Anning Zhuyue Bay Fishing: My Second Trip After New Year – Finally Beating the Boss!

New Year Weight Gain & My Fishing Comeback Plan

Okay, let’s be real—New Year’s is a trap. You eat too much, sit around too much, and suddenly you’re stepping on the scale and screaming, “WHEN DID I GAIN 11 POUNDS?!” Yeah, that was me. Turns out, skipping fishing during the holidays was a huge mistake. Fishing isn’t just about catching fish—it’s about hauling gear, walking around, and actually moving. So I made a promise: more fishing = less guilt = no more “New Year fat” jokes. And my first target? Anning Zhuyue Bay, for my second fishing trip after the holidays. Let’s dive in.

From Weight Gain to Black Pit Dreams: My Fishing Journey So Far

Last year, I got bored with “weight ponds” (you know, the ones where you just catch fish for fun, no stakes). So I jumped into black pit fishing—you know, the ones where you pay a fee and try to catch enough fish to “beat the boss” (the pond owner) by getting your money back or even making a profit. I watched all those TikTok and Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) fishing influencers “owning” the bosses, and I thought, “I can do that too!” Spoiler: I couldn’t. Every time I went, the boss owned me. Like, hard. But hey, “fool me once, shame on you; fool me ten times, I’m still going back because fishing is addictive.”

First Trip of the Year: A Total Flop at Bibo Fish Pond

My first 2024 trip was to Bibo Fish Pond. I can’t even remember how much I paid, but let’s just say it was way too much for the 5 tiny fish I caught. Total blood loss. I left feeling defeated, but also stubborn. “Next time,” I thought, “I’m going to Zhuyue Bay. And I’m not leaving until I catch something worth bragging about.”

Pre-Trip Chaos: No Breakfast, No Sleep, All Fishing

Waking Up Before the Chickens (Literally)

Fishermen have a superpower: we wake up earlier than anyone. 6:30 AM on a Saturday? I was up, showered, and ready to go. My plan? Stop by the local market for breakfast before hitting the road. But guess what? The market wasn’t even open. No fried dough sticks, no steamed buns, no porridge—nothing. I stood there for a second, then thought, “Screw breakfast. Good fishing spots wait for no one.” So I grabbed my gear and bolted.

Roadside Breakfast Disaster

Halfway to Zhuyue Bay, I spotted a roadside stall selling buns, porridge, and fried dough. I pulled over, starving. Big mistake. The bun was basically a dough ball with 3 tiny meat crumbs. The porridge tasted like leftover rice from yesterday. And get this—10 yuan for a bun and porridge? In Kunming, that’s usually 7.5 yuan! I ate it anyway (hangry = no choice), but let’s just say it was the worst pre-fishing meal ever. Note to self: bring snacks next time.

Waking Up the Boss (Literally)

I rolled up to Zhuyue Bay at 8 AM, and guess who was still asleep? The owner, Mr. Jin. The gate was locked, and I could hear him snoring inside. I called him—over and over—until he finally stumbled out, rubbing his eyes. “You’re here way too early,” he mumbled. But hey, early bird gets the best spot, right? I was the first one there, so I got to pick my dream spot by the water.

Setting Up Shop: Gear, Bait, and Hopes

Let’s talk gear. I’m a creature of habit—5.4-meter rod, 2.5 main line, 1.2 sub line, 3# New Guan Dong hook, and a 1.5-gram short float. Why? Because the water level at Zhuyue Bay dropped 20 inches (about 50 cm) recently, so it’s only 16-20 inches deep now. Shallow water needs a short float. I set up my chair, strung the line, adjusted the float, mixed the bait, and cast. Now, wait.

The First Catch: Panic, Chaos, and a Big Fish

I cast 10+ times, just letting the bait sit to “feed the spot” (you know, get the fish interested). Then, the float twitched. I ignored it—fish love to play games. A few more casts, and BAM! The float disappeared. I jerked the rod—hook set! “Oh my god, that’s a big one!” I yelled. Then I panicked: I forgot to assemble my net. Oops. So I did what any desperate fisherman would do: hold the rod with one hand, dig the net out of my bag with the other, step on the net base, assemble it in 10 seconds, and scoop the fish. It was a 2-pound crucian carp (silver carp, maybe? Doesn’t matter—it was huge). I was so happy I almost fell into the water.

The Day Unfolds: Morning Bites, Lunch Lull, and Afternoon Action

Morning was golden. Every 10-15 minutes, I had a bite. I caught small ones, medium ones, even another big one. Then lunch hit. “God can’t catch fish at noon,” they say. And today, that was mostly true. But wait—from 1:30 to 3:30 PM, I still caught 5 more fish. Not a total bust. I sat there, eating a sad sandwich (I should’ve brought better food), and watched the water. Fishing is weird—one minute you’re bored, the next you’re yelling. It’s the best kind of chaos.

The Big Weigh-In: Did I Beat the Boss?

At the end of the day, I packed up my fish. The blue bucket was almost full. Mr. Jin grabbed his handheld scale, but it kept acting up. We messed with it for 10 minutes—tapping it, resetting it, even blowing on it (old school tech fix). Finally, it worked. “18 kilograms,” he said. Wait, 18 kg? That’s 39.7 pounds! I couldn’t believe it. I beat the boss! All those times he owned me? Gone. I was on cloud nine.

My Fishing Mantra: Keep Trying, Even When You Lose

Let’s be honest—fishing is 90% waiting, 5% catching, and 5% panicking. But the best part? The thrill of the bite, the pride of landing a big fish, and the satisfaction of beating the boss after months of losing. I’ve learned two things: 1) “Get owned every time, but keep going—one day you’ll win.” 2) “Pick the right spot and use the right bait, and you’ve got a shot.”

Final Thoughts: Why I’ll Keep Coming Back to Zhuyue Bay

So, was this trip perfect? No. The breakfast was terrible, I almost forgot my net, and the scale was a disaster. But was it fun? Hell yes. Fishing isn’t just about the catch—it’s about the early mornings, the bad food, the panic, and the moments when you think, “I’m never doing this again… until next weekend.” I’m already planning my next trip to Zhuyue Bay. Maybe I’ll bring better snacks. Maybe I’ll remember my net. Maybe I’ll catch even more fish. Who knows? But one thing’s for sure: I’m hooked (pun totally intended).