After the Ultrasonic Electric Boat Passed: Baiting Fails, Fishing Trips Are a Bust!

Let me tell you—this weekend was supposed to be either cozy at home (if I caught COVID) or out chasing fish (if I stayed negative). But nope. Reality hit hard when an ultrasonic electric fishing boat cruised by, leaving Old Man Zhou with a shattered dream and a heart that felt like it had been run over. Ugh, talk about a gut punch!

That Boat? Nothing Like the One in Jiaxing

You know that iconic boat on South Lake in Jiaxing that gave birth to a great political party? Yeah, this little craft? Total opposite. Instead of hope and history, it brought anger and empty nets. I mean, c’mon—how do two small boats end up on such different sides of the spectrum? One’s a symbol of progress, the other’s a magnet for “what the hell were they thinking?” vibes.

Netters vs. Baiters: No Peace in Sight

At first, I thought, “Hey, netters do their thing, I’ll do mine—live and let live.” But nope. The guys with the long fishing rods near the netting spot were cursing up a storm, packing up their gear like they’d had enough. And who could blame ’em? The fish were basically ghosting the entire area.

Fishless = No Cool Fishing Stories (Sad Face)

Here’s the thing: when you don’t catch anything, you can’t brag. No fish photos mean no epic “I reeled in a monster” tales. I was stuck staring at my empty bucket, trying to think of something witty to say… and coming up blank. To make it worse? I snagged like three tree branches from the bottom. Three! Talk about a waste of bait and patience.

It’s Worse Than Just Netting—They’re Electric Fishing!

Oh, I wish it was just netting. Nope. These guys tie red bricks to their electric boats and drag ’em along the bottom. The high voltage shocks the bottom fish, making ’em thrash around and get stuck in the nets. And get this—when they pull the bricks up, they’re hot. Like, “don’t touch that” hot. That’s how intense the electricity is. How do young, healthy guys (in their prime, no less) think this is okay? There’s a saying: “A gentleman makes money the right way.” Hard work, smarts—those are how you get ahead. But these folks? Their “hustle” is electrocuting fish. What’s wrong with their values? Their humanity?

Why Not Call the Cops? Spoiler: It’s Pointless

Everyone asks, “Why didn’t you report ’em?” My answer? Three words: “It does nothing.” The local law enforcement? They’re like decorations—look good, but do nothing. Unless someone gets hurt, drowned, or electrocuted? They don’t care. So why bother? It’s just more frustration for me.

Enough of the sad stuff. Let’s talk about trying a new spot, okay?

New Spot, Same Old Problem (Sort Of)

This new spot was a heavy brush area. Mid-fishless wait, a tiny baby crucian carp got tangled in underwater branches. I had to step on a pile of dead twigs to reach it—totally sketchy, but I wasn’t losing my float and line! Shoutout to the young angler from Shengtong International City who helped me out. Dude was a lifesaver (literally, I almost fell in).

Chasing a “Viral” Spot (Spoiler: It’s Dead)

Since I was stuck at home (Omicron, you’re a jerk), I hit up a spot that was all over TikTok a month back. But guess what? It had been trashed by electric fishermen a month prior. They pulled out tons of fish—like, metric tons. I thought, “A month later, maybe some survivors are hungry?” Nope. Wrong.

Two Hours of Baiting = Zero Bites

I baited for two whole hours. Sat there. Waited. And my float? It might as well have been glued to the water. “Ultrasonic electric boat passed—baiting fails, fishing trips are a bust.” That’s not just a title—it’s my reality. The water was so dead, I could’ve cast a brick and gotten more action.

Another Spot, Another Bust

Fine, I tried another spot. Same result: crickets. It’s not my bait, okay? I didn’t mess up the recipe. The problem? No fish. Or the fish that are left are so scared they won’t eat a single thing. All this is on the netters and electric fishermen. Karma’s gonna get ’em—you can’t mess with nature and get away with it.

Only “Fish” Left: Tiny Dirt Gobies

When you’re desperate, you start catching anything. The only “catch” was dirt gobies. Tiny little guys—you’d miss ’em if you blinked. I’m talking “barely weighs anything” tiny. Not exactly a trophy.

Stupid “Fishing Poses” (Because Boredom)

When there’s no bites, you do dumb stuff. I started doing fake fishing poses—you know, the “look how strong I am reeling in a monster” thing. But then I saw something that made my heart sink.

A Sick Dove: Nature’s Sad Reminder

There was a pearl dove, all puffed up, waiting to die. One eye was blind, its beak was glued shut with gunk, tongue was messed up. I picked it up, looked at it, and put it back where it was curled up. I couldn’t help it. It was just waiting for the end. Made me think: even birds have it rough. Life’s cruel sometimes.

Final Catch: Two Tiny Crucians (Almost Air Force)

At the end of the day? Two tiny baby crucians. Barely avoided being “Air Force” (fishing slang for zero catches). But let’s be real—those little guys don’t count as a win.

My “Lessons” (If You Can Call ’Em That)

After all that, I’ve got two takeaways—take ’em or leave ’em:

• Don’t be naive about electrocuted waters. Just because a month passed doesn’t mean fish are back. Unless it’s a stocked pond where fish escaped—then maybe. But wild waters? Forget it.
• Winter + north wind = bad idea. First, you’ll freeze your butt off. Second, the cold snaps make fish shut their mouths tighter than a clam. Save yourself the hypothermia and the empty bucket.

So that’s my weekend. Not exactly a fishing adventure—more like a lesson in how humans mess up nature, and how frustrating law enforcement can be. But hey, I still love fishing. Even when I catch nothing. It’s the peace, you know? The quiet by the water. Even if the fish are gone, that’s still there.

And hey—love yourself, love the people around you, love the world. Even when it’s messed up. To all my fellow anglers out there: keep chasing those bites. Maybe next time, the fish won’t be ghosting us. Stay safe, stay warm, and tight lines (even if they’re fake like mine were).

— Old Man Zhou, December 26, 2024