Pingtung 2016 Bluefin Tuna Season First Tuna Confirmed, Lively Auction on 4/23

2016 Pingtung Bluefin Tuna Cultural and Tourism Season First Tuna Confirmed! The Donggang District Fishermen's Association conducted an "identity verification" on the 20th for the bluefin tuna caught by the Donggang-registered fishing boat "Xinshengqing No. 126," confirming that the hook-started live fish, fishing waters, and other conditions all met the first tuna criteria, and by visual estimate it weighed over 200 kg, winning this year's bluefin tuna season "first tuna" first catch.

This is the third consecutive year that a Donggang-registered fishing boat has won the bid since the first tuna auction was held in the bluefin tuna season in 2002. After confirming the first tuna, the Pingtung County Government and the Donggang Fishermen's Association immediately set the auction time, holding the first tuna auction at 10:00 a.m. on April 23 at the Donggang Fish Market, with limited quantities of sashimi, free tastings of Donggang local cuisine, a local specialty hawking show, photo check-in lucky draws, and other activities on site. Everyone is welcome to come together and witness the auction value of the first tuna.

When the bluefin tuna was slowly hoisted up and revealed from the cabin of Xinshengqing No. 126, its sturdy body drew gasps of admiration from the onlookers. The appraisal committee members judged from the bluefin tuna's eyes, mouth, skin luster, and the color of the belly and tail whether it was a live fish when hooked, and finally the Fishermen's Association general Lin Hanchou announced that Xinshengqing No. 126 had won the first catch of the first tuna.

The captain of Xinshengqing No. 126, Chen Jinyi, has over 40 years of fishing experience. He had first reported catching the first tuna in 2009, but because he returned to port 15 minutes too late, the first catch was snatched by Zhenlongxing No. 2, and he missed the title of "first tuna," which made him regret it deeply. Chen Jinyi said that this fishing operation lasted 13 days. After catching the male bluefin tuna, by visual estimate it should have exceeded 220 kg, so he hurriedly returned overnight. Now that it is confirmed to have won the first catch of the first tuna, he is very happy, and after 7 years he has finally fulfilled his wish.