novelraw Chapter 87: First Catch, First Victory
Chapter 87: First Catch, First Victory
Early in the morning, Pelican Town was still quiet. Most folks hadn’t stepped out yet, and those who had were hurrying to work. Leon didn’t run into anyone familiar on his way.
The ride to the beach was smooth and easy. Thanks to the portability of his bicycle, Leon even pedaled straight onto the pier.
“Hey! Morning, Willy.”
As soon as he got onto the pier, Leon spotted Willy standing at the corner, facing the sea. Beside him sat a water tank.
“Haha, Leon, finally seeing you bring out a fishing rod. I was starting to think you’d forgotten all about this fine, healthy pastime.” Willy turned at the sound of Leon’s voice. His eyes lit up instantly when he noticed the rod slung over Leon’s shoulder.
“Come on, this is the best time for fishing. Get your rod ready and enjoy the thrill of battling with the fish.”
Without hesitation, Leon parked his bike next to Willy’s seaside shack and joined him.
The bamboo fishing rod Willy had given him looked simple, but the reel, line, float, and hook were already set up. All Leon needed to do was slip the hook from the notch at the rod’s tip, release the reel’s drag switch, bait the hook, and cast into the sea.
“Here, use any bait you like from this box.” Seeing Leon ready to cast but without bait, Willy nudged a small box by his feet toward him.
Inside were three kinds of bait: soft, pinkish worms; thumb-sized shrimp; and shucked oyster meat.“They all work about the same for attracting fish,” Willy said as Leon eyed them, clearly struggling to choose. “But if you’re after big ones, I’d go with the worms.”
“And which one are you using?” Leon asked. He picked up a worm, hooked it on, and cast into the sea. The sinker carried the hook down until the buoyant floats stopped it from sinking further.
“Gus ordered twenty anchovies from me, so I’m using oyster meat,” Willy replied.
“And the worms? What do they target?” Leon asked, glancing at the bobbing float before looking back.
“Halibut, herring—big carnivorous fish like that. First time out, you should aim for a big one. Makes for a more memorable first experience.” Willy grinned.
“Big fish must be tricky to reel in, right?” Leon felt a little uneasy. He remembered struggling badly the first time he tried fishing in Stardew Valley.
“Nope, it’s all about strength. Remember what I told you before—if you don’t get your line snagged, you’ll have no trouble hauling up these treasures of the sea,” Willy said encouragingly.
Leon nodded, recalling Willy’s tips from their last trip out to sea. It gave him some confidence, though he knew real experience was the real test.
Fishing wasn’t just about tricking the fish—it was a test of patience. Unlike freshwater fishing, where you mostly waited, sea fishing meant moving the bait to stir the predator instinct of carnivorous fish.
Since sea fish were more aggressive, Leon had to keep twitching the line to make the bait move—though not too often, or the fish might miss the hook.
Willy kept an eye on Leon’s float. He knew Leon was still new to this and didn’t want him to get discouraged. For Willy, making a fishing buddy was worth the effort.
“There we go.”
Seeing the float pulled halfway under, Willy alerted him.
Leon had already noticed. Before Willy even spoke, he yanked the rod up. The taut line and the pull on the other end told him—he had a bite.
Even small fish could pull two or three times their weight underwater. The moment the hook set, Leon saw his reel spinning as the line was stripped away.
“Reel it in! Don’t let it run all the way out. Keep your rod angled against its escape direction!” Willy called out.
Leon gripped the rod with his right hand and cranked the reel clockwise with his left. The fish’s frantic struggle made it hard work, but the quality of the line let him muscle through.
Bit by bit, the fish came closer, until the high-held rod lifted it from the water. Sunlight glinted off its flailing scales amid the spray.
“Nice size—halibut,” Willy said instantly.
Leon didn’t have the breath to answer. The fish fought like a wild dog, but his growing strength helped him hold on.
“Up you go.”
Locking the drag, Leon stepped back, pulled hard, and swung the rod. The halibut arced through the air and landed beside him.
Willy quickly unhooked it, gripped it by the gills, and held it up for Leon to see.
“Fifty-four centimeters. For nearshore fishing, that’s a fine halibut. Congratulations, Leon—first catch, first victory.”
Grinning, he handed it to Leon. “Feel the weight.”
Holding the fish to his chest, Leon smiled. “Give me a price, Willy. How much could it sell for?”
“I wouldn’t recommend selling your first catch. Among us fishers, the first fish is either released or eaten. It’s for luck—and a reward to yourself. But if you really want to sell, I’d give you a hundred for this size and condition.”
Willy explained without killing Leon’s mood. He knew farming was Leon’s main work—fishing was just a hobby and side income.