Chapter 55

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 55

Despite having a hangover, Karlos’ mood was great after pulling his first trap, which was filled with lobsters wriggling fiercely, their spiny antennae scraping against one another.

"Even though I didn’t get many crabs today, these lobsters can balance the equation and even turn the tide in my favor."

Karlos looked at the styrofoam box, which wasn’t even half filled. When he went to the mangroves earlier, he was relieved to find that the thief hadn’t touched his eight remaining traps near the trees, which meant at least some of his effort hadn’t gone to waste. However, his mood still didn’t fully improve because the crabs and prawns he caught were too few, not enough to meet the quota.

The styrofoam box was only one-third filled. As for the tiger prawns, there were seven pieces, and Karlos decided not to sell them since doing so would barely make a difference in profit. Instead, he would take them home to cook, his twins loved prawn meat.

After that, he decided to head toward the small island to check the seven traps he had set in the shallow waters. Passing by his usual fishing spot, he reached the island after about an hour, with the morning sun already burning hotter as sweat rolled down his back.

The small island was about the size of a basketball court and had little vegetation. He noticed some birds resting in the few trees, but they didn’t catch his attention, his focus was entirely on the water.

Instead, he searched for the floating styrofoam marked with red paint. Finding one, he pulled it out of the water and laughed in shock when he discovered four lobsters, each averaging 12 inches long and heavy enough to strain his muscles.

The lobsters he caught didn’t have pincers. They were spiny lobsters, a species without claws, which meant Karlos could hold them without worrying about crushed fingers. This lobster was delicious, and its tail, packed with juicy meat, was the most prized part, considered a delicacy not just locally but also in hotels and restaurants across other regions.

The lobsters slapped their tails as Karlos placed them in a different container. This one was actually meant for the fish he planned to catch later, but he decided to use it for the lobsters instead, realizing the value of his unexpected windfall and wanting to keep them safe.

Excited by the discovery, Karlos eagerly searched for the next trap, his heart pounding.

The nearest trap contained three more lobsters and a small crab. He threw the crab back into the sea since it wasn’t worth selling and keeping it would only waste space.

Karlos continued checking the traps until he reached the seventh one. By then, he had caught 22 adult spiny lobsters, and the sight of the container brimming with them almost made him dizzy with excitement. All of the lobsters were large, as smaller ones could escape through the gaps designed to prevent bycatch.

By now, the sun was glowing brightly, fighting against the cold morning breeze. Karlos decided to move on to his fishing spot since he still had enough time to fish today.

'I guess I should be thankful for the thief because he forced me to change my location. But what if I can’t find lobsters tomorrow? What if I’ve already caught most of the lobsters around this island?'

There was no use worrying. If that happened, he could always focus more on fishing.

Once he reached his usual spot, he noticed a boat passing by. Recognizing it, he waved his hand. The boat belonged to fishermen from a neighboring town farther south of the mangroves.

Karlos’ town had the largest fish port, so most fishing vessels sold their catch there because of the better facilities: storage, ice houses, and reliable buyers who offered fairer prices. That was why even boats from neighboring towns came to sell there.

The men on the other boat waved back. Though they didn’t know each other’s names, they had met several times at the port. They weren’t strangers, sharing the unspoken camaraderie of fishermen who faced the same sea.

The boat passed, and Karlos returned to fishing, hoping to catch salmon just as he had the day before.

'Once the salmon season starts, the factory in town will reopen to process them.'

The factory cut and processed salmon into boneless, skinless portions for restaurants and export. They would flash-freeze the fish first, then cut it into portions for sashimi or other dishes, ensuring freshness for long-distance transport.

Overall, salmon was seasonal in their region, making it expensive. Catching one was always a blessing.

To target King Salmon, also called Chinook Salmon, Karlos had brought half a kilo of herring packed in crushed ice, which he had bought at the wet market. At only six pesos, it was a small investment compared to the fortune a single large salmon could bring. Salmon loved herring, shrimp, and squid, making the bait ideal.

He carefully hooked the bait and cast the line.

It didn’t even take a minute before he felt a tug. He reeled it in until a massive salmon appeared, its shiny scales glinting. The fish was thicker than his leg. Swiftly, Karlos bled it to ensure better quality, knowing buyers always checked the clarity of the flesh. Smiling, he hooked another herring.

This time, it took a few minutes before another salmon bit. It thrashed wildly but eventually surrendered.

Two hours later, 17 adult king salmon, each as thick as his leg, lay on his boat, their silver bodies gleaming in the sun. Some still flopped weakly as they bled out.

Karlos decided it was time to head back, so he steered toward the fish port, exhausted but satisfied with the bounty.

When he arrived, he saw fishermen smiling from ear to ear. He immediately understood why, the salmon season had officially begun. The entire port buzzed with energy as word spread.

He saw baskets of salmon being pushed by porters, though the overall quantity was still small. Only a few lucky fishermen like himself had caught any, making him one of the earliest winners of the season.

During this season, some boat owners could earn millions.

"You caught lobsters? And how many?" Joseph was shocked when he saw the container filled with lobsters. He rubbed his eyes as if he couldn’t believe it.

"You’ll need to find another buyer. My clients are more interested in salmon and crabs, so I can’t help you with these right now."

"Alright," Karlos replied. He knew someone would buy the lobsters, it was just a matter of price. Hotels and restaurants would be eager to take them.

"The price of salmon went up to 572 pesos. You’re lucky to have caught so many."

Such fluctuations were normal. Once the peak season arrived, the price could even drop to 400 pesos, making every early haul far more valuable.

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[This novel has 37 chapters in Patreon.]