Missing Mom, Returning Home to Bang Bo 12/15: Setting Fish Traps for Snakehead Fish in the Canal – Meet Tid Tee of Bang Bo, Fishing for 50 Years

Missing Mom, Returning Home to Bang Bo 12/15: Setting Fish Traps for Snakehead Fish in the Canal – Meet Tid Tee of Bang Bo, Fishing for 50 Years

I am mr.hotsia, a true Bang Bo local. Today, I will take you to experience the lifestyle along Samrong Canal in my hometown, Bang Bo District, Samut Prakan Province. This place is not only famous for its renowned Bang Bo gourami fish but also holds traditional stories of setting fish traps for snakehead fish. I had the chance to join Tid Tee, a local fisherman who has been fishing snakehead fish in this canal for over 50 years. This is a story I am proud of and want to share.

Bang Bo in my memory is not a busy big city but a lowland full of canals and rice fields, which have been the source of food and life for villagers since the time of our grandparents. I still remember Ban Rakas Canal, a tributary of Samrong Canal, known for breeding Bang Bo gourami fish famous nationwide and abroad. The brackish water here is suitable for the growth of red worms, a natural food source for fish, giving Bang Bo gourami its unique sweet, rich, and plump flavor.Read more about Bang Bo gourami fish

In the past, locals here also practiced rice farming and dug fish ponds called “Teen Na,” ponds dug in the lowest part of the rice fields. This was a sustainable method combining rice farming and fish raising. The snakehead fish here is not just fish but part of a lifestyle closely connected to Samrong Canal. I visited Tid Tee’s house by the canal. He is a person who has inherited the traditional bamboo fish trap wisdom for over 50 years. Tid Tee said that setting fish traps requires great skill and patience. The trap must be set in the right spot so that when fish enter, they get caught. The morning scene of Tid Tee rowing his boat to check the fish traps is an unforgettable image for me.

I have written about this in an articleFish Trap Competition with Mr. Hotsia Anne on Tour in Bang Bowhich describes using the 'Ai Ngo' fish trap in shrimp rice fields of Bang Bo, another popular fish trapping method. Both Tid Kae and Tid Tee have their own unique techniques. I tried fishing in competition with friends in the brackish water of Samrong Canal. It was fun and a memorable experience I want everyone to try.

The old market of Bang Bo locals is another charm I really like. The market by the canal still retains the atmosphere of an old wooden market that was once a thriving trading center for villagers who traveled by boat.150-Year-Old Old Market, Bang PhliNearby, the atmosphere is still well preserved. I recommend taking a stroll to buy fresh local products from the canal and experience the lifestyle I grew up with.

Speaking of local food I am proud to present, “Spicy Holy Basil Stir-Fry” is my own restaurant’s dish, using an ancient recipe from my hometown, cooked to a balanced and spicy flavor that many people love. I also make and sell the spicy holy basil seasoning sauce. If interested, follow this link.Spicy Holy Basil SauceOr see details on my YouTube channelSpicy Holy Basil Sauce Clipwhich I made to preserve the food culture of my hometown.

Back to Bang Bo and Tid Tee, setting fish traps for snakehead fish in Samrong Canal is a life experience I want the younger generation to see and absorb. It is not just about catching fish but preserving community wisdom and the relationship between people and nature that has lasted a long time. It is the charm of Bang Bo that I will keep in my heart forever.

If anyone has the chance to visit Samut Prakan, don’t forget to stop by Bang Bo, experience the old market by Samrong Canal, and visit Tid Tee setting snakehead fish traps. I guarantee you will have a unique travel experience and get to know my hometown from a deeper perspective than what you see in news or general reviews.