A Fresh Taste of Penghu’s Fishing Life ~ Catch Sea Perch, Grill Oysters, Make Squid Balls & DIY Scallop Sauce

Text & Photography / Wei Rwei

 

Without the intense heat of summer, autumn in Penghu feels much more refreshing. The seafood during this season is especially sweet and delicious, making it the perfect time to experience the vibrant and hearty lifestyle of local fishermen and enjoy a uniquely local vacation in Penghu.

 

In the past, most travelers who came to Penghu would mainly visit famous attractions, relax on the beaches, or take photos at the Double-Heart Stone Weir... To offer visitors a more unique experience, in October this year, Uni Air specially designed an itinerary that combines local cultural elements such as traditional houses, old streets, the former residence of the renowned singer Chang Yu-sheng, and the hometown of Pan Anbang, who sang “Grandma’s Penghu Bay.” The experience also includes catching sea perch, charcoal-grilled oysters, as well as exclusive hands-on activities like making squid balls and scallop sauce—turning what are usually just ready-to-buy souvenirs into memorable travel experiences through DIY. As the saying goes, “Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times, and tasting once is better than seeing a hundred times.” Without personally holding the fishing rod and feeling every detail of the angling process, or putting on gloves and experiencing the right amount of force needed to shape the fish paste, you can’t truly appreciate the joy involved. So don’t miss the chance to join a yacht trip, head to a marine leisure platform, and step into restaurants and factories for a truly special experiential journey.

Catching Sea Perch ~ A Test of Patience and Strength Against the Fish

 

For those who have rarely fished before, this is a great opportunity to practice. Locals use cage farming and have made the economically valuable sea perch part of the tourism experience. They use mackerel as bait, and the caught sea perch can be released back into the pool. Successfully hooking a sea perch requires not only patience but also strength. Once the bait is in the water, even if a sea perch bites quickly, don’t rush to reel it in. Wait until the fish has fully taken the bait before starting to pull the rod—this all comes down to experience. Reeling in too quickly will only tear the bait apart, leaving it to float in the water, while reeling in too slowly means the sea perch would have already swallowed the bait. Even if you successfully hook one, you’ll need to put up a bit of a struggle with the fish, which can be somewhat challenging, especially for women.

 

Fishing truly has a kind of magic. Every subtle change from casting the line to reeling it in tugs at the heartstrings. It carries challenges that spark excitement and the rewarding sense of accomplishment that comes from experience. It seems to be the very drive that keeps people coming back for more, whether they catch anything or not.

 

One angler also observed that since the operators throw the bait into the pool with some force, casting the bait with a strong throw will make the sea perch come over to feed more quickly. Otherwise, the sea perch, accustomed to being fished, seem to know that the other end of the bait is a fishing rod and sometimes remain totally indifferent—even nibbling tentatively at the bait. Assuming the fish is hooked and reeling in at that moment would be a mistake. When the bait is already bitten to shreds, it’s best to change to a new one; otherwise, you’ll only be teaching the sea perch not to bite that hook again.