Câu cá suối bằng rọ: Kéo một lần gần chục con cá

While the early morning mist still blankets the mountain slopes, many anglers flock to the clear streams of Da Nang to "hunt" for stream fish such as carp, mudfish, and loach.

A single fishing rod with a cage can hold 7-15 hooks, making fishing more efficient - Photo: T.N.

The interesting way to fish in streams using a cage

From the center of Da Nang, driving about 30km northwest, many clear streams winding at the foot of the mountains gradually appear.

In sections of the streams with fast-flowing water, especially in areas with rapids and waterfalls, are the feeding and living areas of carp, mudfish, and whitefish... These fish have flat bodies, and the large ones can be about 20cm long and about 2-3 adult fingers thick.

This area also has loach and spotted eel, long considered mountain delicacies, with sweet, firm, and increasingly scarce meat. Many connoisseurs liken these fish to "aquatic ginseng" due to their rare nutritional value. Each kilogram of fish costs from several hundred thousand to over a million dong, but they are not always available for enjoyment.

Stream fish are caught in various ways, depending on the type of fish and the terrain of the stream. Besides the traditional method using worms and crickets as bait, many anglers often use a basket – a method that is both interesting and effective.

This method uses a line with 7-15 small hooks, arranged in an interwoven pattern like fish bones. At the bottom is a small iron cage containing chicken feed, bird feed, or fish feed mixed with fragrant flavorings.

When the line is cast, the feed dissolves in the water, attracting schools of small fish like minnows and other species, who inadvertently bite the hooks with brightly colored yellow and orange plastic beads.

When a fish bites, the rod vibrates continuously. At this point, the anglers quickly reel in the line, sometimes with nearly a dozen fish hooked.

“The feeling of pulling in nearly a dozen fish in the strong current is exhilarating. It’s like pulling the whole stream into your hands. Sometimes we lose sleep and appetite just because of this feeling,” said Phung Dong, his hand casting a line.

Besides using a basket, Dong's group also uses fishing rods with earthworm bait to catch loach, eel, or various types of stream catfish that the Co Tu people here call stream catfish.

According to the anglers, the best time to fish for mudfish and carp is early morning or late afternoon. Loach and eel bite most actively late at night.

Grilled Stream Fish Specialty

Local people say that stream fish can be prepared in many ways, such as deep-fried, salad, steamed with turmeric, or braised with pepper… But the most delicious and distinctive is still grilled over charcoal. When the fish scales are charred, emitting a rich, smoky aroma, the meat inside retains its sweet, firm texture, considered the rustic flavor of the mountains and forests.

Meanwhile, minnows – small fish with a silvery body – offer a unique and unmistakable flavor. Freshly caught fish only need to be cleaned and grilled or deep-fried until crispy. Some people prefer to cook soup with wild tamarind leaves, wild bamboo shoots, wild banana blossoms, or rattan and palm trees…

What makes stream fish special is the slightly bitter taste in their bellies, but the more you eat, the sweeter the aftertaste becomes, like an indescribable lingering flavor.

Locals say that this mild bitterness is the unique characteristic of stream fish, making it unforgettable for anyone who tries it. Sitting around a warm fire, a plate of grilled stream fish dipped in lime salt and a touch of spicy chili becomes a rare delicacy.

“Before, I used to bring chicken and pork belly to grill when camping, but since tasting stream fish, I only like grilled stream fish or stream fish in sour soup. Eating it with crispy rice in the forest is irresistibly delicious,” Mr. Dong expressed.

Local people say that stream fish can be prepared in many ways such as deep-fried, salad, steamed with turmeric, braised with pepper… But the most delicious and distinctive way is still grilling over charcoal - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

What makes stream fish special is the slightly bitter taste in their bellies, but the more you eat, the sweeter the aftertaste becomes, like an indescribable flavor - Photo: THANH NGUYEN

According to anglers, the best time to catch mudfish and catfish is early morning or late afternoon. Loach, eel, and catfish feed most actively at night - Photo: THANH NGUYEN