Hearing Lao Zhao leading the questioning, Wang Jun and other familiar fishing buddies chimed in, "Yeah, how can you release fish like this? With soup and water all together!"
Liu Mazi wore a somewhat sycophantic fake smile: "Everyone, don't misunderstand, crucian carp are not common carp; they're quite delicate! We release the fish this way to increase the capture rate! If anyone doubts it, you can check the truck loading receipts, we guarantee everything is fair!"
With this, the doubting voices quieted down significantly, as the current batch of pit anglers were still inexperienced and hadn't suffered losses in this aspect. They didn't have a clear judgment on the actual weight of the fish.
Zhang Yang wasn't in a hurry either; after all, he hadn't paid the fishing fee yet. A small difference he could accept, but if it was too much, he'd just turn around and leave. So while everyone was making noise, he stayed silent.
Soon, Old Wang finished setting up the chute and used a hook to open the valve at the bottom.
With a loud whoosh, the crucian carp in the fish hold, along with the water, all flowed out through the exit.
Zhang Yang carefully observed the color of the water in the fish hold and silently counted the time the fish were being released to make a rough judgment.
A full hold of fish was released in about three minutes. In the first half, water and fish were mixed, and in the latter half, there was less water, leaving only the fish at the bottom of the hold.
Old Wang jumped directly into the hold, using his boots to push the fish toward the exit, then slid them into the water.
Zhang Yang rested his hand on the chute and grabbed a few fish for a closer look, forming a preliminary judgment in his mind.
By sight, they were about seven ounces each, with extremely smooth skin, rich body mucus, and intact scales and tail fins, authentic Jiangsu crucian carp.
What pleased Zhang Yang the most was the fine shape of these crucian carp, especially since they didn't have little bellies.
Based on Zhang Yang's experience, crucian carp with such a balanced shape and no little bellies have a strong appetite and high activity, making them the type with high capture rates. In terms of quality, Liu Mazi hadn't lied; they were indeed good fish.
Quality was up to par, and in terms of quantity, there was a slight shortage. Zhang Yang estimated that this hold had about seven to eight hundred fish, at least falling short by two to three hundred in weight.
So calculating this, if the second hold is the same, the total number of fish released would be about 1500 to 1600 pounds, and a fishing fee of 270 bucks would be barely acceptable.
The release of the second hold of fish confirmed Zhang Yang's suspicion, being basically the same as the first hold.
Thus Zhang Yang concluded that today's spot was worth playing!
"How about it? Should we start?" Wang Jun quietly nudged Zhang Yang, asking softly.
Zhang Yang nodded: "The quality's no problem, just a bit lacking in quantity, estimated to be around fifteen or sixteen hundred! We can go with it, just fish as we planned yesterday! I'll prepare the bait, you guys go adjust the float first!"
The others went off to adjust their floats and prepare, while Zhang Yang took out a baiting basin to prepare bait for several people.
While he was still squatting there preparing the bait, Liu Mazi came over again.
"Brother Zhang Yang, the fish have all been released! Do you think about the fishing fee…"
Zhang Yang's lips curled slightly: "The fish are good, just that releasing them via the chute makes the fishing fee a bit pricey!"
This is the way clever people converse; with a few words, Zhang Yang seemed to have said nothing, but he conveyed his meaning.
Most importantly, he saved face for Liu Mazi.
Hearing this, Liu Mazi readily said, "How about this, deduct 10 bucks for everyone to have breakfast! Come more often in the future, just consider it a gesture of goodwill!"
Seeing the other side relent, Zhang Yang felt much more comfortable, smiling and nodding: "President Liu is generous, I thank President Liu on behalf of the brothers here!"
After saying that, Zhang Yang took a money pouch out of his fishing box, counted out 3380 dollars cash on the spot, and handed it to Liu Mazi.
The fish had been released, the money paid, and the rods were set to be cast at 6:40 according to the announcement, everything ready, just waiting for the east wind.