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Originally published by Catharina Cheung. Last updated by Corrine Cheung.
Every summer, people flock in droves to Hong Kong’s beaches or out on junks. Perhaps because it’s more of a local pastime, not too many people know about squid fishing, which is also a fun weekend activity for the whole family.
Each year between the months of April to September, there are lots of squids that appear in the waters of Hong Kong. Especially at the end of the season, the squids are almost fully grown, so you can expect them to be approximately five to eight inches, with some even growing as big as 20-inches long!
Hop onto a boat and spend a balmy summer evening catching these slippery friends before “squidding” season ends. Each boat will come with a crew to assist and also cook your catches on the spot for you to eat, so if you have friends who are particularly adept at fishing, you can just sit back with a bottle and enjoy being on the sea at night. Here are some of the best boat tours for squid fishing in Hong Kong.
Enjoy the Victoria Harbour night squid fishing experience where you can fish for squids while cruising along the harbour! With varying locations for pick-up and drop-off, you can choose between Kwun Tong Public Pier or Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter Landing No.1 to start or end your journey. Providing professional tools for “squidding” tours, those enjoying the experience can also try freshly-cooked cuttlefish on the spot or to go!
For beverages, the tour is inclusive of a bottle of water and a can of soda on board to keep you hydrated and healthy while enjoying your night out at sea.
Don’t have enough people to charter a boat? Holimood offers individual “squidding” packages! All fishing equipment will be provided. Offering various locations for squid fishing, departing spots include Central Pier 9 and 10, Tsim Sha Tsui Public Pier, and Sai Kung Pier. Each guest will only be allotted one can of soft drink to keep you hydrated and fresh for the summer. If you are feeling hungry on board, Holimood provides free dinner and snacks such as marinated chicken wing, Hong Kong-style pigskin and fish balls, pineapple and sausage skewers, and chicken nuggets, just to name a few.
For those who worry about the summer heat, you will be fishing on a Western-style yacht with an air conditioner to cool off. In case the squid aren’t biting and you get bored, there is also entertainment on board, such as karaoke and mahjong.
Local company Fat Tat Hong also organises squid fishing trips, with different packages on offer. Fat Tat Hong’s standard trip includes a seafood meal at a Chinese seafood restaurant before heading off for the catch, departing from Lei Yue Mun Seafood Bazaar. Another trip, which starts by visiting a local neighbourhood at Yau Ma Tei before enjoying a dinner at Lei Yue Mun’s seafood restaurant. You can even pick up a few gifts and snacks at Lei Yue Mun Seafood Street before hopping on board there, dropping off at Kwun Tong Ferry Pier.
Catharina has recently returned to her hometown of Hong Kong after spending her formative years in Singapore and the UK. She enjoys scouring the city for under-the-radar things to do, see, and eat, and is committed to finding the perfect foundation that will withstand Hong Kong’s heat. She is also an aspiring polyglot, a firm advocate for feminist and LGBTQIA+ issues, and a huge lover of animals. You can find her belting out show-tunes in karaoke, or in bookstores adding new tomes to her ever-growing collection.
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