Fishing in Nghe An province - more than just a passion.

(Baonghean.vn) - Nowadays, fishing is no longer just a means of livelihood for farmers, or a refined hobby for middle-aged and elderly people with free time, but has become a pastime for many officials and people from rural to urban areas in Nghe An province. Many have acquired modern equipment and learned quick "techniques" to hunt for fish.

According to Cao Dinh Trung, the head of the Thanh Vinh Fishing Club, fishing has gone beyond mere hobby. Since 2010, many people with a shared passion have established clubs with a large number of members. Currently, not including clubs in the districts, mainly concentrated in Thai Hoa town, Nghia Dan, Yen Thanh..., Vinh city alone has 3 clubs: the Thanh Vinh Fishing Club, the Xu Nghe Fishing Club, and the Nghe An Fishing Forum, with a total of over 1,000 members.

Large reservoirs and dams are becoming ideal fishing spots for enthusiasts. (Photo: Le Thang)

The head of the Nghe An Fishing Club, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, also said: “The club was established in 2013 to connect people who share a passion for recreational fishing. To date, we have organized two open club fishing tournaments, each attracting 60-100 anglers nationwide. Our club has also participated in several sports fishing competitions in various provinces and cities across the country, and we have created a separate website for members to connect and exchange experiences…”

Besides day-long fishing trips, many young people now enjoy exploring "fishing adventures" lasting from 2 to 3 days. For anglers, there's no greater joy than the moment a fish bites. But even on days when they don't catch anything, it's still incredibly meaningful, because beyond the hope of bringing home a fish, the next benefit is the tranquility and the ability to shed all the worries of life.

According to our research, the hobby of fishing with spinning rods, six-hook rigs, and lures has existed in Nghe An for a long time, but it has developed most strongly in the last 5 years.

Every weekend, on the lakes and reservoirs of Nghe An province, you can see anglers quietly casting their lines, waiting for fish.

They might be groups of teachers or staff members gathering to relax; or businesspeople choosing the fishing lake as a place to discuss business. But most commonly, it's office workers coming to unwind on weekends. Sometimes you even see young couples fishing together, enjoying the pleasure of fishing and the romantic atmosphere by the lake…

An angler hunting for fish. Photo: Nguyen Sach

Alongside this hobby, dealerships and shops selling fishing rods, fishing gear, and bait of all kinds have sprung up in Vinh city and its surrounding districts and towns.

The "equipment" of those considered "addicted to fishing" that we had the opportunity to observe today includes many modern accessories, with varying prices. A decent fishing set costs around 1 million VND, while high-end, top-of-the-line sets can cost up to 60 million VND. Not to mention, besides tools like fishing rods, reels, floats, and hooks, these "enthusiasts" also equip themselves with other tools such as remote-controlled boats for baiting, costing from 2.8 to 3.2 million VND, or fish finders (fish detection devices) costing from 3 to 10 million VND…

Professional anglers also use binoculars to observe fishing floats far offshore. Photo: Thach Giang

Autumn is considered the most popular time of year for fishing, as it's when fish feed most actively to conserve energy before their winter hibernation. Species like tilapia, carp, and grass carp are particularly abundant during this period. Popular fishing spots in Vinh City include Cua Nam Lake, Goong Lake, and Tecco Lake. Further afield, other notable locations include Hung Chinh (Hung Nguyen), Hong Long (Nam Dan), and Nghi Thuan (Nghi Loc).

For professional anglers, rubber boats are a means of casting bait far offshore. (Photo: Thach Giang)

The black carp weighing 35.7 kg, caught by Mr. Tran Quoc An (Vinh City), is the largest recorded to date.

Because fishing is a popular hobby, hundreds of commercial fishing spots have sprung up in various districts and towns to cater to the needs of fishing enthusiasts. Typical examples include Mr. Chung's fish pond (Nghi Loc), Mr. Tuan's fish pond (Nam Dan), and Mr. Tan's (Yen Thanh)... These spots charge between 20,000 and 50,000 VND per hour, yet still attract many people. According to experienced anglers, at these locations, considered "fishing havens," those with good luck can catch over 10 kg of fish per day.

To learn about the "techniques" of fishing, the impressive fishing gear, how to make bait, and the unique stories surrounding this hobby, we will continue to cover these topics in subsequent articles.

Dung - Quynh - Cuong