The Charm of Fishing Nets Season at Hòn Yến

Aside from marveling at the rugged landscape, visitors to Hòn Yến get to immerse themselves in the fishermen's life during the fishing net season.

The Beauty of Fishing Nets Season at Hòn Yến

Aerial view of the coastal area of Hòn Yến during the seafood catching season. Hòn Yến is part of Nhơn Hội village, An Hòa commune, Tuy An district, about 20 km from Tuy Hòa city. Local residents call it Hòn Yến because in the past, this small island was home to many swallows.

The route to Hòn Yến from Tuy Hòa can be taken from National Highway 1A, turning right at the Phú Điềm intersection or following the coastal road through An Phú, An Chấn, and An Mỹ communes.

This photo is part of the series “The Beauty of Fishing Nets Season at Hòn Yến” by photographer Cao Kỳ Nhân (from Phú Yên). The author currently lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City but never forgets to dedicate love to his homeland, Phú Yên.

The Hòn Yến Archipelago, including Hòn Yến, Hòn Đụn (also known as Sụn Island – a small island located near the left side), Bàn Than, Gành Yến, Hòn Choi, and Vũng Choi, forms a picturesque natural landscape by the seaside, recognized as a National Monument in 2018, with Hòn Yến standing out as the prominent highlight of the archipelago.

Hòn Yến and Hòn Đụn are approximately 100 meters away from the shore. Visitors can walk to the island during low tide, but caution is advised as there are many rocks and the terrain can be rugged.

The sea here boasts emerald green waters and is abundant in delicious seafood such as ricefish, squid, crab, or sea snails. Fishermen also rear lobsters in cages along the coastline.

Each lobster cage measures approximately 2.5×2.5×1.2 meters, with stocking densities ranging from 3 to 5 lobsters per square meter for lobsters weighing 300 – 500 grams and above.

The sight of lobster cages and boats simultaneously casting nets for fishing is captivating. Phú Yên is the “capital” of lobsters, with over 119,000 breeding cages, of which more than 84,200 are for commercial lobsters, while the rest are for lobster seedlings.

The 'dance' of the green nets spread across the sea with various shapes, such as circles (image), hearts, or lotus leaves.

According to Mr. Nhân, from May to August every year, fishermen from Nhơn Hội village are bustling out to sea towards Hòn Yến, using nets to catch seafood, mainly ricefish. This livelihood rhythm has become an interesting topic for photography enthusiasts.

Fishing nets operate on the principle of water filtration to catch fish, being deployed and pulled up from the boat. Specialized nets catch schooling fish and are only deployed to a certain depth. When the ricefish stream is detected, fishermen use surrounding nets to catch fish.

The boat is pulling up the fishing net. During the catching process, the shape of the fishing net constantly changes. From the initial flat net form, it transforms into a cylindrical shape at the end of deployment, and when reeling in, it takes on a conical shape.

Fishermen's fishing activity on the boat with the net haul to harvest ricefish. Fishing boats usually have small capacities under 90 HP (horsepower), so they mainly fish near the shore. Each boat trip consists of 10 – 13 fishermen.

'Behind these net photos is enthusiastic support from fishermen. They are friendly and dedicated to their profession. I hope the people's lives will improve after these ricefish netting trips,' shared Mr. Nhân.

When the tide recedes, colorful coral reefs and starfish emerge around Hòn Yến, blending with the golden sun to create a sparkling seascape.

The coral reef painting resembles a unique 'rock garden in bloom' at Hòn Yến. However, this is a delicate natural resource prone to damage. Tourists' footsteps on the coral reef ledge create paths on the rocks, which can deform, kill coral, and disrupt the habitats of marine creatures. Therefore, local authorities advise tourists and photographers to choose suitable locations and avoid stepping on them, prioritizing coral conservation.

After exploring Hòn Yến, tourists can 'connect' with other scenic spots and historical sites along the Phú Yên coastline, such as Ghềnh Đá Đĩa, Cù lao Mái Nhà, Hòn Chùa Island, Bãi Xép, Bãi Môn – Mũi Điện, and Vũng Rô.

According to Cao Kỳ Nhân – Huỳnh Phương/Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel handbook from Mytour