Yellowfin Bream in Dongping Lake

Yellowfin Bream in Dongping Lake

　　Yellowfin Bream, also known as Gaya or Golden Thread Fish, is naturally found at the bottom of Dongping Lake and is a wild carnivorous fish species. In the 1950s and 1960s, the lake had the highest population of Yellowfin Bream, with catches of up to 40–50 kilograms per net. According to local fishermen, in 1964, after rainfall, when boats were launched onto the lake, groups of Yellowfin Bream could be seen surfacing, with daily catches reaching over a thousand kilograms. But at that time, Yellowfin Bream was very inexpensive, with a market price of just 0.16 yuan per kilogram (now it's as high as 16 yuan per kilogram). After the 1980s, due to overfishing, the yield dropped significantly. Current annual production is about 120 tons.

　　The back of the Yellowfin Bream is yellowish-green, the sides are yellow with intermittent black spots, and the body is scaleless. It has a large, broad, and flat head, small eyes, a wide mouth, and a dorsal fin with spiny, serrated rays. Its pectoral fins are broad and flat. The strong spines are well-suited to its bottom-dwelling, carnivorous nature.

　　The flesh of the Yellowfin Bream is tender, delicious, and has few bones, offering high nutritional value. It is measured that over 74% of the fish is edible, with protein content as high as 28.7%, fat content at 2.5%, along with abundant calcium (2.65%), phosphorus (0.15%), iron (0.02%), and numerous trace elements. Suitable for various cooking methods, it can be made into many nutritious and flavorful dishes, such as Golden Thread Fish Slices, which have snow-white, tender meat, a delicious savory taste, and an attractive appearance. Yellowfin Bream also offers health benefits such as improving brain function, enriching blood, and regulating the body’s yang energy.

　　In recent years, Yellowfin Bream has become a popular choice for soup dishes at banquets.