KUALA BERANG: For the past 24 years, a trio of grandmothers from Kampung Betong has turned to fishing as their favourite recreational activity during their leisure time.
On most days, Asiah Wahab, Zah Muda, and Bidah Hassan would walk about 2.5km to a nearby river for their pastime, which not only allows them to indulge in their hobby but also provides an opportunity to catch up with each other.
Asiah, 51, a grandmother to five grandchildren, said their group originally had seven members but dwindled to three as some passed away and others became too frail to participate.
She added that fishing among women in the village has long been popular due to the proximity of rivers and streams.
"Our interest began when we saw villagers fishing in the rivers and bringing home their catches. That inspired us to try it with other women, initially using bamboo fishing rods," she said.
She added that her 54-year-old husband, Mohd Rosman, fully supports her hobby and occasionally takes the group of grandmothers fishing at Tasik Kenyir.
Zah, 70, a grandmother of four, said simply holding a fishing rod is satisfying.
"It's just a hobby for us, so we don't focus too much on the catches," she said.
She said their fishing activities have been scaled back since the Covid-19 pandemic due to declining health and advancing age among the group.
"We also take safety very seriously during our fishing trips, especially to avoid incidents like flash floods or encounters with venomous animals," she added.
Bidah, 76, a grandmother of 30 grandchildren, said they usually return before Maghrib if they fish after the Asar prayer.
"If we go after Maghrib, we make sure to be back by 10pm or 11pm at night.
"It's not just about fishing. We also enjoy chatting about our fishing stories and the catches we've had," she said.
Bidah shared that in the past, they went fishing almost daily. However, due to health concerns, they have reduced their trips.
She added that the period after a flood is the best time to fish, as the receding waters make it easier to catch fish.