And so, long, colorful nets were gradually pulled ashore. With each patient pull, layers of glittering fish, shrimp, and squid emerged from the waves crashing against the shore, like gifts from the sea. The joy shone in the fishermen's eyes, making the early morning even more vibrant.
Along the seawall, elderly fishermen with graying hair often sit and watch, a gentle, radiant smile on their faces, etched with the marks of time. They seem to relive their youth in each catch.
"In the old days, after we finished pulling in our nets, we'd jump into the sea to swim and play in the waves to our heart's content. When we got home, we'd be greeted by the delicious aroma of stewed anchovies," an old fisherman recounted.
Mr. Duong Van Thom, 75 years old, head of the Xuong Ly fishing village (Quy Nhon Dong ward), shared: "The trawling profession in Nhon Ly has existed for a long time, passed down from generation to generation. In the past, there were fewer boats, and most people rowed, so this profession was very common. People in the coastal areas called it 'shore netting,' 'trawl netting,' or 'shore netting.' For this profession, the net is very important, especially the lead weights. The lead weights must be heavy enough to sink but also at a suitable distance from the bottom for fish to enter."
Without any machinery, every step relies on human effort. Fishermen typically work in groups of 3-6 to pull the nets together. After choosing a location, one end of the net is secured on shore, while the other end is carried in a small boat a few hundred meters from the shore. When the boat is unavailable, one or two fishermen hold the other end of the net and swim out to sea. After a period of herding the fish, the entire group of fishermen simultaneously pulls the net in, gradually drawing in each meter of fish caught inside and bringing them ashore.
Mr. Bach Xuan Ngoc, 55 years old, who has been in this profession for many years, said: "The income from this job is quite unstable; only occasionally do we encounter a good school of anchovies. When I'm not working as a crew member on offshore fishing boats, I cast my own nets to catch enough fish to feed the whole family. On days when I catch a large haul, I sell it to buy rice. It's a simple profession, but it has been passed down through generations," Mr. Ngoc confided.
Interestingly, lately, many tourists visiting Nhon Ly have been deliberately waking up early, going to the beach, and watching fishermen cast their nets. Some even join in pulling up the fish with the fishermen. They cheer with delight when they see live fish and shrimp wriggling in the nets they themselves pulled up.
Ms. Le Thi Lien, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, compared this net-pulling profession to the "fisherman" experiences in Hoi An that attract many domestic and international tourists. "Nhon Ly beach is quite pristine, the locals are gentle, hospitable, and enthusiastically guided me on how to pull the nets. I think we could develop this profession into a unique tourism product of the fishing village, preserving the traditional craft while attracting more people from far away like me to learn more about coastal life, the love of the sea, and the community cohesion in a small, charming, and peaceful fishing village," Ms. Lien shared.
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/ve-nhon-ly-keo-luoi-cung-ngu-dan-post565463.html
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