Taiwan Welcomes the Tuna Season: First Catch Signals Abundance

Fishermen in Su'ao and Donggang Celebrate Early Successes in the Annual Tuna Hunt

Taipei, April 7 - The anticipation surrounding Taiwan's tuna fishing season has been officially ignited. The arrival of the first significant catches of the season has been celebrated, with fishermen in both Yilan and Pingtung counties reporting remarkable successes.

In Su'ao Township, Yilan County, the coveted title of "first Su'ao tuna" of the season was awarded to the No. 168 Chuan Chang Lung, a fishing vessel that returned to Nanfang'ao port early Thursday. Their impressive black skipjack tuna weighed a hefty 216 kilograms, marking the symbolic beginning of the fishing season for the migratory fish. This tradition dictates that the first boat to bring in a tuna caught live on a longline, weighing at least 180 kilograms, is declared the winner.

Captain Lin Yi-chun (林宜俊), 49, skipper of the winning vessel, shared his experience. He ventured out to sea the previous Wednesday and successfully caught the tuna around 7:30 a.m. Sunday, within the overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZ) claimed by both Taiwan and Japan. Unlike 2020, when he unexpectedly used live milkfish, this year Lin employed squid and mackerel as bait. "I feel like I just hit the jackpot on a slot machine," Lin said, jubilant about his fortunate catch.

While the fishermen's association has yet to announce the auction date, the first Su'ao tuna from the previous year fetched NT$13,100 (US$395.9) per kilogram. Lin expressed his hopes for a similar or even higher price, with a target of NT$15,000 per kg -- or a total of NT$3.24 million for his prize catch, which would significantly benefit his crew, including the five Indonesian members whose salaries, health, and labor insurance premiums total over NT$300,000 per month.

Meanwhile, in Donggang Township, Pingtung County, the fishermen's association also announced the first tuna of the season, also on Monday. This black skipjack tuna, which is estimated to be around 210 kg, is scheduled for auction on Friday. The ship's captain, Chen Jui-hao (陳睿豪), reported that he caught the fish on his 32nd birthday, considering it "the perfect gift."