CHAPTER 516: CHAPTER 300: A PICKUP TRUCK SEEMS UNABLE TO STOP_2

"Will two hundred plus pounds be enough?" Hearing this news, Zhang Yang’s mouth curled up again.

"What do you think? The southern shore has deep water and the fish grab period is shorter. It’s usually a hundred yuan cheaper to fish here!" The captain of the fish collection team explained knowingly.

"Oh, oh!" Zhang Yang nodded repeatedly.

Just at this moment, a young man responsible for pulling up the fish net whispered, "Yang, it seems like the fish net is caught on the bottom! Can’t pull it up!"

Hearing this familiar issue of the fish net being stuck, Zhang Yang almost burst into laughter.

Zhang Yang quickly said, "Haha, it’s not stuck at the bottom, just too many fish. Scoop some out and it’ll be fine! Didn’t we scoop once yesterday at Bridge No. 155, already forgotten so soon!"

"Ah, it’s you! I remember you, yesterday’s pit champion!"

The young man recognized him and looked at Zhang Yang with admiration.

In Jinghai Garden, anglers who catch two to three hundred pounds are common, but hard-hitters like Zhang Yang managing seven to eight hundred pounds in one go are rare. Yesterday, just hauling out the fish took quite some time, leaving a deep impression on the young man.

"Damn! According to you, your team’s pickup today is a sure win!" The captain of the fish collection also realized, looking at Zhang Yang with changed eyes.

"Hehe, good luck! If we really win, I’ll treat you to a feast tonight!" Zhang Yang smiled, being very polite.

"That’s great, looks like you’ll actually get that feast tonight! With a net so full it can’t be pulled up, at least four hundred pounds as a base?"

Zhang Yang: "I’m not sure either, just scoop it out and weigh it to know!"

Soon, basket after basket of big carp was scooped out by the staff.

After two consecutive baskets, the fish net was finally pulled ashore.

After a busy session, once peeled, the net weight was 489.1 pounds! Just shy of ten pounds to break five hundred!

"No need to weigh the rest, your team’s champion has emerged! Truly impressive!" The fish collection captain gave Zhang Yang a thumbs-up.

"Hehe, lucky, lucky! Where do I sign for the score?"

"Here it is!"

The referee took a photo of the weighing data with his phone, filled in the final catch weight on the record form, and pointed to an empty space for Zhang Yang to sign his name.

Complete records, valid score, Zhang Yang’s pickup was essentially his, nearly five hundred pounds making him a standout on the southern shore.

...

While Zhang Yang was weighing fish, the rest of the team was also busily tallying their catches.

This bunch are regulars at events, old hands in the dark pit. At a top domestic pit like Jinghai Garden, their technical superiority was evident.

The changes in dark pit fish conditions aren’t as extreme as Competition Pond, less demanding on anglers overall. So even facing licensed master anglers, Han Qiang and team aren’t intimidated.

Especially Wang Yan at the bridge spot, abruptly switching to the 15H hard pole and aggressively ’Flying Kicking’ big carp, overflowing one pit net, switching to a backup net; struggled completing two net weights, total weight reached an astounding 835 pounds!

Seven full baskets plus half a basket of catch lined up — the scene was simply brutal, spectators around snapping photos with phones.

In less than ten minutes, Wang Yan’s selfie with catch appeared in his WeChat Moments, captioned aptly, "Jinghai Garden has a monster, flying kicking big carp over eight hundred pounds in four hours."

...

More than half an hour later, with each group’s catch results mostly tallied, today’s catch wasn’t returned. Though fishing could continue, having spent considerable physical exertion over four hours in the morning, no angler had the stamina to battle on under the scorching sun, packing up gear and finding places to cool off and recover.

Zhang Yang returned to the parking area with his tackle box, rod bag, and other equipment; Meng Fan and Liu Zi had already arrived ahead.

"Chief, how did the southern shore fare? Liu Zi and I might have a shot at team champion!"

Equipment not yet set down, he heard Meng Fan’s voice filled with excitement.

"Hmm? You and Liu Zi might clinch team champion? How many pounds did you catch?" Zhang Yang’s curiosity was piqued.

"I caught four hundred fifteen, Liu Zi slightly more, four hundred forty! Anyway, scores from others in our group don’t top ours!" Meng Fan said proudly.

"Wow! Impressive!" Upon hearing this score, Zhang Yang couldn’t help but glance at Meng Fan more appreciatively.

Actually, in terms of pit fishing skills, Zhang Yang was most concerned about Meng Fan and Liu Zi, the brothers who joined when signing up.

These two may have seemed to be getting their skills honed better in practice pools as arranged by Zhang Yang earlier in the year.

The reality was quite different!

In pit fish conditions, especially carp, as long as the fishing rhythm is right, it’s often not as challenging as the old slippery fish in competitive pools.

The difficulty cap is lower, naturally less demanding on anglers, provided fishing methods are suitable and reactions apt, stamina is the main factor.

These two, in typical game competitions, catching mixed fish, ended with around twenty to thirty kilograms max, excelling in finesse with small hooks and lines, yet in today’s average two-to-three-pound pit carp weight competition, their technical edge didn’t significantly stand out — adequate stamina was key to bringing fish in.

Regarding stamina, Meng Fan and Liu Zi couldn’t match Wang Yan, Han Qiang, and others who regularly ’Flying Copy’ and ’Flying Kicking’ like beasts.

The brothers both over four hundred pounds, averaging over a hundred pounds per hour — a very strong result indeed.

Meng Fan chuckled sheepishly: "Hehehe, wonder how Qiang and Chu did! Yan should have it in the bag! During the contest, I saw his constant Flying Kicking — quick bites!"

"Let’s wait, they should arrive soon! Han Qiang and Zhou Chu are in the same zone, from the west shore, it’s quite a distance!"

After about seven or eight minutes, Han Qiang and Zhou Chu hadn’t arrived, but Wang Yan came with several camera and fishing site interview personnel arranged by the organizers.

"This is our team leader, also our company’s head! My Flying Kicking technique was taught by him. YOYO wants to ask something? Directly ask our team leader!" Wang Yan cheerfully introduced Zhang Yang to the pretty female host behind him.

"Hello, you’re Teacher Zhang Yang, right? I’m yoyo, an appointed host for Happy Fishing, wanting a brief post-match interview with you! Are you available?"

Wearing fitting attire and radiating youthful energy, YOYO swiftly greeted Zhang Yang.

While YOYO greeted, Wang Yan was like an excited dog signaling Zhang Yang incessantly; knowing his behavior, Zhang Yang understood the meaning behind Wang Yan’s look — he had taken a fancy to this lady.

Han Qiang and Zhou Chu were established family men, with kids already, leaving only Wang Yan, who had both car and home, decent income, yet ongoing personal issues.

Numerous girlfriends, none turning long-term. Within the team was a running joke — Wang Yan’s affair couldn’t cross one month, nearly becoming team consensus.

Zhang Yang, though fond of beauty, had been steady and restrained since dating Xiao Wei.

Seeing his brother in such a hurry, Zhang Yang understood, nodding normally, "Sure! Not sure what you want to interview about. Happy Fishing has sent people?"

"Yes, for this Pickup Challenge they’ve focused heavily, sending a production team!

Just now on the bridge, our team gave Teacher Wang Yan tons of footage, his Flying Kicking carp skill, even to an amateur like me — obviously impressive!"

"Haha, Yan is indeed our team’s pit expert — most of our live account time is him streaming!"

Zhang Yang saw the young lady being so cordial, adding fuel seeing a bit of fangirling.

"I see, very impressive! Another question, if there’s no surprise, Teacher Wang Yan should win a pickup as a prize! How will your team handle it? Drive away or cash it out?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yang sensed an opportunity to show off, calmly said, "Are you sure it’s only one?"

"Our registration includes six people! Our team’s pickup is set, Meng Fan and Liu Zi’s catch also exceeded four hundred pounds; their chance of group championship is high!

If all goes well, a single pickup won’t suffice!!"