Is it a toy? Is it a key-chain? Is it a pendant? No, it’s a fishing lure. If you’re a regular at Kasimedu, you cannot miss a visit to King Fish, a shop that sells fishing gear near the harbour. It’s an fascinating place, giving even casual visitors a good idea of the fishing world, with its wide selection of nets and allied products. Even those who have no connection with the fishing business will be enthralled by the products on display. There are nets of various dimensions, floats, lead pellets... but it’s the colourful fishing lure that catches my eye the first time I visit.
Shaped like a fish, with gleaming scales to match, the lure comes with treble hooks suspended at two points. I instantly pick one for a keepsake — it’s bottle-green in colour, with golden-yellow highlights.
What do I do with a fishing lure? For one, it’s a nice knick-knack to take back from Kasimedu. It can be used for other purposes as well — perhaps be strung along with fairy lights, so that the fins catch the light and glitter at night?
Even if you don’t have any use for it in mind, it’s easy to be tempted into buying one. Salesman Ganesh watches me with amusement as I browse through the collection. “That’s used to catch the octopus,” he offers, pointing to an orange-coloured lure.
He, like a lot of people at Kasimedu, is waiting for a chance to tell fishermen-related stories. “Although some consider it expensive, there are fishermen such as those from Neelankarai who use these. We got five of this variety and have already sold three,” he says, showing us a shiny purple one.
Ganesh extracts the more expensive varieties from a shelf inside with care. With a complicated pattern of hooks pinned onto them, they are even more attractive than the smaller ones displayed like earrings stapled on cardboard sheets. “Take a look,” he says, handing it to me. Made of plastic, it is almost life-like. “Would you like to take it?” asks Ganesh. I shake my head and leave with just one, although I would’ve gladly bought at least five.
