Fishing, Life, and a Year of Non-Stop Curveballs
Let me start with a little poem I jotted down to sum up my fishing vibe—because every dedicated angler needs a little poetic flair, right?
A rod, a line, by the water’s edge,
Rain, wind, heat, cold—they’re just part of the hedge.
Most folks don’t get the joy of casting free,
But out here? I’m a half-day king of the world, carefree!
2023 hit me like a rogue wave—between a global pandemic dragging on for three years, a chaotic work schedule, and weather that felt like it was personally testing my patience, this year’s fishing game was nothing like I planned. I went into January thinking, “This is gonna be my record-breaking year for catches and trips!” Spoiler alert: Life had other ideas. But hey, even with all the chaos, I still managed to reel in some wins, learn hard lessons, and make memories that’ll stick with me longer than any trophy fish.
How COVID-19 Messed With My Fishing Groove (Again)
January started off strong! Thanks to the hard work of everyone on the Shanghai Jiushi International Equestrian Center project, we wrapped up our goals on time, which meant I got a full three days off for New Year’s. I hit the water three straight days, and I was convinced this was the start of something epic. Then March rolled around, and Shanghai’s COVID restrictions cranked back up to 11.
April was full lockdown mode, and May only let us leave the house for quick, supervised grocery runs. But when you’re a fishing addict, you find ways. I planned my grocery trips like a military operation—maximizing efficiency so I could squeeze in 30 minutes of casting with a tiny, lightweight setup. Was it glamorous? No. Did it scratch that itch and keep me from going stir-crazy? Absolutely. I caught next to nothing, but just being by the water felt like a full reset.
Work Chaos: When Project Juggling Killed My Catch Rate
As if COVID wasn’t enough, March 25th I got transferred off the equestrian project. At first, they tried to stick me with FOUR renovation projects across 4 different districts in Shanghai. Four! The commute alone would’ve meant I spent more time on the subway than fishing. I sat down with my boss, looked them dead in the eye, and said, “Either I take two projects and do them right, or I take four and let all of them fail.” Smart move, right? Turns out even two projects were a nightmare.
Each project had totally different needs, spread across the city, and I was constantly switching gears—one minute I’m coordinating material deliveries, the next I’m troubleshooting design issues. The only time my brain could shut off was when I was fishing. But here’s the kicker: the more stressed I was at work, the worse my catches got. It’s like the universe was enforcing some weird “energy conservation law” for anglers. I’d show up to my spot, relax, and blank out. At least the peace of mind was worth it, even if the cooler stayed empty.
Heatwave From Hell: When Even the Fish Hid Indoors
Then summer hit. Oh man, that summer was brutal. The temperatures skyrocketed and stayed there for weeks—even the shaded spots under bridges felt like saunas. I’d show up at dawn, sweat through my shirt by 7 a.m., and still catch almost nothing. The fish were smart; they were hiding in the deepest, coldest parts of the water, avoiding the surface like it was on fire. I tried every trick in the book: switching to lighter lures, fishing at midnight, even using frozen bait to keep my line cool. Nada. It was like the lake was giving me the middle finger.
Fishing, Family, and Avoiding the “TikTok Famous” Spots
On top of all that, I had to balance fishing with taking care of my mom. She’s getting older, and she needs an elevator to get around, so I split my fishing gear between two places—my place and her apartment. Most days, I fished at the central park near her place. It was convenient: I could cast a line, run up to check on her, and be back before my bait even sank. Plus, it let me skip all those overhyped “TikTok famous” fishing spots that popped up this year.
Don’t get me wrong, I love finding new spots, but those viral spots? They feel totally staged. You show up and there’s 50 other anglers crammed shoulder to shoulder, and half of them are just there to film reels, not fish. No thanks. I’ll stick to my quiet park spot where the only audience is the ducks and my mom’s cat.
My Most Embarrassing (and Hilarious) Fishing Fail of the Year
Let’s talk about the low point: December 17th. I braved freezing temperatures, wind that felt like it was trying to knock me into the lake, and a full-on winter cold snap to cast a line for two hours. You know what I caught? One single snail. ON MY LINE, not even on the hook. I stared at that snail for a solid minute, thinking, “Is this a joke? Did the universe run out of fish to give me?” I was this close to coming back the next day for a rematch, but then…
I tested positive for COVID. Yep, after dodging it for three years, I finally got hit. I spent the next week stuck at home, acting like a remote work “customer service rep” while my body fought off the virus. But silver lining: it gave me the perfect excuse to finally sit down and write this report.
The Numbers: My 2023 Fishing Stats (Surprising, I Know)
Let’s get down to business—here are the hard numbers from 2023:
- Total catch: 1,023 fish
- Total released: 496 fish
Wait, that release rate is way lower than usual, right? Normally I let most of my catches go, but this year was different. With COVID messing up grocery deliveries and supply chains, I was getting creative with food: growing sprouts on my windowsill, cooking with aloe vera, and even planting veggies on my balcony. Those wild fish became a reliable source of high-quality protein for me. It felt weird keeping them at first, but it was either that or eat instant noodles for three months. Priorities, am I right?
My 2023 Fishing Wins: New Species and Wild Experiments
Okay, enough of the bummer stuff—let’s talk about the wins! This year had some of the coolest surprises of my fishing career.
That Time I Caught a Snail (Yes, It Counts as a Win)
Okay, the snail catch was embarrassing, but it’s also become my favorite story to tell at fishing meetups. Who catches a snail on their wind line? Me, apparently. It’s the kind of dumb, random moment that makes fishing worth it.
My Wildest Fishing Hack: Remote Bait Boat + Kite Reel
This year I decided to get weird with my gear. I took a remote-controlled bait boat and rigged it up to a kite reel. Why? Because why not? It was totally overkill for my park spot, but it worked! I could drop bait exactly where I wanted it, even in the middle of the pond without having to cast super far. Was it practical? Maybe not. Was it the most fun I’ve had with fishing gear all year? 100%.
New Species Alert: Silver Carp and a Monster Soft-Shell Turtle!
The biggest win? I caught two species I’d never reeled in before: silver carp and a massive soft-shell turtle. Let’s start with the carp: I hooked nine in one day! I would’ve caught more, but my dog Wangzi ate half my bait recipe. Stupid, adorable dog. Still, nine new species in one day? I’ll take it.
But the real trophy? A 3.8 jin (that’s about 1.9 kg) soft-shell turtle. I still can’t believe it happened. I cast my line, felt a huge tug, and thought, “Wow, that’s a big fish!” When I reeled it in, my jaw hit the ground. Turtles are such a rare catch here—they’re super skittish and mostly active at night. I stared at that turtle for five minutes before gently taking it off the hook. It was the highlight of my year, no question.
I Helped My Team Win a Trophy!
And one more win: I joined a fishing tournament with some friends, and my team took home second place! All those years of practicing on my own, reading every fishing blog I could find, and testing weird bait recipes finally paid off. I didn’t catch the biggest fish, but my consistent small catches kept our team in the game. It felt amazing to not let my buddies down.
Fishing Saved Me From COVID (Kind Of)
Here’s a weird silver lining to getting COVID: all that time fishing kept me in decent shape. I’m not a gym rat, but casting a line works my upper body, and biking to my fishing spots keeps my legs moving. When I got sick, I had a mild case—no meds needed, just rest and lots of soup. My immune system fought it off like a champ. Now, I’m not saying fishing is a COVID cure (please listen to your doctor!), but staying active outdoors definitely didn’t hurt.
Now that I’m on the mend, I’ve been taking it easy. I walk past the park some days and see all the anglers out there, and my fingers itch to grab my rod. But I know better. My body needs time to recover, and fishing will always be there next year.
Final Thoughts: To Next Year’s Catches (and Fewer Snails)
This year wasn’t the record-breaking fishing year I planned, but it was the year I learned to adapt. I learned that fishing isn’t just about the catches—it’s about the escape, the quiet moments by the water, and the weird, wonderful stories that come with it. It’s about balancing work and family, and finding joy even when everything feels like it’s going wrong.
To all my fellow anglers out there: don’t get discouraged when the fish aren’t biting, or life throws you a curveball. Take a breath, re-tie your line, and remember: the water will always be there. And hey, if you catch a snail? Embrace it. It’ll make for a great story later.
Here’s to 2024: more catches, fewer snails, and way less COVID chaos. See you by the water!
