Economic Daily – China Economic Network, Beijing, August 8 (Reporter Liu Cheng)
When the weather turns calm and favorable for saltwater fishing, no matter in winter or summer, Hangming Saltwater Fishing Club at Qingdao Yinhai Yacht Marina springs into action. Staff assign fishing boats to anglers and haul fishing gear, daily supplies and other equipment onboard. Soon, fishing vessels glide out of the marina, churning lively waves across the sea—mirroring the excited grins of anglers aboard. “On our busiest days, we send out more than ten fishing boats, carrying roughly over a hundred anglers,” says Sun Yuan, manager of Hangming Saltwater Fishing Club, who savors these bustling moments.
This surge of activity at Hangming began three years ago. Starting with merely one or two boat trips daily, the club now operates nearly a dozen trips almost every day. Saltwater fishing, an emerging industry, is quietly thriving in Qingdao. “The number of anglers is growing at an annual rate of 80%,” Sun Yuan notes.
The rapid rise in anglers stems from abundant catches, including rare fish species and large specimens seldom seen otherwise. Anglers at Hangming frequently land fish such as kawakawa, dorado and yellow jack, species rarely found on local Qingdao markets. Weights of around five kilograms apiece are common, with many reaching nearly 15 kilograms. Local staples including black rockfish, yellow croaker and sea bass bite readily. Such productive fishing grounds attract growing numbers of dedicated fishing enthusiasts. “Our club boasts over 40,000 registered members. Apart from anglers from Qingdao and Shandong Province, we have professional hobbyists hailing from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and other regions nationwide,” Sun Yuan explains.
Against a backdrop of severely depleted inshore fishery resources, why are fish so plentiful here? The answer lies in marine ranching developed by Qingdao Jinhai Fuyuan Ocean Industry Co., Ltd., Hangming’s parent company. Having focused on abalone and sea cucumber breeding since 2005, Jinhai Fuyuan became the first enterprise to invest in marine ranch construction in Qingdao. In suitable inshore waters off Qingdao, the company deployed rock boulders ranging from 100–150 kilograms up to one tonne. Once submerged, silt first accumulates on the rocks, followed by thin layers of microalgae that attract oysters, and then starfish. As sediment builds up, macroalgae flourish, drawing fish, shrimp, crabs and shellfish, gradually forming a complete seabed ecosystem.
“To date, we have invested nearly 200 million yuan to build more than 1,300 hectares of marine ranches. After over a decade of ecological restoration, well-established underwater habitats have taken shape. This is what underpins the growing diversity and quantity of fish,” Chen Gang, General Manager of Jinhai Fuyuan, states.
Three years ago, Jinhai Fuyuan acquired the fledgling Hangming Saltwater Fishing Club and poured over 20 million yuan into purchasing professional fishing vessels to enter the saltwater fishing business. No formal advertising was launched; word-of-mouth about productive fishing grounds drove rapid membership growth. Many seasoned anglers who travel nationwide to fish have made this location their home ground.
Zhou Yu is one such veteran angler. He runs a sporting goods firm and has been fishing for nine years. Though based in Qingdao, he once struggled to make catches locally and had to travel to fishing grounds across China, especially in the south, to pursue his hobby. After testing the waters at Hangming following its rising reputation, he became a regular. “I come 30 to 40 times every year and never return empty-handed. On my best trip, I caught nearly 200 kilograms of fish.”
As its industry reputation grew, Hangming Saltwater Fishing Club launched the inaugural Hangming Saltwater Fishing Cup National Lure Fishing Tournament, which has run for two editions. Lure fishing refers to a specialized angling technique using artificial baits to target large predatory fish. “At this year’s tournament, the champion landed a 10-kilogram yellow jack. The event was live-streamed on 360 Waterdrop Platform, attracting more than 100,000 online viewers,” Sun Yuan says.
Today, Hangming offers multiple established saltwater fishing itineraries, including night fishing, daytime fishing, island fishing and boat fishing, with several fishing zones tiered by distance from shore. Services have become comprehensive: anglers can hire fishing guides and onboard chefs on demand. Meanwhile, the club is expanding recreational saltwater fishing programmes tailored for novice anglers eager to experience the sport. “Recreational fishing is expanding fast and now accounts for 30 percent of our business,” Sun Yuan remarks.
Wang Yu is a frequent recreational angler. As an entrepreneur, he often charters boats for out-of-town clients, requesting full amenities including chefs, fishing guides, tackle, imported anti-seasickness medicine and daily supplies. The boat first cruises along the coastline before heading to fishing grounds, where guides teach clients basic angling skills. Fresh catches are prepared immediately onboard as sashimi or stewed fish for lunch before the return voyage. “Clients always enjoy these trips, so chartered saltwater fishing has become my preferred way to entertain business partners.”
While Sun Yuan hopes to attract more anglers, the club firmly adheres to sustainable fishing principles to avoid overexploitation. Traps and fishing nets are strictly prohibited within the fishing grounds. The club also advocates releasing any fish weighing less than 300 grams. Every year, fishing grounds are closed for two to three months to allow marine life to recover.
“Only by protecting the marine ecosystem can we achieve sustainable development of the saltwater fishing industry,” Chen Gang observes. The saltwater fishing sector supports an extensive industrial chain with huge growth potential, encompassing specialised apparel, fishing tackle and purpose-built fishing boats. “High-end lures alone can cost several hundred to over a thousand yuan each. Professional fishing vessels require costly equipment: a quality fish finder may cost hundreds of thousands of yuan, paired with highly precise GPS and radar capable of navigation in heavy fog—all high-value hardware.” He estimates that the saltwater fishing industrial chain in Qingdao alone could reach a scale of 2 billion yuan.
