Westerners laugh heartily because they set traps and pull nets during the flood season and catch a lot of fish.

Traps and nets are a form of fishing that is deeply rooted in the culture of the people living in the Mekong Delta. Using this tool to catch fish during the flood season, people can catch 5-10kg of fish per day, sometimes catching many delicious snakehead fish and catfish.

Mr. Ke shows off his net with many big, fat snakehead fish - Photo: VAN KE

On November 16, talking to Tuoi Tre Online about using traps to catch fish during the flood season, Mr. Tu Van Ke - a resident of Can Tho City - said that in Vinh Trung commune, old Hau Giang (now Can Tho City) is a low-lying area, with a dense river system with many different shallow and deep places, so freshwater fish such as snakehead fish, catfish, silver carp, snakehead fish, eels, frogs... gather to live in large numbers.

Thanks to the natural favor of these famous products of the West, Mr. Ke and the local people made many fishing tools to catch fish in the fields and rivers, especially the trap (a fishing tool in the shape of a tube, with a hook, so fish can go in but not out).

Previously, he used bamboo woven traps, but later switched to net traps measuring 28cm wide and 50cm long.

When setting the trap, he usually chooses a place in flooded areas with grass and gentle waves. Next, he will fix the trap firmly so that it is deep under the water. At this time, gourami, small perch, shrimp... will enter the trap. Then, the snakehead fish will come in to eat the bait, so they are very sensitive and get caught in the trap.

If you set the trap correctly, you will catch a lot of delicious fish.

"With 50 available traps, I set them up in the fields and along the canals to catch snakehead fish. If I catch a successful trap, I can catch 5-10kg of snakehead fish and catfish per day... Sometimes I catch snakehead fish that weigh more than 1kg, plump and delicious," Mr. Ke boasted.

The flood season is when people in Can Tho City, An Giang ... use many fishing tools to hunt for freshwater fish. Therefore, in addition to setting traps, pushing rods, and spreading nets, Mr. Nguyen Van Son - a resident of Go Quao Commune (An Giang) also takes advantage of the flood tide to pull the nets in the fields and then use a boat to pull the nets to catch fish.

Mr. Son often chooses an open field and uses a net to cover a large area. All kinds of freshwater fish such as perch, snakehead fish, catfish, and climbing perch... are caught in the net.

"I mainly pull this net during the flood season. The net is big and long, so pulling it takes a lot of effort. If I catch a fish, I can catch 3-5kg of fish per pull. I sell small trash fish to snakehead fish farms in cages. If I take advantage of the flood season to pull the net, I can earn 300,000-500,000 VND/day, enough to live on," Mr. Son said happily.

Setting traps and pulling nets in the forest not only shows the diversity of fish exploitation, but also vividly depicts the life of people in the West during the flood season.

Image of traps set during flood season with lots of fish:

If you set the trap correctly, you will catch 5-10 snakehead fish, catfish, and perch.

An Giang people take advantage of the flood tide to go fishing in the fields.

Mr. Ke is happy when he sets a trap to catch big catfish.

Fat, round snakehead fish in flood season

Trap is a unique form of fishing of the people in the West.

Trawling, a traditional but very effective way of fishing in the West

CHI CONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dan-mien-tay-cuoi-sang-khoai-vi-dat-lo-keo-luoi-rung-mua-nuoc-noi-dinh-nhieu-ca-dong-20251115161539035.htm