Dalian Deep-Sea Fishing: Up Early and Back Late, Spending a Whole Day at Sea – Seemingly Dull but Actually Full of Fun!

Sea fishing is an activity favored by people in China's coastal areas, quite different from fishing inland. I had long heard that sea fishing is very interesting, so I decided to join some locals in Dalian for a sea fishing experience. However, when I learned that sea fishers have to get up early and only return in the evening, spending a whole day on the open sea, I hesitated: should I go on such a boring and tedious trip? After much deliberation, I finally decided to give it a try. What I thought would be a dull day of sea fishing turned out to be full of fun. Why do I say that? Let me take you along to see for yourself!

Dalian sits on the boundary between the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea, making it the easternmost coastal city in the Bohai region. Its unique location creates a distinctive seaside cityscape. With vast sea areas and facing North Korea, South Korea, and Japan across the water, Dalian relies on the sea for its economy. Island life is mainstream, and sea fishing is an indispensable part of the locals' lives. After a few hours sailing on a pleasure boat, we reached the deep sea, and the sight of the islands was breathtaking. These photos were taken by Shanyejun during a sea trip earlier this month. Do you like them?

I don't know about the departure times for sea fishing in other coastal cities, but in Dalian, the boats usually leave very early—we had to be at the dock before 5 a.m. and didn't return until nearly dinner time, spending almost the whole day on the boat. At first I thought it would be boring, but later, while enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way and watching the fishers at work, I found it quite interesting.

To make the boat trip convenient, Shanyejun stayed at Anbu Homestay near the dock. The host prepared breakfast when I got up at 4:50 a.m., and we set off together for sea fishing. Is Dalian sea fishing so attractive? Many people joined us. Although Shanyejun didn't fish, following the boat to admire the deep-sea views and learn about sea fishing was also very enjoyable. What do you think?

From early morning, the sky had fully brightened. A cargo ship from Shanghai broke the calm of the Yellow Sea. Shanyejun captured a photo with a telephoto lens—such deep-sea scenery is rare and beautiful. Going out to sea isn't just for fishing; you can also enjoy the marine views. Having come from a foreign trade background, Shanyejun found the cargo ship nostalgic and watched it until it disappeared over the horizon.

After the cargo ship came a passenger ferry. This ferry, departing from Yantai at night and arriving in Dalian the next morning, formed a beautiful scene with the Bohai Sea. The fishing boats and the ferry together created a deep-sea view full of Dalian's unique charm. I really loved this feeling.

Now let's get to the main topic! The cost of sea fishing in Dalian is not low, but the catch often falls far short of expectations. It can be said that sea fishing is an activity where input and output are not proportional, and it takes a lot of time. Generally, sea fishing in Dalian is not considered from an economic perspective; rather, it's a hobby for the locals. Many people go purely for the fun of it. So in a sense, Dalian sea fishing is a local specialty.

Sea fishing has a high time cost—you have to get up early and return late, and whether you catch anything is uncertain. It tests your skill and willpower. If you keep calm, you might catch some nice fish. When an angler catches a healthy, beautiful fish, no matter its value, they feel genuine joy. Shanyejun also felt happy and was infected by the atmosphere.

If you like sea fishing, you must experience it in the deep sea when you come to Dalian. Even if you know nothing about sea fishing, I recommend giving it a try. Maybe you'll grow to love it like the locals do. Besides, the feeling of fishing in the deep sea off Dalian is certainly unique.

Getting up early and spending the whole day fishing on a boat—this seemingly dull and boring activity is actually very interesting. First, it lets you experience the thrill of deep-sea angling; second, you can enjoy the stunning seascapes of the Bohai and Yellow Seas. Seabirds flying everywhere over the water create the most beautiful scenery of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea.

As the article comes to an end, Shanyejun would like to share some tips on Dalian sea fishing. Boats for sea fishing in Dalian can be luxury ones, costing 150 yuan per person per day. You can share a boat with other anglers; it departs when there are at least six people. Alternatively, you can charter a boat for about 1,200 yuan per day. Also, when sea fishing, be sure to pay attention to whether there are small islands or reefs nearby—these areas may be contracted by fishing companies, and you should not enter them for fishing without permission.