After the four-month fishing ban was lifted on Sept 1, more than 16,000 fishing vessels in Shandong set sail, ready to offer a feast of seafood for all.

Fishermen in Rizhao eagerly set sail for the first catch of the season. At 12 pm, boats powered towards the Lingshan Island waters. After four hours of trawling, the first haul was brought in, yielding over 8,000 pounds of seafood, including abundant hairtail and mackerel.

"The first net is the best of the year," said Wang Bing, a local fisherman, as he busily loaded his boat with supplies early in the morning.

Eager to be the first, they rushed to the fishing grounds to secure a prime spot. At 12 pm, the boat sped out of the harbor and reached the Lingshan Island waters by 1 pm. Hearing from local anglers that a school of hairtail was nearby, Wang cast his net without hesitation.

The first catch was so successful that orders for crabs and large hairtail were pouring in even before the boat docked. Most boats reported a strong first haul. By Sept 2, fresh seafood will be available for consumers to enjoy.

Wang shows off his catch. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Fishermen sort out the fish they caught. [Photo/Dazhong News]