As a Fisherman, My Fish Can Level Up

Chapter 144: Chapter 136 Zhang Wei: Did I catch a fish? I did not!

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After preparing a bottle, Chu Mingcheng handed the scissors and the bottle to Chen Yang, “Ah Yang, help me cut the bottle out first, later I’ll start catching shrimp.”

Chen Yang had a steady personality suited for tedious tasks like these.

He had no objections and got to work with the scissors.

Chu Mingcheng assigned Zhang Wei a simple task, to sit at the helm and keep an eye out for any approaching boats.

Then he sat down on the other side, took out a bundle of fishing line, and began making traps with bamboo skewers.

The trap-making technique he learned online was similar to the one he used as a child to trap wild chickens, so he picked it up quickly.

Back then, wild chickens were not protected, and under the guidance of some older friends, he would often set traps in the mountains.

Of course, this was only for catching large shrimp; for small ones, buying a “pump” online was sufficient.

As the boat arrived at the first destination, Chu Mingcheng had just finished making ten traps.

It was around ten in the morning, shortly after low tide, revealing many parts of the coral reef that had been submerged the day before.

The bottles were wrapped with fishing lines and pulled up in a row.

One end of the fishing line was tied to the gunwale, and the other to two five-kilogram lead weights, which were thrown into the sea.

As the bottles filled with seawater, they slowly sank under the weight of the lead.

Because the weight of the lead kept the fishing line taut, the bottles, which were wrapped around the neck with line, didn’t fall off.

This made it easier for him to bait the traps without constantly asking Zhang Wei and Chen Yang for help.

Chu Mingcheng donned his diving suit, put on his face mask and underwater camera, as well as a net and spear.

He didn’t wear other equipment; after all, the other two were not familiar with diving.

“You two can just fish on the boat. The fish around the coral are usually not too bad. I’ll go get the shrimp.”

Chen Yang had no opinion, but Zhang Wei seemed eager to try, “Don’t we have life jackets on the boat? How about I join you?”

“The water is pretty cold, you sure?” Despite the good weather, the water temperature was much lower than when he took Jiang Luoluo diving, probably only around seventeen or eighteen degrees.

It was fine with a diving suit because of its insulating function; without it, the average person wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Hearing this, Zhang Wei hesitated; wearing just flip-flops, he went to the steps, rolled up his pant legs, and tested the water temperature.

Feeling it was indeed a bit chilly, he chuckled sheepishly, “I’ll just fish, then!”

He and Chen Yang both knew how to fish, so no instruction was needed.

Chu Mingcheng took his traps and swam toward the coral reef.

When he reached an area about ten meters deep, he dove to the bottom.

Since his primary target today was Ban Qin shrimp, he started looking for small cave entrances.

As soon as he dived down, he spotted a palm-sized scallop on a patch of coral and picked it up into his net bag.

He then found a small cave entrance and placed a bamboo skewer baited with squid inside, securing it with two stones to prevent it from being pulled into the cave by the shrimp.

After setting it up, he left to search for his next target.

For a moment, he even forgot to rise to the surface to breathe, to signal the two on the boat to check on him.

But the two men on the boat were also a bit careless, so engrossed in fishing that they didn’t notice his situation.

It was actually a subconscious trust, after all, Chu Mingcheng had already learned fishing and hunting, and with all the seafood from last night, diving for shrimp should be easy, right?

Meanwhile, Chu Mingcheng found quite a few Sea Snails nearby, perfect for lunch, so he collected some.

He also found a Clear Water Grouper hiding beneath a piece of coral reef.

Its hiding spot was excellent; it was surrounded by rocks on both sides and the back, with only the front open for escape.

At that moment, it stayed motionless inside the cave, only its mouth opening and closing as it breathed slowly.

Chu Mingcheng placed the trap on a piece of coral, weighed it down with a rock, and then swam cautiously towards it.

He reduced his movements to a minimum, but the Clear Water Grouper still became slightly restless.

Instead of fleeing, it retreated further inside.

Seeing this, Chu Mingcheng approached, extended his hands, and pressed it firmly inside the cave.

The Clear Water Grouper struggled frantically upon being held, but there was little room for it to move.

Chu Mingcheng then slowly moved his hands, pressing firmly on its head with his left hand while attempting to grip its gills and holding its tail with his right hand to keep it as still as possible.

Soon, he had the Clear Water Grouper out of the cave, estimating it at around three pounds, not very big.

As it was alive, he didn’t want to put it in the net bag, fearing it might escape if he wasn’t careful.

So, Chu Mingcheng swam holding the fish towards the boat.

Upon reaching the steps at the back of the boat, he threw the fish onto the deck, “You two, put the fish in the live fish tank!”

“Man, how did you catch a live fish?” Zhang Wei hurriedly came over and grabbed the fish.

“Isn’t it just done with hands?” Chu Mingcheng spread his hands in the water, and no matter how one looked, his expression seemed almost facetious.

Zhang Wei: “Damn, it’s just diving, and you’re showing off.”

Chen Yang, who couldn’t resist fancy seafood, had already joined in, checked the fish, and his eyes lit up, “Ah Cheng, what kind of Grouper is this?”

“This is a Clear Water Grouper, considered a pretty good type of Grouper, much better than the green spot and the like, about the same level as a tiger spot!”

“The same level as a tiger spot? Well then, I call dibs on this fish!”

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