By MOOK Travel Life Chen Guanxin | Compiled & Reported
Besides duck meat, sweet potatoes, and hot springs, want to try something different in Jinshan? New Taipei City — in collaboration with the Fisheries Agency under the Council of Agriculture — will soon invite the public to experience traditional fishing skills and culture at the Jinshan Huanggang Fishing Port on May 25 and 26. Join in witnessing one of the country’s last remaining “Jinshan Jumping Fire” fishing demonstrations, and observe how early fishermen used to light fires on the sea to attract fish schools and watch them leap out of the water — an amazing spectacle. Come enjoy a dazzling night of fishing festivities.
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Want to see the only remaining “Jumping Fire” fishing method in the country? Head to Jinshan Huanggang Fishing Port this weekend!(Photo provided by New Taipei City - Department of Agriculture)
Lin Rong-ching, Director of the New Taipei City Department of Agriculture, said that “Jinshan Jumping Fire” is truly an ancient fishing technique worth learning about. Nowadays, only four fishing boats in Huanggang still use this method. Starting every May, when schools of anchovy swarm the northern coastal waters, it’s time for the “Jumping Fire” fishing boats to get busy. A team of seven operates each boat, each with their own role. They use “sulfur stones” mixed with water to produce acetylene, which is then ignited to create a bright burst of light that attracts schools of anchovy to gather and jump. The fish are then scooped up with hand-held nets. The method is called “Jumping Fire” because of the loud popping sound made when the fire is lit.
Last summer, New Taipei City held six “Jumping Fire” performance events, which were very well received. This year, in conjunction with the Fugui Fishing Port Fish Market and timed with the anchovy season, the “Jinshan Jumping Fire · Fishing Night” event will be held on May 25 and 26 at Huanggang Fishing Port, and on June 1 and 2 at Fugui Fishing Port, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM — a total of four sessions. The activities include performances of the Jumping Fire fishing technique, the premiere of a Jinshan Jumping Fire-themed dance, harborfront outdoor cinema, live music concerts, and anchovy tastings. The public is welcome to come and experience it.
● Read more: Light Travel in New Taipei City – 20 Recommended One-Day Park Itineraries
http://goo.gl/G3nAQ.