VILNIUS - Those who can't live a day without baiting a hook should get pack up and head west this weekend. Juodkrante, a small fishing village that runs between the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea, will be hosting the Amber Hook- a traditional fishing event starting July 15.
Legend has it that there's one day in the year when Neptune rises at the head of the lagoon from his realm in the deep. And for several years now, the god of the waters, accompanied by charming mermaids and enthralling water nymphs, has graced the fishermen on the shores of Juodkrante with his presence for the three-day celebration.
The fishing festivities kick off with a ceremony where locals offer their guests a taste of specially prepared garlic bread. It is said that this all-important symbolic act is derived from the early days in Juodkrante, when fishermen used to share bread with their kinsmen as a prayer to bring more food from surrounding waters.
The main event of the feast, the fishing competition, runs July 16 and 17. Professionals and amateurs alike compete in hopes of catching the Big One that will earn them the title of "Fisherman of the Year." No special skills are required and some say many of the contestants benefit from a good dose of beginner's luck. If you get caught up in the action but have failed to tote along your lucky fishing-rod, fear not, you can easily rent the necessary equipment and bait on the spot and try your luck.
But this isn't only an event for old salts - crowds also gravitate toward the entertainment and food that Juodkrante has to offer. Not only is this village a place fishermen, but it's where people really know how to cook their catch, try the Amber Hook specialty 'seel shashalik 's which is barbecued right in front of you. And if eel doesn't appeal to you, there are all kinds of cooked, smoked and baked fish - straight from the sea.
Another 'must' is the famous fish catching competition. Barehanded hopefuls try their best to capture a fish from a barrel - but like all cold fish, this one is just a bit too slippery to hold onto.
In addition to the fishing festivities, in recent years the Amber Hook has transformed itself from a lazy fishy fest into a music festival of sorts. In fact, this summer dozens of Lithuanian pop favorites such as Mango, Amberlife, Alanas Chosnau, Linas ir Simona, and B'avarija have put their summer tour schedules on hold to stage a free outdoor concert. Serious about this event and what it has to offer, these stars are set on turning this year's fishing fest into the biggest music extravaganza on the coast. With the star-studded line-up, they just might succeed.
From fish to food to music, there are many things to enjoy at Amber Hook. The brilliant dunes and the waters of the Curonian Spit are sure to catch your imagination. And if the eel shashalik doesn't get you back next year, the charm of the town and its inhabitants just might.
