Buy directly from the fishermen!\nKending Flying Fish Season – Greet the fishing boats in person and share the harvest\n

Reporter Lin Yuling / Reported from Kending\n

Agricultural products can\nbe bought directly from the farmers,\nso why can’t seafood be bought directly from the fishermen? Influenced by the Kuroshio Warm Current, the waters around the Hengchun Peninsula enter the flying fish season every year from April to June. In addition to enjoying the spectacular sight of fish leaping out of the sea, the most insider way to experience it is to go to the harbor in person to greet the fishing boats and share the joy of “returning with a boat full of fish” with the fishermen. Then, decisively buy the freshest flying fish and go home to cook an incredibly sweet and delicious bowl of flying fish rice noodle soup to enjoy as a late-night snack with a few good friends!\n

▲ Go to the harbor in person to greet the fishing boats, then buy fish directly from the fishermen. (Photo / Reporter Lin Yuling)\n

Most tourists, when they hear “flying fish season,” usually only think of taking a sightseeing yacht out to sea to watch the fish leaping above the surface. However, Kending travel expert Jiang Jinyuan (aka Little Jiang) recommends a more local way to experience it — one that brings you closer to the lives of the fishermen and allows you to feel their most genuine warmth. Little Jiang says that every night at 9 p.m. at “Yakou Sea” or at 4 p.m. at “Houbihu,” fishing boats return to these two harbors loaded with catches. As long as you time it right, you can personally greet them and share in the joy of their bountiful haul.\n

▲ Share in the fishermen’s bountiful catch!\nA banana tuna taller than a person. (Photo / Reporter You Ru)\n

Making a living from the sea isn’t easy. Aside from putting in physical and mental effort, it takes courage, and you also have to gamble with “luck” and “weather.” Fishermen often set out to sea in the middle of the night, with several large freezers stacked on the boat. Just three or five people can form a crew, and each trip lasts at least three to five days. During this time, nearly every fisherman barely sleeps as they race against time to catch fish and fill up every freezer.\n

If you’re lucky, you can chat with the fishermen about their experiences at sea. Some fishermen are very enthusiastic and talkative, sharing how they battle with fish over a hundred centimeters long and successfully haul them onto the boat in a short time. On such trips, they become extremely excited, eager to return home to share the story with their families or prepare to sell the catch to fish merchants for a good price.\n

%Add to favorites? Experience the authenticity of life at sea. (Image / Reporter You Ru)\n

Life at sea may not be easy, but fishermen are optimistic and accepting of their fate. With just a knife and a fish, they simply process it and cook a bowl of fresh fish noodles or slice up some sashimi on the boat to fill their stomachs. They chat about the color of the sea, their families, and compete over who caught the most fish to pass the time — all in hopes of being able to give their loved ones a good life in the coming days. It may sound adventurous, but not everyone can go out to sea with the fishing boats. A fishing vessel crew license is required, otherwise, you’ll be fined by the Coast Guard.\n

%Add to favorites? An honest and simple meal. (Image / Reporter You Ru)\n

Little Jiang took out 100 dollars directly and bought three fresh flying fish from the fisherman, then brought them to the home of our newly made local friend, Sister Li Zhiti. He asked her to cook them herself. Sister Li is an excellent cook, warm and talkative, and loves making friends. Within 30 minutes, she cooked up a pot of flying fish rice noodle soup. Take a sip of the soup, and indeed it’s sweet and delicious. While eating, listen to all kinds of stories about the people of Kending — you’ll leave full, happy, and inspired.\n

%Several locals also joined in, sharing a big plate of sashimi. (Image / Reporter You Ru)\n

%The scenery nearby is also very nice, so you can take a stroll after your meal. (Image / Reporter You Ru)\n

%Next to the harbor is a long coastal walk. It's a great place for a post-meal stroll. (Image / Reporter You Ru)\n


\n 【How to fully experience the flying fish season?】Every evening at 9 p.m. at “Yakou Sea” or at 4 p.m. at “Houbihu,” fishing boats return. Xiao Jiang, who works in outdoor tourism, plans to promote this experience at his workplace, the Caesar Park Hotel Kenting, but it is still in the planning stages and is expected to be launched soon. When it is, you can inquire directly. Other travelers can also go to the harbor on their own to wait for the boats, buy fish, and then bring them to a nearby seafood shop to have them cooked. If you don’t mind, why not make a local friend while you’re at it?