173: Tuna again

The “fine tradition” of fishermen was continued. You can catch fish, but don't catch more or bigger ones than mine.

If you catch a big fish, the most common thoughts in the minds of nearby fishermen are words like: “Oh no!”, “broken line”, “snapped rod”, “fish got away”.

Fewer than 1% of people genuinely hope you land a big fish.

This also leads to fishermen showing off and bragging when they catch a big fish.

Of course, if you actually land it, most fishermen will come to help, either lending you a landing net, helping you hold the rod, or even helping you net the fish.

Zhang Jun has many local friends and has been in the fishing circle for a long time. Apart from some out-of-town fishermen, he knows almost all the locals, and many of them joined their conversation.

Apart from some professional fishermen who were still diligently fishing, even catching some Balang Fish, Mahi-Mahi, and Skipjack Tuna, it was still extra income.

Time slowly passed for over half an hour, and the few of them gradually returned to their fishing spots.

Yang Qi looked at Zhang Jun's triumphant expression and found it amusing. Brother Jun could be quite mischievous sometimes.

Especially when he passed Lu Hua just now, he even encouraged him to practice more.

Returning to his fishing spot, Yang Qi looked at the sea near the ship's side. There were even more schools of fish: herring, mackerel, grouper, Balang Fish, flying fish, horse mackerel, red snapper, yellow snapper, filefish, Barracuda, Spanish Mackerel, and so on—everything imaginable.

Big fish chased small fish schools, making it quite lively.

Yang Qi thought about his last time going out to sea on a boat; back then, he would catch any fish that could be sold. Now that he's an old fisherman, he's picky. Is something wrong with that?

Is it too strong to say he's forgotten his original intention? Certainly. Mainly, his horizons have broadened, and he looks down on them now.

Just as he was hesitating whether to catch some miscellaneous fish, a school of Tuna appeared in his ability vision. The first few were clearly Yellowfin Tuna, estimated to be around two hundred catties.

In the brief moment Yang Qi was stunned, he saw two even bigger and fatter Tuna following behind these four or five Yellowfin Tuna.

Unlike the dark yellow bodies and fins of the Yellowfin Tuna, the backs of these two fish were deep blue, their bellies silver-white, pectoral fins shorter, and caudal fins crescent-shaped.

Their fusiform bodies and plump figures gave a strong, robust, and powerful impression.

“Pacific Bluefin Tuna!”

Bluefin Tuna are known as the Rolls-Royce of fish.

Depending on the size and quality of the Bluefin Tuna, market prices range from over 100 yuan per kilogram to several thousand or even tens of thousands of yuan.

Bluefin Tuna is a high-protein, low-fat deep-sea fish.

Its fish meat has a fat content far exceeding other Tuna, reaching 15% to 50%.

Its fish oil has benefits such as supporting cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, promoting brain development, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and beauty and skin enhancement. Additionally, it helps regulate blood lipids, improves joint function, and protects vision and skin health.

Recent Bluefin Tuna auction prices have varied significantly. In August 2025, in Maoming, China, a 95 kg A+ grade Bluefin Tuna was sold for 268,000 yuan, equivalent to a unit price of 2,800 yuan/kg.

In January of the same year, a 376 kg Bluefin Tuna was auctioned in Tokyo, Japan, for 207 million Japanese yen (approximately 9.63 million RMB), setting the second-highest record in Bluefin Tuna auction history.

The highest record also shows a Bluefin Tuna weighing 278 kg auctioned in Japan for 193 million Japanese yen (approximately 9.2 million RMB), equivalent to about 33,000 RMB per kilogram.

The high price of Bluefin Tuna, in addition to its tender and delicious meat and rich nutrition, also has an element of deliberate, artificial hype by people in certain regions.

Some blindly follow trends, occasionally eating Bluefin Tuna, constantly taking photos to show off, as if being able to eat Bluefin Tuna is a symbol of wealth.

Overfishing of wild Bluefin Tuna has led to a severe decline in production, exacerbating the contradiction between market supply and demand.

Japan dominates Bluefin Tuna fishing in the central-western Pacific. Data shows that in 2022 alone, Japan's Bluefin Tuna catch accounted for 60% of the global total, reaching ten thousand tons.

Therefore, the ultimate beneficiaries of the artificial manipulation of Bluefin Tuna prices are self-evident.

Yang Qi walked towards the live fish tank, scooped out the largest Skipjack Tuna, and at the same time, gave a look to Zhang Jun, who was watching him.

Zhang Jun immediately understood and came over to scoop Skipjack Tuna as well.

The two rascals had already changed into the newly bought line sets and hooks specifically for giant fish. They both baited with live Skipjack Tuna.

While others weren't paying attention, they cast their lines one after another towards the fish school. Zhang Jun waited for Yang Qi to cast his rod before casting his own in that direction.

Yang Qi thought for a moment, placed the fishing rod in his hand on the rod holder, and took out the coil of thick line from the tackle bag behind him. A lead sinker was attached to the large hook, and two Skipjack Tuna were hooked onto it. He then forcefully cast it far away.

He just held the rope and swung it, like spinning a fire wheel, rotating it as he cast it out.

That's right, it wasn't fishing line, it was rope. At four square millimeters in size, as thick as a charger cable, could it still be called fishing line?

Zhang Jun saw it and his eyes widened considerably. He had paid for it back then, but he thought Yang Qi bought it to tie something and didn't ask further.

Yang Qi had also placed two buoys about three or four hundred meters away. No wonder he had asked the captain for two buoys that afternoon.

This guy plays it pretty fancy!

So, he was using it for fishing!

Actually, Yang Qi didn't know if it would work, but it didn't cost much anyway, so he just considered it an experiment.

Soon, Yang Qi's boat rod made a “whoosh” sound and was pulled into a distinct bend. The fast momentum of the Tuna and the recoil of the fishing line caused the hook to firmly embed itself in the corner of its mouth, even skipping the action of lifting the rod to set the hook.

At the same time, Zhang Jun's side also heard the sound of the fishing line cutting through the water after a fish was hooked, along with his triumphant laughter:

“Hahaha! I caught a big one!”

Several nearby fishermen heard the sound and immediately focused their attention. Seeing their situation, they instantly felt that their small fish weren't as appealing.

“Oh my, Yang Qi, Brother Jun, you two are amazing! You caught big ones so quickly. Is it Tuna?”

Liu Yao's voice came from nearby.

“Hehehe, luck, it's all luck!”

Yang Qi smiled “modestly” and happened to see Wang Jinxi walk up to him.

“Jinxi, help me get two buoys with hooks.”

Yang Qi had been paying attention to the movements in the sea. The two fish he and Zhang Jun had hooked were almost certainly Yellowfin Tuna, definitely over two hundred catties.

The two Bluefin Tuna he was most interested in were still following behind several fish, about to reach the bait.