Taitung Marlin Festival – Experience the Thrill of Fishermen Hunting Marlins at Sea

Text & Photos byHappy Yun

Friends planning to visit Taitung in November shouldn’t miss the East Coast Marlin Festival and the Chenggong Navel Orange Festival. Yun spent a week in Taitung at the end of October and discovered how incredibly beautiful the place is. Many charming spots require you to slow down and soak in the leisurely seasonal beauty—like the splendor of autumn harvest she once encountered... and more.

It’s currently the marlin harvest season on the East Coast. For those who love eating marlin, don’t miss out. This time, we did something special—heading out to sea to experience how fishermen catch marlins. As our boat left the harbor and slowly ventured into the ocean, the sunshine was brilliant, and the weather was absolutely wonderful. But according to a local friend, this wasn’t actually ideal weather for marlin hunting. The best conditions involve winds of 3–6 levels and slightly overcast skies.

While sailing, we still spotted fishing boats harpooning marlins out at sea. Unfortunately, the waves were a bit rough for us, and we couldn’t get too close to the fishing boats, so we couldn’t witness the actual “marlin harpooning” scene up close.

But just riding on our boat, leaving Taiwan, and passing by the scenic Three Sisters Rocks was breathtaking enough to make us keep exclaiming, “Taiwan is so beautiful!” …Wow!! How long has it been since we last appreciated how gorgeous our homeland is? Truly, when you get used to something, you tend to forget its beauty. As our boat moved away from Taiwan and we looked back at the island from Three Sisters Rocks, it was genuinely moving!! How can such a small island have such rich and diverse landscapes?

Especially since Yun had just returned from a stay in the UK. The northern Irish coastal scenery she traveled so far to see wasn’t actually any more beautiful than this. Yet, we often overlook the beauty right beside us. We really should spend more time exploring and enjoying Taiwan!!

As the boat headed further out to sea, the waves grew stronger. But on the way back, the swells calmed down considerably. We took turns standing on the harpooning platform at the front of the boat—the spot where fishermen go after marlins.

When winds of 3–6 levels roll in, the fishermen scan the waters for marlins breaching the surface, then hurl their harpoons. In a tug-of-war against the ocean, they risk their lives to bring back these delicious marlins. Imagining the harsh sea conditions and then looking at the fresh marlin sashimi on our plates—it’s truly moving. We can’t help but thank these brave souls for taking the risks that bring such delicious food to our tables.

Our companions took turns heading up to the harpooning platform to experience the view from there. The calm waves during our return trip allowed everyone to playfully reenact scenes from *Titanic*.

Some friends who couldn’t initially step onto the platform eventually mustered the courage to do so, encouraged by the group. Honestly, even covering that short distance of less than two meters requires serious bravery—not to mention the fishermen who work up there every day.

About an hour of sailing let us take in the beauty of Chenggong’s coastline and gave us a small taste of what “marlin harpooning” is all about. Before leaving, we posed for some fun photos on the platform used for photo ops in the square.

Hahaha... Apparently, some people got seasick during the boat ride. But as soon as they stepped on land, they were full of energy again!!

In the afternoon, we visited the harbor fish market, where fishing boats returned with their daily catches.

Besides being marlin season, it’s also the season for swordfish. The fish market floor was packed with fish and just as many visitors, a sure sign of a bountiful day.

These marlins were just unloaded from fishing boats. These three were particularly large ones caught in recent days.

The marlins had weight tags attached to them. Workers inserted a spike into the tail, then lifted it to inspect the fish’s fat content, preliminarily assessing its grade.

Turns out, it’s not just about size—the fat content in the meat determines the marlin’s price. Well… that’s a level of expertise best left to the professionals. All we need to do is enjoy the deliciousness on our plates.

............................................. To be continued.

2014: Marlin & Orange Success – A Slow Travel Journey
Location: Chenggong Township, Taitung County
Date: November 1 to November 30
Official Website:http://www.ttcg-fresh.com.tw/
Facebook Page: Let’s Travel to Chenggong, Taitung https://www.facebook.com/ttcg.fresh

*For more content, please see-->Happy Yun’s Travel Blog*