Master fisherman Nyabinghi still casting his nets

Fishing has been the bread and butter for Nyabinghi, a fisherman from the small town of Green Island, Hanover.

He grew up watching his father cast nets, going out to sea from he was seven years old.

"You can say I was almost born into fishing; before I could use a line myself, me go out pon the boat," Nyabinghi said.

"I didn't pass this on to my kids like my father because I support them. My kids have become more upscale than this now, they don't need this career," he added.

One of the larger boats, now pale yellow as a result of the sun rays and seawater, is docked close by.

Nyabinghi is quick to point out that it is his, but that it would not be leaving for sea on this particular evening.

He has not prepared his nets and is not worried about getting his favoured shrimp or herring bait like his colleagues.

Fishermen are the first to get concerned about the sustainability of fish stock and though the men that sit with him have plans to leave after lunch time, he says the preferred time to go out is three days later.

"The guys might go out because tonight (last Tuesday) is a full moon, just for the red snapper. I have different type of experience, doing better when the moon start getting dark two or three days after full moon is the biting season," he said. "Plus I nuh have nuh reason to fight this weather."

Despite what looks like a sunny day in Negril, the reserved fisherman is convinced that further out, the tide will not be good.

He said, "What you thinking is far different from what is further out; there is unusual weather. We hardly get storms this early, it is earlier than expected and the back pressure too. When there is no rain and wind but just strong wind alone, is almost four weeks of this serious weather. A few guys go out but the sea is not in the mood."

Despite his inhibitions about the weather, he expressed that this time of the year, as the summer draws closer, is the most productive, especially for red snapper.

As it relates to rivalry among the fishermen, he said, "There is always competition, but we are fisherman brothers and sisters".

He continued: "Negril is a unique, happy place. I mean what other place around Jamaica exists with this amount of sand?"