Apart from Zhang Yang's side having a poor catch, others weren't doing much better either.
But because of the rubber bands and grass carp situation discussed at last night's meeting, no one ended up empty-handed.
The least was Han Qiang, who still caught two grass carps and a carp. Overall, the scores weren't overwhelming anyone, but there's a chance of ranking in the top groups and getting some good points.
"Captain, what are we going to do for this afternoon's session? I have a feeling it's going to be particularly tough!"
Han Qiang asked worriedly, putting a piece of beef cube into his mouth.
"If not, we can just wait for the big fish! Just one is enough for a good score!" Wang Yan chimed in.
Zhang Yang hesitated, didn't immediately answer but was deep in thought.
About five seconds later, Zhang Yang said, "The last session is indeed difficult to fish, holding out for big fish is quite risky!
Whether we encounter any is up to luck, and even if we do, getting them is also a matter of luck! Not very reliable!"
"What's your personal opinion?" Zhou Chu pressed on.
Zhang Yang: "If the combined scores from the first three sessions already look slim, then going for a big fish as a gamble isn't a bad idea. If we catch, we can redeem ourselves, if not, we don't lose much!
But we all still have a shot at breaking into the top twenty, so gambling like this is quite risky!
If I must choose a strategy, we should try to lure a few carps and grass carps if possible.
If we really can't, then switching to a small hook and fine line to catch some breams as a backup isn't a bad option either!
The breams in the canal are of decent size, each weighing three to four ounces. If no one else is getting bites, switching to breams could be a stable way to break the deadlock!"
"Catching breams?"
Hearing Zhang Yang's suggestion, everyone was a bit surprised, Han Qiang even raised his voice.
"Just catching a carp is worth seven or eight breams! I don't think this is suitable!" Han Qiang shook his head after hearing.
"But you have to be able to catch them! The fish situation for carp, grass carp, or big fish is very unstable, and highly luck-dependent!
But the fish situation for breams is relatively stable, maybe not a lot, but there's a guaranteed score!" Zhang Yang explained skillfully.
From this point alone, it was clear that Zhang Yang had extensive competition experience.
Other team members still held some hope for the carp and grass carp situation, but Zhang Yang's expectations were set very low, basically not holding any hope.
While eating and discussing the afternoon's tactics, Zhang Yang's phone rang.
Everyone immediately fell silent, Zhang Yang took out his phone and glanced at it, it was Luo Dapeng's call, and Zhang Yang decisively answered.
"Hello? Brother Luo, any instructions?"
"Little Zhang, where are you guys? Have you eaten? We found a restaurant not far outside the venue, if you haven't eaten, come join us?" Luo Dapeng's steady voice came through the speaker.
"Thanks, but no need, we're almost full with the boxed lunches we bought in the venue, they're quite good!" Zhang Yang thanked him while declining.
"I see, well then, I called to tell you something.
I helped check your scores with a friend, currently, you have one point from three sessions, and your total weight is also in the lead.
Your skills are impressive, you even got the heaviest single tail!"
"Just luck, thanks for helping check the scores, Brother Luo!" Zhang Yang thanked again.
"With these results, you're a hot favorite to win! Perform well in the last session, you have a good chance!
Lastly, I'll share some potentially useful intel.
The one currently ranked second is Xu Xiao, this guy was fishing near my friend in the morning, primarily caught bighead carp, and caught five or six in a session, weighing more than you by over a dozen pounds!
If you're unsure about the fish situation on your side, consider this, have more options and preparations!"
"Bighead? Blotched bighead carp?"
Earlier, Zhang Yang was quite calm during the chat, but upon hearing this information, he furrowed his brows and his tone turned solemn.
"Yes, didn't I tell you when I showed you the venue, that there are plenty of bigheads and black carp released in the artificial river?
No one seems to have caught black carp yet, they might not be biting, but some bigheads definitely are!"
"Got it, thanks Brother Luo, I'll treat you to dinner after the competition!" Zhang Yang thanked sincerely upon hearing this news.
"Let's leave it at that, everything can wait until the competition is over! I'll hang up now!"
"Alright!"
...
After hanging up, Zhang Yang didn't speak, and a circle of teammates around him gave him questioning looks.
No one heard what Luo Dapeng said on the phone, but everyone heard clearly what Zhang Yang said.
The bighead fish wasn't considered by anyone before.
Bighead, also known as blotched bighead carp, scientifically called Aristichthys nobilis, is a close relative to the silver carp, also one of China's four major domestic fish species. This fish is widely distributed in China, with many reservoirs and ponds having its fry released.
Unlike other artificially raised fish that require feed, bigheads are filter feeders, mainly consuming algae and plankton in the water. They have considerable market value and are easy to catch with nets, making them a common economic fish.
"Luo Dapeng told me on the phone that the angler currently ranked second caught bighead fish in the morning's third session, catching five or six!" Zhang Yang shared the intel with his teammates without hesitation.
"Bighead? We didn't bring bait for bighead!" Wang Yan scratched his head.
"Is Luo Dapeng's information reliable? Fishing for other fish might result in nothing, but focusing on bighead seems even riskier!" Zhou Chu voiced his concern.
If bighead fish density is high, they are easy to fish by chumming continuously and creating a cloud in the water to attract them, but if density is low, they can be quite challenging to catch.
Zhang Yang had been pondering the fish situation for the afternoon for a long time, and that phone call gave him a new option.
After thinking for a few seconds, he said, "If bighead bites, I think we have a chance, not many fish for this, and I don't think Luo Dapeng would mislead us in such an advantageous prospect!"
Han Qiang: "Then, let's finish eating and go buy some bighead bait? We didn't bring any in the car!"
Zhang Yang nodded, "Yes, let's finish and go together!
Fishing for bighead is surface fishing, making a ground chumming at the bottom and above for frequency, with a three-meter fishing position, alternate positions for a dual approach. We'll fish whichever fish situation is promising!
Have you all fished for bighead before? It's not difficult, catching silver carp might be trickier mostly relying on snagging, but bighead can be caught in the mouth!"
"Yes! When I was ten or so, there were small reservoirs in our village, just find the fish layer above or a meter and a half below the water, nothing too special!" Zhou Chu indeed seemed quite experienced.
"Alright then, let's hurry up and eat! Once we're full, we'll head out!"
With the decision made, Zhang Yang and his group stopped chatting and sped up their eating, cleaning up the remaining food in over ten minutes, directly heading onto the van and driving out of the parking lot.
Driving around the local streets, and asking a few locals, Zhang Yang quickly found a moderately-sized fishing tackle shop.
"Boss, do you have bighead bait in stock? Preferably sour and smelly, for fishing bighead!" Zhang Yang went straight to the point upon entering.
"Wuhan Tianyuan's Supreme Bighead! Sells well and works great!" The shopkeeper, a man in his forties, directly recommended the Supreme Bighead product.
Zhang Yang nodded, "Okay then, fifteen packs of Supreme Bighead and five packs of float fishing for bighead!"
Zhang Yang was quite familiar with Wuhan Tianyuan's bighead bait, so he immediately requested twenty packs.
The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned, surprised at getting such a big order.
He hurried to gather the bait Zhang Yang requested and placed it in carrier bags on the counter.
Zhang Yang paid promptly, then carried the two large bags of bait back to the van parked outside.
"Why buy float fishing bighead when Supreme Bighead alone would suffice? What's the difference?" Wang Yan asked curiously after getting in.
Zhang Yang smirked and explained, "Using only Supreme Bighead, the clouding in the water is faster, adding a small amount of float fishing bighead gives better control and improves the state of the bait in the water!
Let's go, there's still time, let's go back and get the bait ready first!"
The van restarted, heading towards the wetland park, where the afternoon's final bighead battle awaited Zhang Yang and his team!