"Whoosh whoosh… buzz buzz…"
Listening to the sound of the fishing line cutting through the water and the frantic movement of the line's tip beneath the surface, Zhao Lei and Zhang Tianyu couldn't sit still any longer. They had just returned after casting only a few times, and now they came back behind Xiang Ye. Meanwhile, the fishing pro Zhou was also a bit puzzled.
Unnoticed, Xiang Ye had been struggling with the fish underwater for almost ten minutes. Zhou could tell Xiang Ye's technique was somewhat raw—not like an expert—but normally, Xiang Ye would have landed a fish much faster.
When did it take so long?
After catching a small Topmouth Culter, Zhou couldn't hold back his curiosity anymore. Accompanied by his cameraman, he came behind Xiang Ye and glanced at the water surface, then was stunned.
"Giant Grass Carp!"
"Hmm? How do you know it's a giant Grass Carp? Couldn't it be a Silver Carp, Bighead Carp, or a Blue Catfish?" Zhang Tianyu asked.
"No way it's Silver Carp or Bighead Carp, and it's not Blue Catfish either. Each species fights differently when hooked. Silver Carp and Bighead Carp behave like jets underwater, darting wildly, surfacing now and then, making them prone to breaking the line. Blue Catfish are big and strong; they exert continuous force underwater, making it a tough tug of war with hardly any rest. Common Carp dive deep and run straight down into the depths. But this line is lively, staying within a certain area, moving quickly—classic Grass Carp behavior." Zhou smiled and explained.
It was obvious he knew his fishing well. Xiang Ye felt it too. The big Blue Catfish he caught yesterday was strong and consistently exerted force underwater, but today's fish just darted wildly beneath the surface, never surfacing. As long as Xiang Ye applied force, he could keep it within a limited range. It wasn't too hard to control.
Thanks to the clear water here; otherwise, such a fish would have long tangled in tree roots.
Now it was a battle of endurance: who would tire first?
For a normal person, the fish might have a chance. But against Xiang Ye, it was wishful thinking. His strength, agility, and stamina were unmatched.
After roughly half an hour of skillful maneuvering, the fish gradually lost its strength. Xiang Ye took advantage of the moment to pull it up—and a giant grass-green Grass Carp was lifted from the water!
Grass Carp look quite similar to Blue Catfish, and people often confuse the two. But they are easy to distinguish: Blue Catfish have dark green-black scales on their backs, while Grass Carp are more of a deep green. Also, Blue Catfish are carnivorous and often called "Snail Blue Catfish" because they love eating snails. Grass Carp, however, are strict herbivores. Even when preparing groundbait, anglers add grassy-smelling ingredients for Grass Carp, and the fishing techniques differ.
However, corn bait can attract both Blue Catfish and Grass Carp.
Xiang Ye eyed the fish in the water, about 1.2 meters long, and felt a bit nervous. Although the length was comparable to the Blue Catfish caught yesterday, this fish was much thicker. Conservatively, it weighed at least fifty Jin (about 25 kilograms).
He braced the fishing rod firmly. Luckily, his rod was high quality, the line was thick, and with the protective line buff, he didn't worry about the line snapping.
After nearly twenty minutes of steady pressure, the fish finally weakened and was pulled ashore. Huang Kai quickly scooped it up with the net, while Zhao Lei and Zhang Tianyu helped pull the giant fish onto land. Naturally, Zhang Tianyu immediately took photos and videos, showing off. The whole group in the chat got hyped instantly.
Zhou's live streaming room was buzzing with excitement too. Everyone watching was amazed and thrilled. Of course, if Zhou had caught this fish, the gift and reward flood would have been unstoppable. But since it was Xiang Ye's catch, some viewers still sent gifts, enjoying the spectacle.
Xiang Ye then took the hook out of the fish's mouth and lifted it. The weight was no joke!
"Conservatively, it's about fifty Jin," Xiang Ye said. This was the heaviest fish he'd ever caught in his life so far. Maybe heavier ones would come later, but for now, this was the heaviest.
"Fifty Jin? Forget it, I was gonna hold it for a photo, but I'm afraid I can't carry it and might drop it," Zhang Tianyu sighed.
"No, Xiang Ye, you're in great shape. Carrying fifty Jin feels like five Jin for you!" Zhao Lei, after snapping pictures, said impressed.
Hearing that, Xiang Ye rolled up his sleeves to show off his muscles. It was just friends joking around, but once the livestream picked it up, many viewers—especially girls—shed envious tears. Handsome, skilled at fishing, and physically strong? Jealous!
Xiang Ye wasn't watching Zhou's livestream chat. After placing the fish in the keepnet, the system notification pinged in his mind.
This fish weighed 51 Jin 7 liang (about 25.85 kg), instantly earning Xiang Ye 51,700 RMB (roughly 7,300 USD).
Adding to previous catches, Xiang Ye had earned nearly 100,000 RMB (about 14,000 USD) today—and it was only just past midday. There was still the afternoon left. Could he make 200,000 RMB in a day?
"Keep going. Grass Carp don't school together but will return to the same spot. If you keep fishing this spot, you might catch more big Grass Carp," Zhou encouraged.
Taking the advice of a pro, Xiang Ye didn't stubbornly change tactics. The old saying goes, "Listen to advice, eat well." Although the fishing line was a bit worn, the protective buff kept it safe.
Xiang Ye threw the bait back into the same spot. Maybe because of the disturbance, smaller fish like Topmouth Culter had scattered.
Fishing requires patience. About ten minutes later, the float was suddenly pushed up, then quickly went black. Xiang Ye lifted the rod, knowing he'd hooked another fish!
This one was probably another Grass Carp, smaller than before but still around twenty Jin (about 10 kg). Today was truly fantastic!
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]