Tilapia Fishing in Cebu

I was already in my 20s when I first tasted tilapia. I had no other choice as it was the only viand served at my aunt’s table when I happened to visit her home in Quezon City during one of my out-of-town trips.

“You don’t eat tilapia in Cebu, do you?” she asked me.

I had to agree. Prior to that, I never knew how that fish tasted. We’re so used to fishes produced by the sea. In those days, I could not even recall seeing tilapia being sold in Mandaue and Carbon markets.

But I know how a tilapia looks like because when we were kids, we’re catching them using our bare hands at some dirt pond a few meters away from our house. Eating them was unthinkable then.

But today, even supermarkets are selling tilapia. There are also a few fish-for-pay ponds in Cebu that have tilapia stocks. They also offer to cook the fish at the way you like it. I like it deep-fried though. Here are some places where you can experience tilapia fishing in Cebu.

Wetland Park located at N. Bacalso Avenue (that road leading to Inayawan, Pardo) is one of the firsts in Cebu. Their Facebook page is here. We used to go there five years ago and we just used ordinary bamboo rods. I didn’t have a decent fishing rod then but we usually caught palm-sized fishes. We had our catch cooked for us at an affordable price.

Co Jordan also has tilapia, as one worker there claimed. I never caught one in my many trips there. I only used dough as bait but tilapia’s fave is earthworm. They have tilapia sold at 160 per kilo but I learned that they sourced them from some other ponds.  

AC Tilapia Fishing near Mantayupan falls in Barili is also one place that you should go. They have ready rods and accommodating assistants to make your fishing experience unforgettable. Don’t forget to take a dip at the cool waters of the magnificent Mantayupan Falls when you go there. They are just a walking distance away from each other.

Victoria Hard Rock Resort in San Remigio, Cebu has a fish pond for fun fishing. The place is very nice and serene and I want to go back there someday. But it is quite far as you need to drive at least 3 hours just to get there. You have to go north to Tabuelan via Lugo (via Bogo is farther). Victoria is the first baranggay right after the Tabuelan-San Remigio boundary.

Last month, I had the opportunity to fish tilapia at my boss’ private pond. Here’s what we got.

Average tilapia weight is one kilo. Not bad really. I can’t wait to go back there soon.

Addicted To Fishing

How do you know you are addicted to fishing?

Last October 1, 2008 we went fishing at Kalawisan Fishing Village in Lapulapu City. We aimed at catching the biggest haul of our lives. I was already prepared to shell out a few hundred pesos in case we catch lapulapu and giant bangus. A couple of friends joined me and my wife. This would be our second outing together because in our first outing the week before, they caught nothing, while my wife caught just one fish.

They were already ready with newly-purchased hooks, strings, swivels and floaters. I too was excited to use my brand-new fishing rod. My wife was just contented with the bamboo rod.

We set out early. Our friends arrived at 7am while we caught up with them past 8am. In our excitement, we forgot to put on sunblocks. As it was a breezy day with clear-blue sky, my wife and I didn’t mind the sun.

We ordered rice in advance for lunch hoping that we’d just cook our morning catch. Midday came but our buckets were still empty. We still haven’t caught a single fish. Hunger sets in so we ordered a kilo of crabs for lunch. “May we catch more fish for dinner, Lord” was a line I included in our prayer for lunch.

It was already 4pm when I felt my red-hot and burning skin. We caught a couple of small fishes but we returned them to the pond. Our friends caught a large milkfish, but in their excitement, they lost it, including their hook and floater. I, too, lost a possible big catch. The fish got the bait and my hook.

It was dark when I first caught a fish. The fish is locally known as “Kitong”. My friend also caught a bigger one minutes after. So for 12 hours of fishing, we caught two fishes with a total weight of 450 grams. We brought it home and fried it for dinner.

That night, my wife and I separately dreamt of fishing. The fish that got away wouldn’t leave my mind. She dreamt of catching a large fish. In the morning, I woke up in pain brought about by the sunburn. If not for work, I would have headed back to Kalawisan Fishing Village. So we just decided to go fishing again the succeeding weekend. In that month alone, we fished at least 6 times.

That, my friends, is what I call fishing addiction part 1.

Fishing in Cebu

Fishing is my new hobby. I got addicted to it sometime in 2008 and it seems I'm not over with it yet. As a matter of fact, this hobby is contagious. I had convinced some of my friends, colleagues and family members to go fishing. It's fun really. But you need lots of patience when you are into this kind of game.

Where to fish in Cebu?

Cebu is an island in the Pacific surrounded by bodies of water. You can fish almost anywhere. But seriously, not really anywhere.

You can't fish at the Pier because entry is restricted. You can't fish at any beach because there are swimmers. In some parts, fishing is not allowed because of some environmental laws. But you can fish under the new Marcelo Fernan (Mandaue-Mactan) Bridge, at some fish-and-pay ponds, private ports, and rivers.

This site aims to direct you to some of the best fishing sites in Cebu where you can bring along your families, friends, girl or boy friends, spouses, kids, and even pets. From time to time, I will also post some helpful fishing tips I find in the net.

Happy fishing everyone!