Chapter 126: Starting at the Peak?

A Qing's expression changed, and he asked: "Brother, what should we do?"

Lao Mai also looked toward Wu An.

Wu An shook his head: "What can we do, just toss it cold."

"We're not going ashore."

This island isn't big; yesterday aside from not going to the center, we already walked around the shore, basically we've searched it thoroughly, so even if there are any fish that slipped through the net, there aren't many.

A Qing asked: "So what should we do?"

Wu An said unhappily: "Of course we're fishing."

A Qing scratched his head.

Yesterday fishing was just small fish biting the bait, so we went to gather seafood instead; the harvest was quite good, so he had nothing but going to the island to gather seafood on his mind.

Upon hearing Wu An want to fish, he wasn't unwilling, just a bit worried it'd be like yesterday.

Lao Mai said: "We've come all this way."

"Let's give it a try."

Wu An didn't speak, already went to get the fishing gear.

A Qing also hurriedly followed.

Lao Mai instead asked: "Should we change spots? Yesterday we were fishing here and only caught small fish."

Wu An thought for a moment, he believed the fishing boat blessed with Luck Value, and said: "Don't bother."

"We'll get up where we fell."

Lao Mai then didn't say anything more.

"That's right."

If it's still small fish biting, then we'll change spots.

It's not a hassle.

Soon, they cast their rods and baited.

The fishermen who had already landed on the island spotted them—a half-grown child—and then called over two more people to look; they appeared to be a family of three.

"Mom, Dad, they probably won't go ashore."

"They're here to fish, that's fine."

"Honey, I want to go fishing."

"What fish are you catching, you lazy good-for-nothing, using fishing as an excuse to slack off." The wife scolded twice, then looked at the half-grown child and said with a pleasant expression: "Son, you just stay here and watch; if they go ashore, shout."

The man couldn't lift his head after being scolded.

"Let's go quickly; there are so many Spicy Snails on the island, and there'll be even more when the tide ebbs—this is better than fishing." The wife pushed the man away.

"What's good about fishing?"

"They even drove a boat out here to fish; I think they're just rich with nowhere to spend money, bored out of their minds."

"If they actually catch a fish, that'd be a miracle."

"Don't watch."

The wife walked while complaining.

The man took three steps, looking back each time.

A Qing also noticed the family of three's movements on the island and said: "Brother, they're pointing at us."

Wu An nodded.

It's a bit far off, plus with the waves and wind, we can't clearly hear what they're saying, but they're definitely gossiping about us.

Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt a pull transmitted through the fishing line and rod; the tip bent instantly, and the unfortunate fish down in the boat was trying to dive toward the seabed.

He quickly lifted.

He reeled in the line.

The fish struggled more violently, the rod tip jerking left and right; Wu An was still slowly reeling in, finding it a bit taxing—either the fish is strong or it's big.

A Qing and Lao Mai didn't have time to look; they also got bites in succession.

The three were spaced fairly far apart, avoiding the risk of tangled lines.

A Qing shouted: "Brother, this fish isn't small."

"I know; those big fish must have been out yesterday, and they've only come back today."

"This strong pull is so exhilarating."

Lao Mai also laughed.

Wu An was also very pleased; the feeling of playing the fish was nice, like a tug-of-war, him and the fish pulling back and forth.

Besides being happy, he was just happy, couldn't think of anything else.

It was already past ten; the sun hung high, radiating heat; standing under it, even with a sun hat and other gear, one still sweated profusely, let alone while tugging with the fish.

Sweat began to appear on his forehead, neck, and all over his body.

Then it gathered and flowed down his body; he could clearly feel his clothes getting soaked, and with the sea breeze blowing, it felt a bit cool.

But that cool feeling was only momentary, soon steamed away by the heat wave.

But it didn't matter.

At this point, who had the leisure to worry about such things?

After pulling for a few more minutes, the fish's tugging force clearly diminished; Wu An stopped tugging, quickly reeled in, and soon brought the fish to the surface.

Lao Mai didn't know when he had walked over, shouting: "A An, hold steady, hold steady—I think it's a Three-knife Fish."

What?

Really?

Wu An squinted his eyes to look; sweat made his eyes squint, and the sunlight was glaring, so he couldn't see clearly. Hearing Lao Mai shout like that, his spirit instantly steadied.

Lao Mai picked up the scoop net, ready and waiting.

"Caught it."

"Slow down."

He shouted somewhat excitedly, gently placing the fish on the deck.

Wu An was somewhat speechless; the scoop net is in your hands, me saying 'slow down' is useless, but I just complained in my heart, happily squatting down to look.

Indeed it is a Three-knife Fish.

Just like the one caught before, the size is similar, estimated at about two catties.

Catching this fish not only recovers today's offshore expenses, but also yields a profit.

Fishing is really great.

He looked for a while, then turned to Lao Mai: "Lao Mai, you also hooked a fish, why did you come help me?"

Lao Mai waved his hand: "I only caught a sea bass, but it slipped away after rinsing its gills."

"Fortunately, that's the case, so I can help you with the scoop net."

"If it got away, I could slap my thigh until it bruised."

Wu An laughed heartily.

That's right.

If such an expensive fish got away, there's no way I'd sleep well these days.

A Qing also walked over to look; he had pulled up a Red Friend.

Wu An originally planned to put the Three-knife Fish in the live fish tank, but Lao Mai suggested he keep it separately in a water bucket; since this sea area is not deep, the Three-knife Fish's condition is good.

Keeping it and taking it back to town to sell will definitely fetch a good price.

Wu An thought the same; this time preparations were thorough, there was also an oxygen pump, he inserted a tube and tossed it into the water bucket, and the Three-knife Fish began to swim slowly inside.

Looking back, Lao Mai and A Qing had already lowered their rods.

He didn't delay either.

A single Three-knife Fish ignited them all.

Luck Value was also being consumed quickly; 1 point of Luck Value is already gone.

If we could keep catching Three-knife Fish, Luck Value would be depleted before long; of course, even without Luck Value, one can still fish.

Rebaited the hook and cast the rod.

Not long after.

Hooked a fish.

The pull was ordinary; soon it was hauled up—a sea bass, not big, estimated at just over one catty, no need for the scoop net; it flew straight onto the deck and was tossed into the live fish tank.

As long as we hook a fish, that's fine.

Continue.

The next few catches were all sea bass, Red Friend, and Black Bream—these are the more common hauls; the best was a single grouper, which looks rather ugly, at first glance resembling a Stone Nine Public; Lao Mai, an old fishing veteran, identified it as a Black Silk Grouper; this kind of grouper doesn't grow large, and its price is slightly higher than that of black bream.

A Qing and Lao Mai were similar to him, hooking fish one after another, the linked rod technique continuing without pause.

Wu An figured it out: the fishing boat boosted with Luck Value is essentially a large-scale fish-attracting device, having the effect of gathering fish.

Thus, buying the fishing boat was the correct decision.

But what kind of fish are gathered really depends on luck.

Seeing that the price of the caught fish kept dropping, he thought about casting another rod; if he still hauled up sea bass or the like, he would change spots.

Not long after.

A fish bit the hook.

The rod tip bent down; he decisively lifted, a huge pulling force surged, even the drag was pulled, the fishing line kept letting out, he hurriedly steadied himself.

"With such a strong pull, it feels about the same as when we hooked a Three-knife Fish."

Wu An secretly anticipated.