Yuan Gang Tourist Fishery Harbor Introduction
Originally named Yuanshih Port, it got its name because it is located at the estuary of the Yuanshih River. It serves as the second port of entry and exit for the local area, following the Tudi Gong Port. According to Cai Zhenfeng’s "Yuanshi Record," Yuanshih Port is slightly wider and deeper without obstacles, hence it accommodates many merchant ships with masts towering like a forest. The anchorage here is listed among the Eight Scenic Views of Pengshan. After Japanese rule, direct shipping with China was prohibited, leading to its decline. Around the 80th year of the Republic of China, it was developed into a tourist fishing port, offering seafood snacks, deep-sea fishing, beach netting, and other recreational activities. The "Yuanshih Tourist Fishing Port" is located at the northern tip of Yuanshih Township by the seaside. Originally a simple boat dock formed by the river mouth, it has transformed into a tourist fishing port after development, featuring a fishermen's activity center, a sea-view pavilion, children's play facilities, a fish grilling area, shaded flower trellises, a performance plaza, a processing center, a direct sales center, clam rearing ponds, a camping area, a parking lot, walking paths, arch bridges, and pavilions. The plaza's west side has green spaces, sports areas, and nostalgic lightweight paths for morning runs, exercise, kite flying, sunset watching, and listening to the waves, making it a multifunctional leisure fishing port. Here, visitors can not only buy fresh fish but also enjoy seaside activities like fishing from the shore, flying kites with children, or beachcombing for clams and crabs, sharing family fun. However, since it’s a fishing port, the most attractive feature is the fresh catch! The market auction for fish at Yuanshih Tourist Fishing Port takes place every morning at 6:30 AM, auctioning fresh fish just caught and lively for market vendors and restaurant operators. Naturally, many locals also wake up early to pick out fish to cook at home. The seafood here is fresher and cheaper than what’s sold in markets, making it worthwhile to rise early for shopping. The activity center at Yuanshih Tourist Fishing Port also has a restaurant that serves freshly caught seafood, with dishes depending on the day’s catch, ensuring it is fresh and delicious. If you visit the fishing port in the afternoon, be sure not to miss the beautiful sunset views at Yuanshih Tourist Fishing Port, where the golden glow dances on the glassy waves, accompanied by the sound of the sea, as the surrounding light transitions from a passionate reddish-orange to a gentle golden hue, allowing you to relax and feel at ease. Many visitors come specifically to enjoy the sunset! "Yuanshih Fish Balls" are widely renowned. The Yuanshih Tourist Fishing Port is a typical sandy shore along the western coastline, characterized by significant tidal changes, a gently sloping and wide beach, and a long and deep intertidal zone, which results in rich marine resources along the coast. The main fish catches in spring include baby fish, mackerel, pomfret, and ribbonfish, while summer and autumn see catches of squid, flatfish, shrimp, and crabs. Winter mainly yields mullet, baby fish, mackerel, pomfret, and ribbonfish, ensuring a bounty of seafood throughout the year for people to enjoy fresh catches. In the Yuanshih area, the catch of sandbar sharks and hammerhead sharks is particularly abundant; however, in the early days of the Republic, transportation was inconvenient and sharks did not store well. Whenever the fishing season saw a surplus of sharks, supply often exceeded demand, causing an imbalance in production and sales. Fishermen thus used sharks as raw material to manufacture fish balls to address this issue. Made from fresh coastal sharks, these fish balls are delicious and chewy, with outstanding flavor and texture, making "Yuanshih Fish Balls" a well-known local specialty, celebrated throughout Taiwan.
