As winter approaches and the weather turns colder, fishermen using ground cage traps are celebrating a new harvest. The low temperatures entice small fish into the cages, and this fishing method, compared to trawling, keeps the catch fresher. The dropping seawater temperature has also significantly enhanced the richness of various seafood, marking the arrival of the "peak season" for day-boat seafood.
"This is a yellow croaker, caught with our own ground cage traps, a local one," a fisherman at Nanjiang Wharf introduced a large fish weighing about 3 jin (1.5 kg) to a customer. On the afternoon of the 24th, at the fish market of Nanjiang Wharf, most stalls were selling live fish, mainly black rockfish, gurnard, skate, and conger eel. These fish were generally small, though some larger conger eels were available, priced at 50 yuan per jin (0.5 kg). According to reports, live fish only started appearing in the last couple of days. The cold weather and cool seawater have driven small fish into the ground cage traps, allowing fishermen to haul them up alive and intact.
With the decrease in seawater temperature, the supply of small live fish has increased, and the seafood is noticeably plumper and more flavorful than at the start of the autumn fishing season. "It's delicious, for sure, but it's not cheap," remarked one customer. Fishermen explain that this current period—entering winter but not yet severely cold—is the "peak season" for day-boat seafood.
Among the various seafood, Akiami paste shrimp are particularly sought after. "Compared to the ones at the beginning of the fishing season, today's Akiami paste shrimp are larger, have harder shells, and taste much better. Plus, the catch has increased," a stall owner told the reporter. Large, high-quality Akiami paste shrimp can sell for 25 yuan per jin, while slightly smaller ones go for 18 yuan per jin.
Unlike the direct sales from boats at the small wharves, the seafood stalls at a farmers' market on Tongan Road are exceptionally well-stocked in early winter. "Hand-wide hairtail fish, shimmering pomfrets, and lively Akiami paste shrimp… all fresh off the boat. Now is a great time to eat seafood; the quality is good, and the prices are reasonable," said a stall owner. At the wholesale seafood market, the selection is even better. According to a seafood wholesaler, popular high-quality items such as deep-sea whelks over half a jin, large wild-caught live Akiami paste shrimp, live local skates, guli fish over half a jin, live black rockfish and yellow croakers, premium short-legged octopus, sea bass, olive flounder, and red sea bream all require advance reservations.
(Source: Qingdao Evening News, Reporter: Chen Xiaochuan)
Editor: Yuan Ruichen
