From the early hours of the morning, fishermen start their journey and gather at the Galata bridge. People from Silivri and Tuzla are coming. Others say that they have been interested in fishing since they knew it. Despite the sun in the summer and the cold and rain in the winter, the fishermen who come to the bridge with all their gear agree that this job is a passion. Each of these people, whom we think are fishing out of boredom by bus, tram or on foot, actually has a different story.
SELLERS ON ONE SIDE BUYERS ON ONE SIDE
Explaining that they hang out here and make money, the fishermen say: “This is a living space for us.” On one side are people who sell bait, equipment and wolves on the bridge. On the other hand, citizens and catering workers who want to buy the best fish pass by looking at the bins. Fishermen say that the fish is small and tasty in summer.
So what is the passion in fishing, what is the motivation that makes these people wait on the line for hours? Is it more fun to eat the fish they catch or to sell it?
‘THIS IS A LIVING SPACE’
Cevdet Kudaz, who lives by fishing on the Galata bridge, says that he has been fishing for 20 years and cannot stay at home. Kudaz, who spoke to his friends here and said they had created a living space, said, “I mostly catch horse mackerel, bluefish, yellowfin and bluefish. I even sell it to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law for money – he says.
Wolves are sold for 1 TL
Bread is used to feed fish. Fishermen who want to use a wolf also pay 1 TL per wolf. Explaining that if there are a lot of fish, it is worth paying for the wolf, Kudaz says: “And if there are no fish, it is a pleasure to sit here, you forget everything.” Kudaz sells fish for 80 TL per kilogram.
Şefik Uluç said he just came from Antakya and started fishing again thanks to his friends.I came when my job failed, the fish comforts me” he says.
“If I catch a fish, I’ll be happy, if I can’t, I won’t be sad”
Emphasizing that fishing is a passion, Uluç said: “There are days when we don’t catch fish, everything is fate. If I catch a fish, I will be happy, if I can’t catch it, I won’t be sad. It is enough to sit on a rock and watch the water.”
Muharrem Demir, who has been fishing for almost 20 years, states that he fishes on dams in summer and in the sea in winter. “The sea is more fertile. The fish at the dams are also a bit cloudy. Fishing is like an addiction.” uses expressions.
‘WE CAN’T BE WARM TO SELL FISH’
Büşra Oruç and Nurbetül Kırca also say that they regularly go fishing every week. Stating that the other local fishermen are helping them in every way, the friends say that they can’t wait to sell and consume the caught fish.
‘IT WAS A HOBBY, IT WAS A DOOR TO INCOME’
Güven Udman, who says he has been fishing since childhood, says he is addicted to this hobby. Now he earns from fishing, which started as a hobby 35 years ago in Erol Akan. Akan shares the information that nearby restaurants also buy fish from him. He says that employees of nearby restaurants come to the bridge and visit the fishermen one by one and buy the best fish.
Explaining that he does not have a pension, Akan says: “I need it, I sell it between 80-150 TL”. The motivation behind his fishing is living conditions.
Source: Web Special