Mountainous people in Nghe An enter the "hunting" season for giant catfish
(Baonghean.vn) - Currently, when the rainy season begins, it is also the time for people in the mountainous areas of Nghe An to hunt for the giant catfish. This species is also called by the people with the beautiful name "long-legged dancer".
The mooring season of the male crayfish only occurs once a year, at the beginning of the rainy season (around the end of April, beginning of May of the lunar calendar). This is also the time when the male crayfish reproduces.
At this time, many families in the mountainous district of Con Cuong prepare tools to go out at night to catch catfish. Hunting tools are very simple, including a container and a flashlight, so children can also join in the hunting.
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| Fresh chau chang is sold for 50,000 - 80,000 VND/kg. Photo: Bao Han |
The best time to catch the male crayfish is when it is completely dark (from around 7 pm), avoid moonlit nights because it is very difficult to catch them then. The hunter will use a flashlight to roam around the fields, gardens, forests, ponds... to catch the male crayfish which often hide in bushes or ponds.
Talking about the technique of catching the male crayfish, Mr. Phung Viet Dung in Don Phuc commune said: To catch this species, you have to move very gently, without making any noise because it is very sensitive and fast. First, shine a light to find the male crayfish from afar, after discovering it, walk gently towards it, block its head and quickly catch it.
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| After being cleaned, the bamboo shoots are strung into tongs and dried over a charcoal stove. Photo: Thang Binh |
"The more it rains, the more the crayfish reproduces. Sometimes, in just a few hours a night, you can catch dozens of kilos... After catching the crayfish, wash them with salt, skewer them into tongs, and then spread them on a charcoal stove. After a week, they can be sold," said Phung Viet Dung.
Currently, many people in Don Phuc commune go hunting for chau chang to sell for extra income; the price of dried chau chang is 50,000 VND/pick (from 30 - 35 pieces), fresh chau chang is 50,000 - 80,000 VND/kg.
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| Cau luc can be processed into many attractive dishes. Photo: Bao Han |
The meat of the giant catfish is firmer and sweeter than that of the frog because it lives in the wild, so it has become a specialty not only of the people in the mountains but also of the diners in the lowlands who are "addicted" to this dish.
Chau chang can be processed into many dishes such as: stir-fried, braised with pepper, fried sweet and sour, pureed and rolled in betel leaves, or roasted with lemongrass, all of which are delicious.