THERE are so many things known by rural women in the olden days that they are good at. For the women of Naqali village in Naitasiri, even though they live in the highlands, they are very resourceful in fishing during wet weather.

The Fiji Times met up with a group of women at a particular spot at Naqali casting their lines into a little creek surrounded by overgrown vegetation where no one else would expect to fish.

One such woman is Moli Koroi who says it’s part of their daily living. While many villagers use the rivers and lakes, she and other women usually visit another spot to catch fish for their family.

“I was taught by my mother and grandmother on how to fish in the river and lakes.

“It takes different skills and techniques,” she said.

The 48-year-old mother said they mostly go out fishing after lunch so that they could bring something for their dinner. 

“Growing up in the village, it’s normal for a woman to go fishing and it is very rare to see a man do this,” she said.

She said men usually till the land.

“Mostly during wet weather the river would burst its bank and that is the time that fish or eels will be in abundance,” she said.

Moli said they don’t have to go to the river to catch fish or duna (eel). Women would look for a drain or pond that leads to the river to throw their fishing line because the eels would always go up the drain and pond looking for something to feed on.

“It’s common in the village that we go out fishing in groups because we always look out for each other and it’s part of village life,” she said.

Moli they consider themselves blessed to be practicing what they have been taught.

While most urban women get their fish from the supermarkets, the women of Naqali use their qoliqoli to catch fish and eels for their family meals.