Fishing not only requires extra patience but also requires technique. Every experienced angler usually has his own tricks in order to get a variety of sea catches.
Important equipment that must be carried while fishing is certainly fishing rods, nets, traps, and bait. But none of this applies when you go fishing in Cuba.
Quoting Oddity Central, anglers in Cuba also carry condoms when fishing. However, this condom is not used for sexual activity, but to fish its target.
In Cuba, condoms are an inexpensive way to catch a fish.
In a country with a very paranoid communist government about illegal immigration to the United States, the use of boats at sea must be strictly controlled. The Cuban government has strict problems with ownership and use of boats. While there are those sold under 500 kayaks, it could still be questioned by the Cuban government.
The difficulty of anglers and ships owning and using ships makes them finally find an alternative way, using condoms. This condom bait is considered an inexpensive and effective way to catch a red snapper, barracuda, and tarpon without leaving the beach.
Fishermen along the Havana coast use condom balloons to swim. These condom balloons are tied with threads containing fish bait. This condom balloon will carry the bait into the middle of the sea. The condom balloon will hold the bait so that it has a stable level of water.
The function itself is the same as a fishing pole in general.
When the bait hanging on the condom balloon enters the water, there will be waves of water created. The condom balloon moves further into the middle of the deep sea as the wind blows, at least as far as 274 meters.
When the fish begin to take the bait, the condom balloon fishing line that is connected to the fishermen on land shakes. That’s when they have to pull the fishing line.
This is a simple but effective fishing method to get food for hundreds of Cubans.
“It’s really amazing, [this condom] is very strong,” said Michel Perez, a young fisherman in Havana Malecon.
Condom balloon fishing is very popular in Cuba, so condom sales at state-owned pharmacies have increased during the fishing period. How not, with just a few pennies, fishermen can get dozens of ‘fishing rods’ for fishing.
If sold, this fish can be valued at US $ 10-20 on the Havana black market. For countries with an average salary of around US $ 25 per month, this price is very expensive.
Nobody really knows who invented the condom balloon fishing style. But based on conversations between Havana residents, they saw Selayan Africans fishing using kites. This inspired the use of condoms for fishing.
“This way of fishing expresses Cuban ingenuity in overcoming every problem without spending a lot of money,” said Alex Romero, president of the Old Havana Federation of Fisherman.