China 2009 - Shandong Province - I
Snakehead hunting in Shandong Province
Channa argus in Shandong Province, E China.
On this day trip we fished in two locations both recommend by Sun Kaiqian. He is a local and was the initiator of this trip. Without local help we would have never found these locations, neither we would have had access. The target fish was clearly declared in advance; Channa argus, the only snakehead species which occurs in Shandong waters. Honestly I did not believe we will catch some. Channa argus is widely spread in this region, but never frequent.
The first spot was beside a cemetery and is linked to Golf course water system. We fished with a spanned net, cast net, basket fish trap.
At 10:00 am the water was cool and highly turbid. The best yield brought the basket fish trap (picture on the right), a primitive but very suitable tool to catch fish and other aquatic animals.
The basket works rather well in shallow ponds with muddy bottom. It is easy to use - after some exercise. One just throw it in the shallow water. The landing must be in a way that fishes are trapped, no sniveling. Finally fishes are collected by hand which requires some skills.
The first catch: Carassius gibelio, a common cyprinid in temperate China; caught with the basket.
These Macrobrachium shrimps were rather rare, especially in this large size. The picture shows a pair; male below.
Biotope ECSSSY-CN 58-09 around the Golf course - the main water body.
This specimen of Tachysurus fulvidraco has been caught with the bare hands by Sun Kaiqian - this guy has amazing skills.
The most abundant species in the main pond was Chanodichthys erythropterus. It seem to put pressure on the Pseudorasbora parva stock, since the latter was unexpectedly rare.
All Chanodichthys have been cast netted by Sui Quan.
Then, suddenly Sui Quan cast netted our target fish: a 37 cm (TL) Channa argus. Everybody was excited and happy.
Channa argus - the Northern or Amur Snakehead.
More facts about this species here.
I could not save the snakehead. At around noon all participants were hungry. The Channa went on its last trip into a nearby restaurant where we ate freshwater bouillabaisse made of Tachysurus, Chanodichthys, Channa.
Common carp: Cyprinus carpio.
Time for feeding. The main food is just mats of green algae.
The yield: huge Hypophthalmichthys nobilis. These fishes are sold living to Restaurants.
Hypophthalmichthys nobilis; 97 cm TL; aquaculture.
I am greatly indebted to Sun Kaiqian who made this trip possible. Last but not least I would like to thanks all my friends participating this trip.
◊ (red hollow rhomb) = location of biotopes ECSSSY-CN 58-09 Jihongtan (棘洪滩), ECSSSY-CN 59-09 Yinhuangjiqing (引黄济青)
We cast netted Procambarus clarkii, an allochthonous crayfish from the USA. It is mass produced in aquaculture in China. For consumption it is spicily boiled.
