My 2024 Fishing Journey: 83 Trips, 240+ Pounds, and So Many Stories
Let’s cut to the chase—2024 was a wild ride for my fishing life. I hit the water 83 times this year, which works out to roughly once a week (okay, maybe a little more when I was obsessed). All told, I hauled in around 240 pounds of fish! Wait, let’s break that down: August alone gave me over 100 pounds, and if I do the math (average 2 pounds per trip × 70 trips), that’s 140 pounds—but let’s be real, I released tons of small crucian carp, so the actual total is way higher. My biggest single haul? 30+ pounds of silver carp and bighead carp in one go. And the star of the show? A 15-pound bighead carp that almost broke my rod. But hey, it wasn’t all sunshine and big catches—April and May? Total zeros. Thanks to Shanghai’s lockdown, I couldn’t fish for two whole months. Man, that was brutal. I was this close to losing my mind!
January: From “Skunked” to 50 Pounds of Crucian Carp
New Year’s Day (well, January 2nd) started off rough—I got skunked. Total bummer, right? So I did what any desperate angler would do: hopped in my car and drove to Baycheng Yangcheng Lake. And boom—50 pounds of crucian carp plus a few bream! That haul wiped out the frustration of the skunk faster than you can say “fish on.” Nothing beats turning a bad day into a great one with a cooler full of fish.
March: The Lockdown Miracle—Small Line, Big Carp
2024’s most memorable trip? Hands down, March 18th. Why? Because it was during the lockdown—you know, that time when getting a “meat dish” was like winning the lottery. I was using a 3.6m rod, 0.8 main line, 0.4 leader, and a size 3 hook… and I landed a 3.5-pound common carp! Are you kidding me? Small line vs. big fish, and I won. That carp wasn’t just a catch—it was a symbol of hope during those crazy lockdown days. Also, let’s be real: it tasted amazing. Lockdown or not, fishing gives you freedom, and man, I was so glad when that stupid pandemic started to fade. Free fishing = happy life!
August: My Lure Fishing Glow-Up (and a $50 Mistake)
Let’s talk about the funniest trip of 2024: August 26th, fishing with my childhood buddy in the tributary of my hometown’s big lake. This was my first real shot at topwater lures (poppers, specifically) and the “rookie stick” for chasing coilia nasus (those sleek, silvery fish that love fast lures). I started with a total disaster—on my 10th cast with a popper, I “fired the gun” (angler speak for line snap) and lost a $50 lure. Ouch. But hey, failure is the best teacher! I kept practicing, and by the end of the day? I was hooking coilia left and right. That feeling of finally “getting it” with lures? Priceless. Worth every penny of that lost popper.
My Go-To Species: Silver Carp/Bighead Carp and Crucian Carp
Let’s get real—I’m a specialist at two things: silver carp/bighead carp and crucian carp. For silver carp? I’m all about floating fishing. Give me a spot with some depth, and I’ll haul them in. August was my silver carp era—countless catches, including that 15-pound giant. Crucian carp? They’re my bread and butter. Why? Because if you can master crucian carp fishing, you can catch anything. They’re finicky—you need precise rigs, and your bait has to be perfectly mixed. No cutting corners with crucian carp!
And more crucian carp and silver carp photos—because why not? I caught so many, my camera roll is overflowing!
New Skills in 2024: Lure Fishing Breakthroughs
Before 2024, my lure game was sad—I could only catch small whitebait with micro lures. But this year? I leveled up! I finally got the hang of topwater lures (thanks to that August trip) and even started using bigger lures for larger fish. Want a pro tip for big water? Use these lures for monster catches:
- Popper lures (great for surface strikes)
- Soft plastic baits (versatile for different depths)
- Spinnerbaits (flashy, perfect for aggressive fish)
New Spots Unlocked: Suzhou River and Liuhe River
Lockdowns had one silver lining—they forced me to explore local spots I’d never tried before. I always thought Suzhou River and Liuhe River were too fast-flowing for silver carp, but guess what? I was wrong! With persistent casting to attract fish and finding the right water layer, I caught silver carp there too. Pro tip: don’t eat the fish from these rivers (thanks to pollution), but they’re fun to catch! And let’s talk about the Yangtze River’s 10-year fishing ban—man, the fish population has exploded! It’s a game-changer. But hey, a quick rant: anchor fishing guys? You’re the worst. Stop ruining the spots for everyone else!
The Good, the Bad, and the Surprising
2024 had its low points—like June’s “thumb-sized silver carp” fiasco. After the lockdown ended, I was so excited to fish that I booked two trips with a guide… and all I caught were tiny silver carp. Total scam! The guide promised big fish, but I left empty-handed (well, almost). Rant over. On the bright side? I caught a small snakehead on powder bait fishing! That was a shock—snakeheads are predators, so catching one on regular bait was a nice surprise. Reminded me of 2023, when I caught a 2-pound topmouth culter on the same setup.
Closing Thoughts: Bring On 2025!
2024 ended with a bang—well, a “gudgeon party” (tons of tiny gudgeons) on New Year’s Eve. But hey, it’s all part of the fun. Lockdowns taught me to appreciate every fishing trip, and 2024 gave me so many stories to tell: big catches, stupid mistakes, new skills, and even a few rants. To all my fellow anglers: let’s hope 2025 is even better—more fish, fewer lockdowns, and no scam guides. Let’s hit the water together, catch big crucian carp and giant silver carp, and keep the joy of fishing alive. Tight lines, everyone!
