HAU GIANG – The gobies stretch their eggs along the alluvial water and are picked up in the pepper warehouse, turned into a rustic dish, and served with rice.

The floating season brings with it silt and rich products, and it is also the time when people in the West enter a new business season. The family of Mr. Nguyen Phu Cuong (1989) in Dong Thanh commune, Chau Thanh district, Hau Giang province these days are enjoying the peaceful life of the countryside, fishing according to the flow of alluvial water.

Mr. Cuong said that in addition to working as an interior decorator, he is also passionate about filming videos about life and food such as sending a little confession about his homeland to viewers near and far through the Western Discovery Youtube channel.

The fish is as small as a little finger, with a light brown color on the back, a bit dark streaking but the belly is round because it carries two yellow egg sacs that are clearly visible from the outside.

When the water on the Hau River is gradually tinged with red alluvium, standing on the riverbank in Dong Thanh looking down, it is easy to see a strip of red water between two sparkling silver glasses of water. According to Mr. Cuong, in a few weeks, when it rains more, the water will turn completely red to bring alluvium into the canals in the fields.

At that time, the locals called the lipstick season when the goby spawned. They have a habit of floating only when it is dark and not when the water flows gently in reverse. Live fish cling to the carpet of water hyacinth or leaves falling on the water surface to lay eggs, the fish will float the most in the July-August lunar calendar and decrease gradually when the season is over. Therefore, people can only enjoy the dishes from the egg yolk in a short time.

Mr. Cuong’s house is located peacefully beside the village road running parallel to the flowing water, so catching goby fish is also convenient. In early September, he and a friend prepared a plastic boat and tools to catch fish.

“Me and Mr. Thang sat on the boat, just need a lamp, a basket or a net racket about 2 meters long to catch fish. We poured fish on the bottom of the boat with a little water, the fish slithered and jumped. It was very interesting that night. get a kilo of fresh gobies,” he said.

Goby eggs are as big as little fingers, carrying two bags of yellow eggs clearly visible from the outside.

People catch goby eggs with baskets, nets, or hooves, mainly catching just enough to bring home a meal. For households living by occupation, they close the bottom on the major river routes and put the bamboo in the small canals to catch more fish. Depending on the large and small water flow, each day can catch 5-8 kg and many tens of kg. Due to the influence of Covid-19, the price of goby fish brought to the market is quite cheap, 50,000 – 60,000 VND / kg, while in previous years it sold 100,000 VND / kg.

After being caught, the fish is rubbed into a bamboo basket, then cut the gills and tail and processed into dishes such as fried bread, dipped in sour fish sauce, or lightly fried whole and served with raw vegetables. However, the most delicious is the braised egg goby with pepper.

On rainy days, bring the cleaned fish into a small pan to dry. If you want to make the pot of braised fish really delicious, you must marinate a little sugar, coconut water, fish sauce and then leave it for a while to let the fish absorb the spices and not be greasy. While storing, stir occasionally, add a little ground pepper and thinly sliced ​​chili. This fish is most delicious in the pair of golden eggs, when dried, the eggs are hard, fleshy, fatty, and fragrant, nothing better than hot porridge.

Braised goby with pepper is one of the delicious dishes in the floating season.

“The season of gobies has gradually become a precious memory of those who were born and raised in the fields of the West. After many years of silent water passing, I suddenly realized that this fish is a part of family life. Once again, the lipstick season is back, and I have the opportunity to invite you to my hometown to catch gobies to bring an unforgettable rhythm of life on the river,” shared Mr. Cuong.

Photo, video: Western Discovery