Catching fish fry as hobby provides pocket money for three friends
HULU TERENGGANU: Having a hobby of catching red mahseer fingerlings has helped three friends from Kampung Belukar Bukit here, to earn pocket money thus easing their parents’ financial burden.
Usually, Muhammad Syahrizal Aiman Abdullah, 14, Muhammad Sharil Hakim Mat Nawang, 12, and Muhammad Faizal Ikhwan Ismail, 11, will search for the wild freshwater fish species after school.
Syahrizal said they used small fishing net to catch the fingerlings along Sungai Belukar Bukit and each is sold between 30 sen to 40 sen depending on their size.
“Our ‘income’ depends on our total catch on that particular day...the most we ever got was RM200 a day.
“We have many repeat buyers who will come here to get the red mahseer fingerlings. They will resell them at higher prices,” he said when met by Bernama here.
Sharil said he would do his best to have a balance between his studies and hobby.
“I will make sure to finish all my homework before going out to the river to catch the fish fingerlings. My parents always remind me to not spending too much time doing this hobby,” said the Year 6 student of Sekolah Kebangsaan Betong, here.
Meanwhile, Faizal’s mother Hafidah Othman, 48, said being a supportive parent, she always reminded him to give priority to safety while doing the activity.
“It is good that his hobby can help him to generate income that can be used to buy whatever he wants. The amount earned is not important as long as he enjoys spending time with his friends.
“The hobby also keeps him busy and away from gadgets as well as educate him to appreciate nature,” she said. — Bernama