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墨書 Inktalez
Of course, I want to catch big fish! The meat of big fish is rich and delicious, and when it can only be eaten raw, one naturally chooses fish with tender flesh.
“To catch big fish, especially in the sea, you first need to understand their distribution. For example, Saury belongs to the pelagic migratory species,” Xiao Xiao said, then fell silent. “Oh! Is there really that much knowledge here?” I was genuinely curious and continued to ask.
“Scientifically, sea fish are divided into three layers: the surface layer, the mid-water layer, and those living in the 0-1000 meter depth range, like Pufferfish. The bottom layer consists of fish that live on the seabed, such as Flounder. Generally, larger fish inhabit the mid-water layer. These fish often come to the surface only at night. Therefore, to catch big fish, you can only wait for nightfall!”
Through Xiao Xiao's brief introduction, I learned that not all sea fish are suitable for fishing; the main targets include Yellow Croaker, Bass, Cod, Catfish, Ribbonfish, Grouper, Eel, Black Sea Bream, and others. Saltwater fish tend to be more aggressive than freshwater fish; they bite at bait immediately, making saltwater fishing easier. Additionally, the vastness of the ocean provides a variety of targets including warm-water species, temperate species, and cold-water species; with deeper waters hosting diverse fish across upper, middle, and lower layers, fishing becomes more thrilling and enjoyable.
The natural environment of the ocean differs greatly from freshwater bodies. First of all, the ocean has warm and cold currents. Many sea fish have migratory habits that change with the seasons; these seasonal currents also bring a wealth of organic matter and plankton. Especially where warm and cold currents meet is an ideal feeding ground for sea fish. Secondly, there are tidal fluctuations in the ocean. Rising tides bring a large amount of organic material and fish to shore, making it more favorable for fishing; after low tide, fishing is generally not advisable. Thirdly, early morning and late evening see relatively calm sea surfaces which are suitable for fishing. During the day at sea, strong winds can arise suddenly and even endanger fishermen’s safety.
Live shrimp are the most commonly used bait for saltwater fishing; they are robust in size and easy to collect and preserve. They are favored food for many types of fish, especially prized species.
Common live shrimp used as bait include Banana Shrimp, Sand Shrimp, White Shrimp, etc., with individuals under 10 centimeters being optimal. Shrimp are found in shallow coastal areas where collection is straightforward. This area still has some drifting live shrimp available as bait.
However, Xiao Xiao also briefly introduced several types of poisonous sea fish!
Pufferfish are highly toxic and inedible; fishermen refer to this type of fish as Pufferfish. There’s a saying about risking one’s life to eat pufferfish; similarly, there are Pufferfish in the sea.
Sea Snakes are 100% venomous; a single bite can be fatal instantly. Other examples include Lionfish and Ghost Fish (also known as Lionfish), which have poisonous spines.
I understood this principle but had nothing else to say. After we cleaned up our catch from earlier, we fell into a deep sleep. When we woke up again, it was already dusk. The sea breeze was cool; at this time of day, the ocean was bustling with activity.
We prepared our fishing rods and chose thicker hooks along with sturdy nylon lines. In the beginning few casts we caught some smaller fish. By the fifth cast after waiting for a long time without any bites, I decided to pull my rod back towards the boat. At about two meters deep in the water, I splashed up some water as my rod began to shake lightly up and down. Suddenly, there was a violent jerk on my rod as a tremendous force pulled from below; the rod bent sharply with its tip plunging into the water. I couldn't help but shout out “There’s a big fish!”
The fish naturally resisted fiercely and started swimming deeper. I raised my rod to a forty-five-degree angle; the line was taut and buzzing with tension. This creature was enormous! All three of us were thrilled by this unexpected excitement.
The fish was incredibly strong in the water; it even pulled our lifeboat forward. I could hardly lift my rod; it seemed I could only outlast it since I had plenty of time on my hands. Indeed, that fish was relentless as it dragged our lifeboat at high speed—about thirty yards—taking us further out to sea. After roughly fifteen minutes or so, I could clearly feel that the fish's strength was waning.
Time passed quickly, and the fish was making its first round of defeat. I let out a slight breath, but suddenly the fish regained its strength and surged again. Finally, it had little energy left and floated to the surface. I shouted, "Quick, help me with the net! Someone take a picture!" In truth, we had no net; I hadn’t realized it in the moment. Xiao Xiao grabbed a wooden stick and knocked the fish unconscious!
What a catch! Three deep-sea fish, each over a meter long and weighing more than fifty kilograms. I didn’t even recognize this fierce creature; no wonder it could pull our lifeboat along at such speed.
"This is salmon! Now we have some delicious food!" Salmon, also known as Salmon, can be eaten raw and tastes incredibly sweet. We had suddenly acquired such a large amount of meat, enough to sustain us for several days. After that, we continued to cast our lines and caught many strange fish, unlike anything we had ever seen or heard of before. Some even resembled those recorded in ancient texts.
For a while, we survived solely on fish and collected rainwater for drinking.
Days turned into nights, time passed slowly, and we lost track of how long we had been drifting at sea...
Then, I began to develop rashes all over my body, and the situation worsened. Not only did my legs and arms break out in itchy red welts, but I also noticed some red bumps on my back. The pain kept me from sleeping.
Unlike previous nights, the sea breeze grew stronger.
"Water! I need water..." My consciousness began to fade; it was terrifying to fall ill in the deep sea. I could only endure; if I made it through, I would be fine; otherwise, I would be waiting for my end. My vision started to blur, and when water was brought to my lips, I gulped it down without realizing it was our last source. On top of that, the bite marks from the shark on my arm were starting to inflame. Xiao Xiao was also exhausted; only the bowl seemed somewhat better.
"Chicken, duck, pork, burgers, rice, steamed buns..." In my daze, I kept muttering these words. Before I knew it, my vision went dark, and I fainted.
I don’t know when it happened, but the blazing sun shone down on me. I woke up; it seemed I had made it through. This meant there wouldn’t be too many obstacles ahead. Honestly, all that filled my mind at that moment was water and juice. Nothing else mattered to me at all.
Besides fish, there was nothing else around.
The summer sun blazed down on us mercilessly. I even began to consider drinking seawater, but that absurd thought was immediately dismissed. The salinity of seawater is three times that of human blood. To dilute that salt content, every cell would dehydrate.
And so time passed again; the winds picked up violently as waves surged high. A thick cloud swept in from the south, followed by thunder and lightning as a torrential downpour began. We hurriedly gathered all available containers to collect rainwater.
Soon, it rained every couple of days, providing us with enough fresh water.
Long hours at sea were spent in despair and helplessness. Although we occasionally spotted schools of dolphins and sharks, these encounters did little to alleviate our feelings of loneliness and isolation. We could only talk about the past to distract ourselves. Depression and hesitation quickly settled in our hearts.
After several nights, we finally saw a ship. However, that ship did not see us and sailed away against the wind and waves. We felt an overwhelming sense of despair; after hope was dashed, one could easily fall into despondency.
To our surprise, it was Xiao Xiao who first succumbed to depression and loneliness. Normally composed, she now expressed suicidal thoughts. "What does it matter if I live? Even if I die in this vast ocean, no one would know!" she lamented. "I hate you all, and I hate myself." She continued, "Perhaps death is the only escape!"
This was a bad omen. Harsh environments often cannot defeat humanity, but the inner demons of desire are the greatest enemies. Only by diverting the attention of these demons can one temporarily overcome them. I had studied the psychology of suicide in my earlier years, and now it was finally proving useful.
An evil thought crossed my mind...
Tom Hanks' experience in the movie Cast Away serves as evidence. Isolated on an island, he fought off loneliness by treating a volleyball as a friend, naming it Wilson, and confiding in it. Childhood objects can evoke fond memories that bring joy and make one feel young again. Keeping pets can foster a sense of intimacy between the owner and the animal, lifting one's spirits and alleviating feelings of solitude.
However, our symptoms were more severe; we could only find relief through more stimulating means...
(This story continues...)
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