Catching fish at the beginning of the rainy season.

The first rains of the season cause the water level in the fields to gradually rise, marking the beginning of the fishing season for freshwater fish in the countryside.

Residents of U Minh Thuong commune cast nets to catch freshwater fish at the beginning of the rainy season. Photo: PHAM HIEU

Late in the afternoon, after the persistent rain had stopped, the small roads in the U Minh Thuong region became bustling with activity. Groups of children, armed with buckets and baskets, went out to catch fish. Many playfully slipped and fell into the mud, but still laughed loudly, then excitedly ran after their friends' cheers when they spotted some perch on the shore. A few perch were caught; even a snakehead fish was caught by the group, its head and tail held down, causing water to splash everywhere. When the fish was neatly placed in the bucket, everyone's eyes lit up as if they had just achieved a great victory.

Not only children, but adults also take advantage of the early season to catch fish. Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, residing in U Minh Thuong commune, leisurely paddles his small boat, weaving through the canals leading to the fields behind his house. On the boat are a few nets and some newly patched fish traps – indispensable tools for those who catch fish in the fields. Mr. Hoa said that, according to the natural law, whenever the first rains of the season fall, water from rivers and canals overflows into the garden ditches and rice paddies, and the fish in the ditches begin their upstream migration, seeking new land to breed. At this time, adults and children brave the rain, carrying baskets, sacks, and buckets… to catch fish. “The tilapia emerge from the shallows, wriggling on the banks in rows; just waiting for that, the fishermen can catch a lot in no time. Others set nets and traps overnight, waiting to check them the next morning,” Mr. Hoa said.

For many people in the U Minh Thuong region, the profession of catching freshwater fish has been passed down through generations. The first rains of the season are seen as a signal heralding a new farming season. After months of drought, the cracked earth is refreshed by the persistent rains. Water from the fields, canals, and garden ditches begins to rise, awakening countless species of freshwater fish that have long been hidden beneath the mud.

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According to Mr. Hoa's experience, fish are usually most abundant after the first heavy rains of the season, especially at night. "Although there aren't as many fish as before, every night I still catch nearly ten kilograms of tilapia, catfish, snakehead, and other fish... After sorting them, I sell them and earn a few hundred thousand dong," Mr. Hoa shared.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Mr. Hoa had cast his nets and set his traps. Before long, the first perch and snakehead fish began to get caught in the nets. Quickly removing the fish and putting them into the boat, and then casually picking some tender water spinach shoots, Mr. Hoa said, "These perch will make a sour water spinach soup, and these snakehead fish will be excellent braised with pepper."

As evening fell, dark clouds gathered on the horizon. A downpour was imminent over the U Minh Thuong rice fields. In the distance, a few villagers carried their nets to the fields to catch fish. “It’s only the beginning of the rainy season, the fish are still a bit thin. In a few days, when the fields are flooded, the fish will have plenty of food and become plump. Many people will be out fishing in the fields then. Right now, I just need to anchor my nets, set a few traps, leave them there for a few hours, and then check them – I can catch a few kilograms of fish,” Mr. Hoa added.

Mr. Hoa also mentioned that when visiting U Minh Thuong commune this season, you must definitely try the delicious dishes made from freshwater fish such as braised snakehead fish with pepper, snakehead fish sour soup, fried catfish, and freshwater fish hotpot with wild vegetables, all enjoyed with a glass of rice wine – it's simply perfect!

Listening to Mr. Hoa's introduction, I, a person far from home, couldn't help but feel nostalgic for the days when we children used to brave the rain, swim in the river, cast lines, and catch fish. Back then, I thought that whoever caught more fish was the best. But now, thinking back, perhaps the greatest value of the fishing season doesn't lie in the quantity of fish caught, but in the simple joys of rural life and, especially, the innocent childhood memories preserved through each rainy season in our small village.

As darkness fell, we returned to the center of U Minh Thuong commune, stopped at a restaurant specializing in freshwater fish dishes, and immediately ordered a fish hotpot with snakehead fish and eel, fried salted rat with lemongrass, and grilled snakehead fish. Outside, the rain was getting heavier, and a longing for home welled up in my heart. Although the early season fishing season is no longer the same there, the sound of children's voices echoing in my mind—"The snakehead fish are here! Hurry up, let's go catch them!"—still lingered in my thoughts…

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Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/bat-ca-len-dau-mua-mua-a488827.html