When visiting Tuy Phong, remember the squid season in March.

According to experienced squid fishermen, the annual squid season usually runs from March to May, with an additional season from July to August. Therefore, this is the time when fishermen go squid fishing along the coast, hoping to harvest many baskets of fresh, delicious squid to serve tourists from near and far, allowing them to experience how sweet and tasty squid from Binh Thuan in general and the Tuy Phong sea area in particular is.

It's no coincidence that squid in the Tuy Phong sea area are "special" compared to other sea areas. In November 2019, a team of experts from the Fisheries Forecasting Center of the Vietnam Institute of Marine Research conducted research on the upwelling phenomenon in the sea area from Ninh Thuan to the northern part of Binh Thuan. The results showed that this area is considered to have strong upwelling activity, with Binh Thuan being the most stable. According to the center, upwelling is the activity of currents carrying many nutrients from deeper layers to the upper layers, creating conditions for plankton to develop, leading to the concentration of many types of seafood. The northern part of Binh Thuan has many headlands and reefs, so the rich aquatic ecosystem is a favorable environment attracting seafood to inhabit. Thus, it can be understood that many types of seafood here are of higher quality than in other sea areas, including, of course, fish and squid.

As the sun rose, the basket boats began to dock.

Over the past few days, anyone who has had the chance to visit Binh Thanh, Phuoc The, or Phan Ri Cua markets has been captivated by the freshness of the seafood from the coastal areas. And squid is a wonderful gift from the sea for those who are passionate about this characteristic seafood. In the first month of the lunar calendar, entering the second month of the lunar calendar (which is also March in the Gregorian calendar), fishermen here will enter the season for squid, cuttlefish, and other similar seafood. Fishermen are most delighted when they catch squid, because compared to other seafood, squid has the most stable price. Unlike other seafood such as shrimp and fish, squid is usually harvested by fishermen right at sea, placed in styrofoam containers, buckets, or basins filled with water or ice to ensure it remains fresh when brought ashore.

The traders were waiting to weigh the squid.

Around 8-9 a.m., after a night at sea, the fishing boats begin to dock. Many traders are already waiting on the shore. Trays of squid, still translucent and glistening, are carried ashore and quickly weighed and loaded onto trucks for distribution. Baby squid (baby cuttlefish) are bought at the dock for 80,000-100,000 VND/kg. Large squid fetch prices ranging from 200,000-300,000 VND/kg... mixed in with various other fish and shellfish. A trader specializing in squid in Phan Rí Cửa town said that during this season, she collects several tens of kilograms of squid daily, sometimes even up to 100 kilograms, distributing them to restaurants and eateries in the province and supplying them to Ho Chi Minh City. Squid is usually more abundant during this season than in other months, so fishermen can earn an average of 1 million VND per day. The squid from Tuy Phong is highly praised by customers for its delicious taste, thick flesh, sweet flavor, and crispy texture. Some customers in Vung Tau have been ordering Tuy Phong squid for many years. Not only fresh squid, but also dried squid and sun-dried squid from this area have long been famous; anyone who tries them once will remember them forever.

Freshly caught squid.

With fresh, curled squid that still twitch when touched, the locals don't need elaborate cooking. A few slices of ginger and chili peppers, quickly steamed over a fire, and served with a fragrant chili fish sauce, are enough to savor the sweet freshness of Tuy Phong squid. Or, with a few tomatoes and pineapple slices, add some water to a boil, add the squid, season to taste, and you have a quick and delicious bowl of soup for lunch. For the mini baby squid, the locals here often make a signature "oil-boiled" dish, served with a sour and spicy tamarind and chili fish sauce, mixed with the rich, creamy flavor of the squid roe – nothing beats this dish!

For mini squid, the locals in this coastal region often prepare a signature dish called "boiled in oil".

Tuy Phong is currently in squid season. Although the yield isn't as abundant as in previous years, the quality is unparalleled. Therefore, when you visit Binh Thuan , stop by the Seven-Colored Rock Beach, or visit Co Thach Pagoda, don't forget to try the squid dishes from the Tuy Phong coastal area!

This is the time when fishermen take advantage of the opportunity to catch fish, because not only squid, but other seafood species are also entering their breeding season, preparing for the main fishing season – the southern fishing season.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/ve-tuy-phong-nho-mua-muc-thang-3-128879.html