I am a local in North America

Chapter 67: Fish Caught!!! (4000 words, please read on, vote, and add to your favorites!)

Early morning of match day.

As dawn broke, the Paratka pier was already bustling with activity.

The morning light cast a pale golden veil over the river, and the air was filled with the murky smell of gasoline, river water, and aquatic plants.

Hundreds of bass fishing boats of uniform size, bearing the competition logo, were neatly moored on the shore, where staff were busy conducting final checks.

Su Jierui arrived early and, according to the lottery results, went to the designated area.

The fishing boats were assigned by lottery. Yesterday, he drew a red and blue fishing boat with the number "B-17", which was floating quietly on the water and looked well maintained.

"Hey Jerry, looks like we're not far apart!"

A somewhat familiar voice came from behind.

Su Jerry turned around and saw José Quentin, whom he had met when he reported for duty yesterday, standing next to a white fishing boat waving at him. The boat's number was B-16.

"It seems we're really destined to meet. Hopefully, we won't bump into each other when we set off!"

José Quentin said with a hearty laugh, but his eyes were eager to show his skills.

Su Jerry knew in his heart that there was only one champion in the competition, who would receive a huge prize of $20. People hadn't come here to make friends.

The hefty prize of $20 is enough to make all the participants potential rivals.

José Quentin's half-joking reminder was simply out of concern that a novice's improper operation might cause a collision and delay everyone's time.

So he gave José Quentin an OK sign and replied with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll be careful. Good luck!"

Having no interest in a deeper conversation, Su Jerry immediately seized the time to record new video footage with his camera, plotting how to earn back the $6800 entry fee by using the videos from the competition over the next few days.

As he adjusted the camera angle, he keenly scanned his surroundings.

Not far away, you could see Roll Jefferson, wearing the number "57" tag, also boarding his almost brand-new fishing boat, number A-03, intently adjusting the sonar fish finder, his expression focused, not even glancing at anyone else.

In the U.S. bass fishing competition, sonar fish finders are one of the core pieces of equipment for the competitors. They are mainly used to accurately locate schools of fish, detect water depth and bottom structure, and improve fishing efficiency.

Just then, an official cameraman boarded the boat and gave a close-up of the Lawrence fish finder on Raoul Jefferson's boat, clearly indicating that it was also one of the brand sponsors of the bass fishing competition.

Preparations are nearing completion.

All the competitors began boarding their boats, and the deep roar of the engines began to rise and fall, breaking the tranquility of the river.

Su Jerry tried to steady his slightly accelerated heartbeat, carefully put on his life jacket, made sure all the straps were fastened, and then started the engine of his bass fishing boat, feeling the slight vibration from the rudder.

Having driven large fishing boats and motorboats before, operating this bass fishing boat was a piece of cake for him. He had come early and crammed for a few days, learning how to drive a similar bass fishing boat.

at this time.

A large command boat carrying referees and photographers slowly approached the front of the fleet, and the familiar voice of the race director, amplified by electrical current and slightly distorted, came through a loudspeaker:
"Attention, all players!"

"Five minutes until departure! Please double-check your life jackets and safety gear!"

Finally... I wish you all the best!

"call--"

Someone let out a long sigh, the sound particularly clear in the suddenly tense air.

All the fishing boats bobbed slightly behind the starting line, forming a spectacular formation.

A tension, held back yet about to be released, spread rapidly across the river.

Su Jierui gripped the cool steering wheel tightly with both hands, his gaze sweeping across the wide and unknown waters before him. His eyes, which were imperceptible to ordinary people, had already activated, quickly observing the underwater movements.

"One minute countdown!"

In an instant, the river seemed to be silenced, with only the roar of the engine and the sound of the water lapping against the boat remaining.

"Thirty seconds!"

Su Jierui continued to regulate his breathing, but he wasn't actually that anxious.

A bass fishing competition isn't like a boat race where whoever goes the fastest wins; finding the big fish is the most important thing.

"Ten! Nine! Eight!... Three! Two! One! Let's go!!!"

With a command given, like racehorses bursting through the gate, the engines of dozens of fishing boats roared simultaneously, their bows raised high, breaking through the water!

They sped off in their chosen directions, leaving long white trails behind them.

The deafening roar of engines, the splashing water, and the numerous contestants created a visually striking scene in Su Jierui's eyes.

Most people head south from the starting point toward the north side of Lake George, but he also slammed on the throttle, and the B-17 bass fishing boat shot off powerfully, the wind hitting him in the face, carrying moisture.

The competition has officially begun from this moment on!

Su Jierui subconsciously squinted to ward off the strong wind, focusing intently on steering, with only one thought in his mind:
"Find the giant bass and defeat everyone!"

If you win this competition, you will not only receive the $20 prize for this leg of the competition, but you will also have the opportunity to earn 100 "Angler of the Year" points.

By accumulating points through multiple matches, players can qualify for the annual championship and have the opportunity to compete for a huge prize of $100 million!
In addition, if a contestant catches the largest bass during the competition, they will have the chance to win an extra $2000 "Biggest Single Fish Prize," plus a batch of shopping cards and physical prizes.

He drove at full speed for a while, and with the help of his special vision, he saw many fish, but he still couldn't find his most desired target.

There was still plenty of time, so Su Jierui wasn't in a hurry. He slowed down, turned on the action camera on his helmet, and said with a smile:
"Hey everyone, I'm off!"

"I just saw some anglers' bass fishing boats with cameramen filming them. They must be some very famous anglers. I'm a newbie, so I don't get that kind of treatment."

"I'm grateful to the organizers of the Bass Bass Fishing Tournament. They gave me special permission to record some footage during the competition, but the rules are that I can't disturb others or do a live stream. I can only upload these videos online after the videos from this leg of the tournament are broadcast, which may be a month or two later?"

"Anyway, since I want to win the prize money, I certainly can't infringe on the media rights of the event organizers. That's understandable..."

Many tournament organizers encourage participants to record videos, as this is a form of promotion for the tournament and the sport of fishing. Su Jerry, who already has 34 followers on YouTube, tried registering his participation yesterday and received permission on the spot.

It is estimated that the Bass Bass Fishing Championship will also attract more young people to pay attention to their competition.

While providing commentary, Su Jierui maneuvered the fishing boat, slowly navigating along the main river channel:
“Look at the shore, some athletes have chosen to go to the tributaries, and some have already started trying to cast their lines.”

"There are reeds growing there, as well as fallen logs in the river, which seems to be a favorite spot for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass."

"Bigmouth bass prefer the middle and lower water layers, often inhabiting sandy, low-turbidity, still water environments, especially clear, slow-moving water. I need to find a place like that." "There are other tributaries 100 kilometers downstream from the starting point, all within the fishing area permitted by the organizers, but going too far might mean not being able to return in time..."

There are so many fish in the river, including many non-native species, that they are all startled by the bass fishing boats and leap out of the water. No wonder the U.S. government is always looking for ways to spend money to get rid of them.

Finding a suitable-sized largemouth bass or smallmouth bass among the densely packed fish such as silver carp, bighead carp, Florida gar, and wrasse is not an easy task, because there is no way to "automatically filter out" and accurately locate the target.

Su Jierui spoke eloquently to the action camera, his gaze like the most sophisticated "fish finder," constantly scanning the surface and underwater.

The river was teeming with fish of all kinds, and the signals on the screens of ordinary fish finders were so jumbled that they were hardly of any use. This was actually a good thing for him, because it weakened the advantage of other contestants who relied on equipment and amplified his own "visual" strengths.

During this period, we decisively avoided several seemingly good spots that were already occupied by other fish, such as large areas of reeds and gentle bays. These places might indeed harbor bass, but the competition was also fierce.

"Look over there, Jose has already started casting his line. His movements are very smooth; he's a veteran."

Su Jierui briefly focused his camera on the figures on the B-16 boat in the distance, then turned back to the front and continued exploring downstream.

The river gradually widened, and the currents became more complex.

The sunlight rose higher, dispelling some of the morning mist and making the water surface shimmer.

Some deep waters intersect with shallow waters, and there are faintly visible reefs and gullies on the seabed. These complex terrains often provide excellent hiding places for large predators.

Time passed by, and the match had been going on for almost an hour.

Su Jerry didn't make a move. He encountered several bass that met the size requirements, but their size was only above average and far from the big fish he was looking for, let alone competing for the "largest single tail prize".

"We need to change our approach..."

After muttering to himself, Su Jierui turned off the camera and focused even more intently on searching for the large sea bass.

The engine growled again as it headed toward the entrance to a seemingly deserted tributary.

The scenery here is different from the main river channel. The vegetation on the banks is much denser, and several huge cypress trees have their roots deeply embedded in the water, forming an intricate underwater structure.

The water flow was relatively gentle and the water depth was moderate. Looking closely, the water quality appeared to be clearer than that of the main river channel.

"It's a great place to hide fish..."

Su Jierui thought to himself.

The fishing boat was moored at a safe distance to avoid any noise that might disturb the fish underwater.

Then, he held his breath again and carefully observed the slightly dark waters.

Sudden.

Su Jierui's gaze was fixed on a shadowy area by the water!
Deep within the tangled roots of the cypress tree, a strikingly prominent icon of a largemouth bass floats silently!

【Name: Largemouth Bass (Female)】

[Age: 15 years old]

[Health Status: Excellent]

……

Female largemouth bass are typically larger than males.

"that's it!"

Su Jierui's heart skipped a beat, and a feeling of excitement instantly spread throughout his body.

Just by looking at its age and health, he knew it was definitely a large, old bass!
Take a deep breath and force yourself to calm down quickly. When dealing with targets of this level, any small mistake could lead to the failure of all previous efforts.

Su Jerry turned on the action camera again, lowered his voice to explain the situation, and then carefully adjusted the position of the bass fishing boat to find the best fishing angle.

He then opened the lure box, his fingers quickly sweeping across the dazzling array of lures, and selected a soft worm with a Texas rig weight.

This type of fishing rig has good anti-snagging performance and a natural descent, making it very suitable for "teasing" cautious large fish in such complex structures.

Carefully inspect the knots to ensure the fishing line is not worn.

After preparing the fishing rod, he steadily raised his arm and flicked his wrist, and the soft lure landed precisely on the outer edge of the root shadow, preventing it from scaring away the wary bigmouth bass.

For the next few minutes, Su Jerry almost held his breath, relying entirely on the subtle sensations in his fingertips to continuously control the lure.

Let it move slowly, in a manner that mimics that of an injured little fish, little by little, toward the center of the shadow.

At that moment, time seemed to slow down.

Su Jierui could clearly hear his own heartbeat and the gentle lapping of the river against the boat.

Once, twice... the lure passed through the shadows, but the big guy inside seemed to have no reaction. The icon just wobbled slightly, but there was no sign of it biting.

Having spent so long on the shores of Great Slave Lake, Su Jerry had caught many bigger fish than himself, and what he had in abundance was patience.

After retrieving the lure, he changed direction and tried several more times, each time getting closer to the location of the big fish.

at last!

After the sixth accurate cast, just as the soft lure was about to pass over that area, the "Bigmouth Bass" icon in his field of vision suddenly shot forward from the base!
Without the slightest hesitation, a shadowy figure underwater opened its massive jaws and instantly swallowed the lure!

"We've caught a fish!!!"

Su Jierui roared in his heart, so excited that his hair stood on end. It was almost an instinctive reaction. He suddenly jerked the rod to set the hook!
"Om-"

The moment you forcefully hook the fish, the fishing rod bends sharply, and the fishing reel emits a pleasant sound of drag!
A tremendous force was indirectly transmitted through the fishing line.

Fortunately, he had been practicing these past few days and had a lot of experience fishing for bigmouth bass. He quickly gripped the fishing rod tightly, otherwise he might lose his grip if he wasn't careful.

"What a strength!"

Upon discovering that the bigmouth bass was enormous, Su Jierui's smile widened even more. He immediately steadied himself, adjusted his posture, and gripped the fishing rod tightly with both hands.

He continuously used his core strength to fight against the big fish, whose explosive power far exceeded any bass he had caught in the past few days...

……

(End of this chapter)