that the Trout loves best?^[5]

Frontpiece from Bowlker's Art of Angling (1854) showing a variety of artificial flies^[6]

The 1652 4th. edition of John Dennys's The Secrets of Angling , first published in 1613, contains the first known illustration of an artificial fly.
By the early 19th century, the term artificial fly was being routinely used in angling literature much like this representative quote from Thomas Best's A Concise Treatise on the Art of Angling (1807) to refer to all types of flies used by fly fishers.

The art of artificial fly-fishing, certainly has the pre-eminence over the other various methods that are used to take fishes in the art of angling^[7]

Although the term fly was a reference to an imitation of some flying insect, by the mid-19th century the term fly was being applied to a far greater range of imitation.^{[original research?]}

The term fly is applied by sea fishermen to a certain arrangement of feathers, wax, etc., which I am about to describe the manufacture of, and which may be used with considerable success in mackerel, basse, and pollack fishing. I am not disposed to think, however, that such baits are ever mistaken by the fish which they are intended to capture for flies; but the number used, the way in which they are mounted, viz., several on one trace, and the method of their progress through the water, rather leads me to the belief that they are mistaken for a number of small fry, and treated accordingly.^[8]

Imitation

Illustration of a large Pike fly (1865)^[9]

A major concept in the sport of fly fishing is that the fly imitates some form of fish prey when presented to the fish by the angler. As aquatic insects such as Mayflies, Caddisflies and Stoneflies were the primary prey being imitated during the early developmental years of fly fishing, there were always differing schools of thought on how closely a fly needed to imitate the fish's prey.
In the mid to late 19th century, those schools of thought, at least for trout fishing were: the formalists (imitation matters) and the colourists (color matters most).^[10] Today, some flies are called attractor patterns because in theory, they do not resemble any specific prey, but instead attract strikes from fish. For instance, Charles Jardine, in his 2008 book "Flies, Ties and Techniques," speaks of imitators and attractors, categorizing the Royal Wulff as an attractor and the Elk Hair Caddis as an imitator, whereas "... in sea trout and steelhead fishing there is a combination of imitation and attraction involved in fly construction".^[11] Paul Schullery in American Fly Fishing - A History (1996) explains however that although much has been written about the imitation theories of fly design, all successful fly patterns must imitate something to the fish, and even a perfect imitation attracts strikes from fish. The huge range of fly patterns documented today for all sorts of target species-trout, salmon, bass and panfish, pike, saltwater, tropical exotics, etc. are not easily categorized as merely imitative, attractors or something else.^[12]

 Contemporary fly types and illustrative examples

The categorization of artificial flies has evolved considerably in the last 200 years as writers, fly tiers and fishing equipment retailers expound and promote new ideas and techniques. Additionally, as the popularity of fly fishing expanded globally to new and exotic target species, new flies and genera of flies came into being. There are many subtypes in some of these categories especially as they apply to trout flies. As well, any given pattern of artificial fly might well fit into multiple categories depending on its intended use. The following categorization with illustrative examples is derived from the following major artificial fly merchants offerings.

• Orvis - An American Fly Fishing Retailer in business since 1856 ^[13]
• Farlows of London - A British Fly Fishing Retailer in business since 1840^[14]
• Umpqua Feather Merchants - An American artificial fly manufacturer and wholesaler in business since 1972^[15]

 Dry flies

Dry flies are designed to be buoyant, or to float on the surface of the water. Dry flies typically represent the adult form of an aquatic or terrestrial insect. Dry flies are generally considered freshwater flies.^[16]

Dry flies

The Adams - A typical dry fly Orange Stimulator - A caddisfly or grasshopper imitation Royal Wulff - A classic attractor pattern Blue Wing Olive Dry Fly

Wet flies

Wet flies are designed to sink below the surface of the water. Wet flies have been tied in a wide variety of patterns to represent larva, nymphs, pupa, drowned insects, baitfish and other underwater prey. Wet flies are generally considered freshwater flies.^[17]

Wet flies

Grizzly King - A classic wet fly A Woolly Worm wet fly Professor wet fly Partridge and Orange soft-hackle

 Nymph flies

Nymphs are designed to resemble the immature form of aquatic insects and small crustaceans. Nymph flies are generally considered freshwater flies.^[18]

Nymphs

Brook's Montana Stonefly nymph Biot midge larve

 Emerger flies

Emergers are designed to resemble the not quite mature hatching aquatic insect as it leaving the water to become an adult insect. Emerger flies are generally considered freshwater trout flies.^[19]

 Streamer flies

Streamers are designed to resemble some form of baitfish or other large aquatic prey. Streamer flies may be patterned after both freshwater and saltwater prey species. Streamer flies are a very large and diverse category of flies as streamers are effective for almost any type of gamefish.^[20]

Streamer flies

Woolly Bugger - A universal streamer pattern Mickey Finn - A classic streamer pattern Clouser Deep Minnow - A popular streamer pattern used for both fresh and saltwater fishing Black Conehead Egg Sucking Leech Muddler Minnow - a sculpin imitation Schenk's White Minnow - A popular eastern chub imitation Royal Coachman Bucktail Articulated streamer

 Terrestrial flies

Terrestrials are designed to resemble non-aquatic insects, crustaceans and worms that could fall prey to feeding fish after being blown or falling onto the water.,^[21][22]

Terrestrial flies

Dave's Hopper, a terrestrial dry fly imitating a common grasshopper

 Bass and panfish flies, bugs and poppers

Bass and panfish flies, bugs and poppers are generally designed to resemble both surface and sub-surface insect, crustacean, baitfish prey consumed by warm-water species such as Largemouth bass or bluegill. This genus of flies generally includes patterns that resemble small mammals, birds, amphibians or reptiles that may fall prey to fish, or in the case of panfish flies, small aquatic insects or crustaceans.

Bass and panfish flies

Red Bass popper Bass popper on water Bluegill streamer EP style

 Pike and musky flies

Pike and musky flies are generally designed to resemble both surface and sub-surface crustacean, baitfish prey consumed by species of the genus Esox such as Northern Pike or Muskellunge. This genus of flies are larger than bass flies and generally includes patterns that resemble baitfish and small mammals, birds, amphibians or reptiles that may fall prey to fish.^[23]

[edit] Carp flies

Carp flies are designed to resemble various vegetative sources of food that carp feed on such as berries, seeds and flowers that may fall into the water.^[24]

 Salmon flies

Salmon flies are a traditional class of flies tied specifically to fly fish for Atlantic Salmon. Some salmon flies may be classified as lures while others may be classified as dry flies, such as the bomber. Salmon flies are also tied in classic and contemporary patterns.^[25]

Salmon flies

Durham Ranger - a Classic Salmon fly Green Highlander - a Classic Salmon fly

 Steelhead and Pacific salmon flies

Steelhead and Pacific salmon flies are designed for catching anadromous steelhead trout and pacific salmon in western North American and Great Lakes rivers.

 Egg flies

Egg flies are all designed to resemble the spawn of other fish that may be encountered in a river and consumed by the target species.

 Flesh flies

Flesh flies are designed to resemble the rotting flesh of pacific salmon encountered in a river and consumed by the target species.

Saltwater flies

Saltwater flies are a class of flies designed to represent a wide variety of inshore, offshore and estuarial saltwater baitfish, crustacean and other saltwater prey. Saltwater flies generally are found in both sub-surface and surface patterns.^[26]

Saltwater flies

White Lefty's Deceiver - An all purpose saltwater baitfish imitation Gold bendback shrimp fly Cockroach Deceiver (Lefty Kreh)

 Bonefish flies

Bonefish flies are a special class of saltwater flies used to catch Bonefish in shallow water. Bonefish flies generally resemble small crabs, shrimp or other crustaceans.^[27]

Bonefish flies

Crazy Charlie - A popular bonefish fly Bonefish shrimp fly

 Tarpon flies

Tarpon flies are a special class of saltwater flies used to catch Tarpon in both inshore and offshore waters. Tarpon flies generally represent small baitfish commonly preyed upon by tarpon.^[27]

Tarpon flies

Stu Apte Classic Tarpon Fly

 Striped bass flies

Striped bass flies are a special class of freshwater-saltwater fly used to catch Striped Bass in freshwater, inshore and offshore waters. Striped bass flies generally represent small baitfish commonly preyed upon by striped bass.

 

Ancient Mosaics Reveal Changing Fish Size

Analysis by Rossella Lorenzi Tue Sep 13, 2011 02:26 PM ET

This ancient Roman mosaic from the Bardo National Museum in Tunis shows a giant grouper swollowing a fisherman. Courtesy of Trainito.
The dusky grouper, one of the major predators in the Mediterranean sea, used to be so large in antiquity that it was portrayed as a "sea monster," a new study into ancient depictions of the endangered fish has revealed.
"Amazingly, ancient mosaic art has provided important information to reconstruct this fish's historical baseline," Paolo Guidetti of the University of Salento in Italy, told Discovery News.
Considered one of the most flavorful species among the Mediterranean fish, the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) is a large, long-lived, slow-growing, protogynous hermaphrodite fish (with sex reversal from female to male). It can be found mainly in the Mediterranean, the African west coast and the coast of Brazil.
NEWS: Roman Ship Carried Live Fish Tank
Having faced harvesting for millennia -- grouper bones have been found in human settlements dating back more than 100,000 years -- this species has been decimated in recent decades by commercial and recreational fishing. It is now categorized as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
The recovery of endangered fish species requires a careful evaluation of some key elements, such as abundance, size structure, and spatial distribution. Such evaluation usually involves comparing unfished areas with unprotected sites.
"But most such marine protected areas are too small and 'young' (established a few decades ago, at most) to provide information on 'pristine' conditions," Guidetti and colleague Fiorenza Micheli, a professor of marine ecology at Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station, wrote in the current issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.
SCIENCE CHANNEL: Top Ten Weirdest Sea Creatures
To look farther back into the grouper's history, the researchers examined hundreds of Etruscan, Greek, and Roman paintings and mosaics depicting fishing scenes and fish.
At the end, they focused on 23 mosaics which represented groupers. In 10 of the 23 mosaics, dating from the 1st to 5th centuries, groupers were portrayed as being very large.
Indeed, the ancient Romans might have considered groupers some sort of "sea monsters" able to eat a fisherman whole, as shown in a 2nd century mosaic from the Bardo National Museum in Tunis.



Dusky grouper. Courtesy of Albert Kok/Creative Commons.
The mosaics also indicated that groupers lived in shallow waters much closer to shore, and were caught by fishermen using poles or harpoons from boats at the water's surface.
"It's a technique that would surely yield no grouper catch today," said the researchers.
Although there are no known instances of dusky groupers attacking human swimmers, the art depictions are very "informative," said the researchers.
"These representations suggest that groupers were, in ancient times, so large as to be portrayed as sea monsters and that their habitat use and depth distribution have shifted in historical times," Guidetti and Micheli wrote.
PHOTOS: Sea Monsters Real & Imagined
Ancient Roman authors such Ovid (43 B.C. – 18 A.D.) and Pliny the Elder ((23 A.D. – 79 A.D.) reported that groupers were fished by anglers in shallow waters, where they are now rare if not completely absent.
According to their accounts, fish were so strong they could break fishing lines.
The researchers noted that grouper populations in marine reserves now show signs of returning to their historical sizes and depths, with groupers moving into shallower waters.
Achieving population abundances five to 10 times greater than those in unprotected areas of the Mediterranean, groupers in no-take reserves can reach sizes of 35-40 inches (versus 20-24 inches for groupers at fished sites).
"Ancient art provides a link between prehistorical and modern evidence and suggests that shallow near shore Mediterranean ecosystems have lost large, top predators and their corresponding ecological roles," the researchers concluded.



Read More:  http://news.discovery.com/history/ancient-mosaics-marine-conservation-110913.html

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Rare-fish-found-in-northland-dive-site/

Lindy Laird | Thursday, April 14, 2011 11:35

Something Fishy: It's rarely seen in New Zealand waters, but is it a unicorn triggerfish or a scribbled leatherjacket?

Charlie Mcvicar
 

Northland's marine reserves, wrecks and reefs are increasingly becoming home to fish species from sub-tropical waters.

Five new or rarely seen species have been spotted at east coast dive spots during the past two months but the latest has scientists differing on whether it's a scribbled leatherjacket or a unicorn triggerfish.

The rare fish was captured on film last week at the Canterbury wreck near Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands.

It joins a list of recently seen yellow boxfish, black-spot goatfish, eyestripe surgeon fish, two-tone wrasse and damsel fish.

Northland Dive partner Julia Riddle posted the photo taken by Charlie McVicar on Wade Doak's website discussion forum to try to find out whether the 50cm fish was a triggerfish or leatherjacket.

Te Papa marine biologist Andrew Stewart thought the long dorsal spine on the fish pins it as an Aluterus scriptus, or juvenile scrawled (scribbled) leatherjacket. Those spines become smaller as the fish grows, he said.

"I have also seen a photograph of another one, caught in the Northland area by a commercial vessel.

"It is a relatively rare find, and is only known in the New Zealand region from photographs," Dr Stewart said.

The species, found in tropical and subtropical inshore areas worldwide, usually around reefs, grows to a metre long.

Malcolm Francis of Niwa thinks it's a close relative of the leatherjacket - the unicorn triggerfish or Aluterus monoceros.

"Both species have been recorded before in northern New Zealand waters but are very rare. They are semi-pelagic and associate with drifting seaweed and logs, hence can travel long distances on ocean currents," Dr Francis said. The artificial reef created by the Canterbury wreck at Deep Water Cove has become a magnet for warmer water species. Last Saturday, divers spotted a small turtle.

Mr Doak said a valuable amount of information was being collected by recreational divers coming across new and rare species in Northland dive spots.

"Wrecks provide a huge range of habitats within a short range. So do offshore islands, even if close inshore," Mr Doak said.

Some experts are putting the increase in warm water marine life down to the La Nina weather pattern which has heated the ocean around New Zealand by up to one degree.

Te Papa's Dr Stewart said records and species which have either been photographed or collected this year indicate there has been a "pulse" of warmer water species into New Zealand's northern waters.

 

 

Article Source:    http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/rare-fish-found-in-northland-dive-site/1051566/

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