Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 74
Without further ado, Karlos started the engine. The boat vibrated softly beneath their feet. The wind blew past them, sending a cold breeze through the air, it was already December, after all.
Yet despite that, Brandon didn't feel cold. He just looked ahead, at the ocean that reflected the shimmering stars.
Karlos was impressed. He was different from Brandon, who could face the ocean breeze without flinching. In fact, Karlos was wearing two layers of clothing just to fight against the cold.
"Are your family perhaps descendants of a Flame Mage or something?"
Flame Mage... Again, Thera was once a magical world, but magic had disappeared. Still, traces of that lost era lingered in the blood of some people. The descendants of those mages inherited unique abilities that didn't need magic to work. Some of these descendants could endure cold weather, just like Brandon.
'I even saw on the news that there are people who can see through the dark with ease.'
These unique abilities were inherent in them, requiring no spells or rituals. Just think of them as passive skills.
"I'm not sure. My parents and grandparents never talked about it, but you're probably right."
Otherwise, Brandon's strong resistance to cold would be impossible to explain. He smiled faintly, his breath steady despite the biting wind.
"Are we going to the mangroves first?"
"Nah, we're going to the island."
"The island? You mean the small island a few kilometers from the mangroves?"
"I set up ten traps there," Karlos answered.
"What about your territory in the mangroves? Someone might encroach on it."
"I checked a few days ago. No one has dared."
"Alright."
Brandon didn't know why Karlos stopped going to the mangroves, but he didn't ask. He decided to trust him. Karlos wasn't a rookie anymore, he knew what he was doing. Besides, someone like Karlos seemed capable of earning good money through this occupation.
"Let's prepare the longline first. If we get lucky, we won't have to stay long at sea."
Unlike casting a fishing rod and waiting for a single fish, longline fishing was far more efficient.
So what's longline fishing?
Longline fishing is a commercial fishing method that uses a main fishing line with many smaller branch lines attached, each with a baited hook. It stretches across the sea, waiting for fish to take the bait.
"Once we reach the fishing spot, you'll cast the longline while I drive the boat forward."
"Alright." Brandon set up the bait one by one, making sure he had enough time to hook them later. His fingers worked swiftly, the smell of sardines wafting to his nose. He moved with deep focus.
"We're here. You can cast the line now. This spot is deep, and there are no reefs, the line won't get entangled with anything."
Brandon threw the floater first, then hooked the bait fish before throwing the hook. The water splashed gently each time the bait sank below the surface. He repeated the process a hundred times. About twenty-five pieces of sardines remained untouched when he finished.
The longline had four floaters, two on each end and two in between. The floaters bobbed in the distance, marking the invisible line beneath the waves.
"Let's go to the small island."
They left the longline behind, giving it time to do its job. Based on what Brandon's father had told him, they needed at least two to three hours for the fish to take the bait. If they waited that long, they could secure around thirty fish. The waiting part was always boring, but it was also where patience paid off.
"This is the first time I've gotten this close to the island. I've only seen it from afar," Brandon muttered. From this distance, the island looked wild and untouched, coconut trees stood proudly.
The two conversed while looking for the traps. Brandon was the one who pulled them up and took the catch, while Karlos handled the boat.
"...Karlos, this place is amazing. I never thought this island would have so many lobsters!"
When Brandon pulled the fourth trap, he was stunned to find two more lobsters inside. So far, they had caught about seven.
Lobsters were expensive and far more profitable than crabs. No wonder Karlos chose this spot, lobsters were abundant here. Karlos really was lucky.
"Someone was stealing my catch in the mangroves, so I decided to change spots. I found this island and tried setting my traps here. I got lucky, this place has a lot of lobsters."
"You're definitely lucky," Brandon chuckled.
Once the sun rose, Brandon and Karlos were done collecting the traps. They had gathered twenty-six adult spiny lobsters. Brandon was stunned as he looked at the styrofoam box filled with the lively catch. Even this amount could earn Karlos about 10,000 pesos. He wasn't sure of the current price of lobsters, but 10,000 pesos was already the lowest he could imagine.
"The price of spiny lobster yesterday was 648 pesos per kilo. I'd say we can earn around 20,000 pesos," Karlos muttered as he steered the boat, his tone casual, like someone merely commenting on the weather.
"..." Brandon was speechless. He had thought 10,000 pesos was already a huge amount. He used to work more than fifteen days in the middle of the sea just to earn that much. Yet Karlos seemed unfazed by it.
'Perhaps earning this amount of money every day makes you numb.' Brandon had heard of Karlos's unique luck, but he didn't know the full story. He glanced at Karlos from the corner of his eye, wondering if that so-called "Blessed by the Sea" was truly real.
"We've spent about two hours catching lobsters. I guess it's time to pull up the longline."
"Alright." Brandon had no problem with that. His father had told him they needed to let the longline sit for a few hours before pulling it up, but he wasn't against Karlos's decision. Once they finished their job, they could return to land and rest for the whole day. The thought of relaxing after a good haul was exciting.
As Karlos drove the boat, Brandon couldn't help but compare his past job to his current one. Working on a mid-sized trawling bangka, he had been expected to live at sea for several nights. It was already a miracle if they could meet their quota within three days.
On top of that, Brandon had to bring his own food for the trip. What he ate every day were biscuits, instant noodles, and instant coffee. He could almost taste the dryness of those old meals just by remembering them. His daily salary was 700 pesos. He used to think he had it good, but now, it was clear that being a boat owner was far better.
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[Author's Note: Thank you guys for all of your support.]