Chapter 42 The Secrets of Deep-Sea Fishing

As the seconds and minutes ticked by, Lin Yu seemed to have unlocked a superpower, pulling fish out of the water one after another.

They thrashed and struggled on the deck, splashing sparkling droplets of water into the air, their tails beating against the wooden planks with a rapid smacking sound. These fish were truly of a considerable size, each one feeling heavy and full of a rewarding harvest.

There were slender Spanish mackerels with silvery-bright scales; golden-hued yellow croakers with round, plump bellies; thick-bodied codfish radiating a silvery-white sheen; and massive, incredibly strong amberjacks...

In a mere two hours, Lin Yu had managed to catch over twenty fish, which were now swimming energetically inside the live well. This left Wang Dachun, who was busy hauling in his nets nearby, completely dumbfounded. His eyes widened, his mouth hung open, and his face was etched with sheer disbelief. His gaze darted back and forth between Lin Yu and the live well, as if he simply refused to believe that what was happening before his eyes was real.

Wang Dachun subconsciously glanced back at his own fishing net deployed in the sea. Initially, he had been filled with eager anticipation for a good haul, but compared to Lin Yu's astonishing bounty, he suddenly felt that his net lost all its appeal.

One had to know that during ordinary days out at sea, even after a full day of hard work relying on fishing nets, the harvest would only look like this. Sometimes, when luck was bad, the catch would be pitifully small; and when the weather turned foul or the fish refused to cooperate, they could labor all day only for the net to be pulled up completely empty, yielding nothing at all.

Yet Lin Yu had accomplished a whole day's worth of his catch in just two hours, using nothing more than a single fishing rod. How could such a result fail to astonish him?

Unable to hold back any longer, Wang Dachun walked over to Lin Yu. Looking him up and down and clicking his tongue, he said, "Little Yu, your skills are truly miraculous! I've never seen anyone fish this well before. In such a short time, you've pulled up so many. Even an old fisherman like me has to bow in admiration!"

Hearing this, Lin Yu chuckled and replied, "Want to learn? I can teach you."

"Well, that would be wonderful! Anyway, after casting the net, I'm just sitting around doing nothing. If I can hook a few fish, that would just be a bonus," Wang Dachun said excitedly.

Seeing Wang Dachun's eager-to-try expression, Lin Yu smiled and handed the fishing rod in his hand over. He patted the spot beside him, motioned for Wang Dachun to sit down, and began patiently explaining the ins and outs of sea fishing.

"Brother Dachun, there is quite a bit of know-how to sea fishing," Lin Yu said, pointing to the fishing rod. "First of all, you have to choose the right rod. When we fish out here in the open sea, we need a rod that is both tough and resilient so it can withstand the pull of a big fish without snapping all at once."

Saying this, he gripped the shaft of the rod and bent it slightly to demonstrate its flexibility. "Look, this flexibility is crucial. When a fish takes the hook and struggles, you rely on the rod's resilience to cushion the pull and play with it. Clearly, my dad understood this aspect very well; he made the rod exceptionally well, though the fishing line isn't quite up to par."

Tugging on the fishing line, Lin Yu continued, "You see, the line my dad chose is too thick. It's easily spotted by the fish. You need something both thin and strong, but if it's too thin, it won't hold up against a struggle. Obviously, it's because my dad couldn't find a better substitute. We can't really blame him; in our era, good fishing lines are far too scarce."

As he spoke, Lin Yu stroked the dangling line. "Moreover, the length of the line must be adjusted according to our fishing depth and distance. If we're in deep water or want to target fish further away, the line needs to be let out longer."

Wang Dachun listened as everything fell logically into place, nodding repeatedly without the slightest doubt as to why Lin Yu knew so much. In his mind, his master was the greatest fisherman in the entire village, and like father, like son—it was only natural for Lin Yu to know these things.

Lin Yu then picked up the bait, handed it right in front of Wang Dachun, and continued, "Bait is even more particular. Fish in the sea have picky palates; different fish prefer different baits. For instance, the Spanish mackerel we want to catch today loves pungent, heavy-scented bait like live shrimp. If you're fishing for cod, a mixture of shrimp meat and small fish chunks works quite well."

He attached the bait to the hook as he spoke, his movements practiced and fluid. "You also have to be careful when baiting the hook. It needs to be secured tightly while still looking natural so the fish are easily tempted to bite."

"Once all these preparations are done, it's time to find a fishing spot." Lin Yu stood up and gazed at the surrounding sea. "Look at the spot where I'm fishing. The current is relatively gentle, and places with complex underwater topography—like near reefs or shipwrecks—tend to harbor fish, making them good spots. Also, paying attention to tidal changes is very important. When the tide comes in, fish follow the water toward the shore to forage. Dropping your hook in a suitable nearshore spot then gives you a high probability of a strike. When the tide goes out, you have to try your luck in slightly deeper areas."

"So what should I do if a fish takes the hook?" Wang Dachun couldn't help asking, his face full of curiosity.

"Haha, when a fish bites, you can't be in a rush to pull the rod. You have to steady yourself first, feeling the size of the fish and the strength of its struggle. If it's a small fish, a slight tug will bring it right up. If it's a big fish—like the ones I caught today—you have to wear it out slowly, letting out line in the direction of its struggle. Once it exhausts itself, you slowly reel it in," Lin Yu explained, vividly mimicking the motions of lifting the rod and letting out the line. "You have to be patient during this process; you can't be impatient, or the fish will easily throw the hook and escape."

Listening to the explanation, Wang Dachun sighed with emotion, "Ah, Little Yu, who knew there was so much science to sea fishing? Previously, I only ever thought about fishing with nets and never really pondered this angling business. Hearing you talk about it today, I've truly broadened my horizons."

Lin Yu smiled, handed the fishing rod into Wang Dachun's hands, and encouraged him, "Brother Dachun, give it a try. With me watching right beside you, I guarantee you'll catch a few."

Taking the rod, Wang Dachun wore a look of excitement mingled with a touch of tension, as if he were about to embark on a novel and thrilling adventure. He couldn't wait to begin casting.

Imitating Lin Yu, he first carefully inspected the fishing rod, running his fingers along the shaft and tugging the line to ensure everything was in order before proceeding to bait the hook.

The pungent bait was squeezed and kneaded in his hands. After a great deal of effort, he managed to attach it to the hook. Although it wasn't as neat and natural as Lin Yu's, it was hooked nonetheless.

随后, Wang Dachun walked to the spot at the bow of the boat that Lin Yu had recommended. Spreading his feet and settling into a solid horse stance, he took a deep breath. Mimicking Lin Yu's casting motion, he swung the rod backward with force. Perhaps he used a bit too much strength, as the rod shook violently in the air and the line whipped about wildly. The bait flew out crookedly with a sharp swish, making a much larger splash than expected when it hit the water, instantly giving off a somewhat inauspicious start.

However, Wang Dachun didn't get discouraged. He gripped the rod tightly, keeping his eyes glued without blinking to the patch of water where the line entered, his face carved with intense focus and tension, as if a fish might bite at any second.

The sea breeze brushed gently past, snapping his clothes loudly, but he paid it no heed, entirely hoping for a fish to take the bait.

Time ticked away second by second. The sun climbed higher overhead, casting its scorching rays mercilessly upon him. Fine beads of sweat quickly sprouted on Wang Dachun's forehead, converging and streaming down his cheeks—some dripping into the sea, others soaking his garments—yet the fishing rod in his hands remained completely motionless.

"Brother Dachun, there hasn't been any movement for so long; the bait on the hook is probably all eaten up. If you don't believe me, pull it up and see," Lin Yu said with a smile.

"Eaten up?" Wang Dachun looked skeptical, but he proceeded to haul the line back up. True to Lin Yu's words, the hook was bare. With an expression of sheer disbelief, he asked Lin Yu, "How did this happen?"

"The bait you put on was too big. The bait should be moderate in size; if it's too big, the fish will nibble it away bit by bit, and it's also easy for it to fall off. Besides, your line was set too shallow. Even if something bit, it would only be a tiny fish."

Seeing Wang Dachun's disappointed expression, Lin Yu took the rod and consoled him with a smile, "Brother Dachun, don't rush. Fishing is a skill; you can't just catch them casually. But practice makes perfect. Once you slowly get the feel for it, you'll be fine."

Hearing this, Wang Dachun forced a faint smile and replied, "Yeah, I know. It's just that after so long with no movement at all, I feel a bit deflated."

With that, he perked himself up again and refocused his gaze on the expanse of the sea. Just then, a dark shadow suddenly drifted into his field of vision. Wang Dachun blinked reflexively and looked closely—it was a sea turtle!

The sea turtle was swimming leisurely in circles around their boat. Its oval-shaped shell gleamed with an archaic luster under the sunlight, marked by irregular patterns that looked like mysterious imprints left by the passage of time.

Its flippers paddled through the water with a steady rhythm. Although its movements were slow, they exuded a unique sense of carefree tranquility, creating tiny ripples across the surface of the sea with every stroke.

In the fishing village, sea turtles were considered special presences and were never casually captured.

Wang Dachun originally thought the turtle would swim away on its own, but after quite a while, it was still circling the boat.

"Little Yu, what do you suppose is going on with this sea turtle? Is something the matter with it?" Wang Dachun asked with pure curiosity. After going out to sea for so many years, this was his first time encountering such a situation.