When did you first get into fishing?
When I first moved to America in second grade, we got a fishing rod and we started to catch fish, but we never caught anything. But eighth grade, during the summer break before freshman year, I caught my first fish and ever since then, I’ve been really into fishing.
What would you say is your biggest catch so far?
My biggest catch was on June 1, 2024, when I set the goal to catch a grass carp before my birthday, and I caught it on the seventh day of going fishing every morning. The grass carp was important to me because it was the second one I’d ever caught in my life. The first grass carp I ever caught was in the first week of freshman year, and I was super excited to catch that fish.
After that, [my] freshman year and sophomore year summer, I went to India, so I really couldn’t go fishing. Even during the spring and fall, when the fish would be active, I never had any luck and couldn’t catch it. So this year, I wanted to catch a grass carp before my birthday because it was a goal I set up for myself.
I would see the fish in the water but they would never bite my stuff. I would strategically place my bait in different places, and on the 6th or 7th day, I remember it was raining, I threw the last piece of my bait out, and I remember just hearing a huge splash and boom, I reeled him in and took that fire picture. The fish was pushing 20-25 pounds.
What’s your favorite thing about fishing?
My favorite thing is just sitting there thinking, looking at nature. It’s a good way to chill. I do it with one of my friends, but mostly I go fishing alone.
How do you find time to fish during the school year?
Usually I just wait until the weekend and I fish on Saturday because that’s the best day. There’s a pond right by my house and it has so many species of fish: grass carp, tilapia, bass, catfish and many other fish.
What do you do with the fish after you catch them?
Usually I just take a picture and let them go. I actually hate everything about a fish except for catching it. I hate the smell of fish and I hate the taste of the fish. I don’t even like eating fish, but catching fish is just like one of my favorite activities because it’s so fun. You’re just out there in nature, you’re looking at your line and suddenly it goes tight and you feel this huge weight on the other end of the line. It’s just really fun. I would never eat a wild fish, though, because I’m scared and I don’t like fish.
Have you ever thought of going anywhere outside the pond near your house?
I always think of that, but that’s not possible right now since I don’t have my license. Once I get my license this summer, I’ll also get my fishing license, which will allow me to fish pretty much any public lake, pond or river. When I get my license and get my fishing license, I’ll go fishing in giant lakes or rivers. I might even rent a boat and catch giant fish.
