American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 363 Arrival at the First Stop—Nassau

After taking the photos, Lin Yu'an took out the professional bleeding knife and other treatment tools from the toolbox.

“Alright, the celebration is over. Now, it’s time to pay the highest respect to our spoils.” He said to the camera and to Mike, “That is to handle it in the most professional way possible, without wasting a single part.”

He turned to Mike: "Captain Mike, I'm still a complete novice when it comes to dealing with sea trophies."

"I might have some experience with skinning and butchering land prey."

"But this is the first time I've ever handled such a large sea fish. So I need you to teach me how to prepare it."

These words not only gave Mike face but also demonstrated his humble and eager-to-learn attitude. The slight frustration on Mike's face due to being in the "Air Force" instantly vanished, replaced by the pride of a senior veteran.

"Haha, no problem!" He took the knife, feeling like he'd regained his home turf. "You've come to the right person! Fishing is just for fun; the real skill is in preparing the fish!"

"All viewers, pay close attention! Lesson One! The Golden Ten Minutes! How to Capture the Taste of the Ocean!"

Under Mike's direction, a tense but well-organized "post-war handling" training session began in front of the live broadcast camera.

Mike shouted, "Quick! Raven, get some ice and fill the refrigerated tank at the stern with ice and seawater. We're going to give it an ice bath!"

Raven immediately got to work, while Mike demonstrated the first step to Lin Yu'an—bloodletting.

“Look carefully,” Mike knelt down. Instead of stabbing randomly with the knife, he used his fingers to precisely locate a soft indentation behind the mackerel’s pectoral fin.

"This is where its aorta is most concentrated. Make the cut quickly, accurately, and ruthlessly!"

He gripped the knife, plunged it in with a sudden thrust, and then swiftly slashed. A gush of bright red blood immediately spurted out like a fountain!

"Wow!" A chorus of exclamations erupted in the live stream chat.

This scene was visually striking, full of primal life force, and instantly ignited a barrage of comments.

Holy crap! The last time I saw this was with that auntie at RT-Mart who's been cleaning fish for ten years!

[Awesome! This is exactly what I wanted to see!]

[This is so realistic! The streamer is amazing! This is what real fish processing looks like!]

However, just as the audience was marveling at the scene, the live stream suddenly froze, and then a cold system notification appeared at the top of everyone's screen.

[Moderator Warning: Your live stream content is suspected of being bloody and violent. Please adjust your live stream content immediately, or you will be banned!]

This warning was like a bucket of cold water, instantly dousing the enthusiastic atmosphere.

"Oh, damn it!" Raven was the first to notice the warning message posted by a fan in English. She said in a panic, "Lin! We got a warning from the moderators! They think this is too gory!"

Mike frowned, clearly not understanding this "fuss": "Blood? We're processing food! Do they think the steaks in the supermarket grow on trees?"

The live stream chat exploded with comments:

[Super admin, are you alright? Have you ever seen a fish killed without bloodshed?]

[Don't block it! I just saw the most amazing part! This is educational! This is hardcore outdoor fun!]

[Oh no, the streamer is going to be banned! They just hooked a big fish and now they have to end the stream?]

Lin Yu'an's expression remained unchanged. It was perfectly normal for such a visually striking scene to trigger the platform's automatic review mechanism.

He shifted the main focus of the live stream away from the fish, ensuring that the bloody image was no longer the main subject.

Then, he calmly addressed the camera, saying, "Dear fans and moderators monitoring this live stream, hello."

"First of all, I am very sorry that the scene just now may have made some viewers uncomfortable."

"But please allow me to explain that what we are doing now is not any form of animal cruelty or violence, but necessary food preservation treatment."

He paused, his tone becoming more sincere: "My live stream aims to show everyone a real and complete seafaring life, including how to take advantage of nature's gifts, which inevitably involves the process of handling the catch."

"I promise that the following operations will avoid overly direct and bloody scenes, and I hope the platform and fans can understand."

[Well said! Support the host!]

[Did you hear that, moderator? This is food processing! I want to see this!]

[That's it, we'll never see such hardcore footage again.]

I think that's normal. After all, that's the platform's rule; we should respect it.

Perhaps Lin Yu'an's explanation had an effect, because the glaring warning disappeared quietly after a minute.

"Alright, let's not waste any more time," Mike urged. "We can't afford to waste those crucial ten minutes!"

He flipped the still slightly twitching fish over and precisely severed the caudal artery near the tail fin.

Then, he and Lin Yu'an worked together to hang the fish head down and its tail on the railing of the boat, allowing the blood to drain completely under the influence of gravity.

“Remember, the blood must be drained before the heart stops beating! This is the key to determining whether the fish is ‘top-grade sashimi’ or ‘cat food’!” Mike emphasized again to the camera and Lin Yu’an.

After about three or four minutes, no more blood flowed. Mike then put the fish back on the deck and began the second step—removing the gills and internal organs.

Using a special long-handled hook, he inserted it into the fish's gills, twisted and pulled, and removed the entire gill piece intact. "The gills are where the most bacteria are, so they must be removed immediately."

Next, he made a shallow incision in the fish's belly and carefully removed the internal organs completely. The whole process was clean and efficient, without damaging any part of the fish meat.

Lin Yu'an watched with extreme focus, memorizing every detail, knowing that the skill of cleaning fish would be crucial in the future voyage.

“Alright, now it’s your turn.” Mike pointed to the cleaned fish. “The last step is to fillet it. Along this side line, from head to tail, make a cut, close to the spine, feeling the friction between the knife tip and the bone. Come on, give it a try.”

Lin Yu'an picked up the long, thin willow-blade knife. Having processed countless prey, he knew the structure of muscles and bones like the back of his hand.

His knife skills were steady, precise, and ruthless, without the slightest hesitation. The blade brushed against the fish bones with a soft "shh" sound, slicing from the fish's head to its tail, and then his wrist flicked!
A huge, complete slice of mackerel fillet with beautiful marble patterns was perfectly sliced ​​off!
[Holy crap! This knife skill! Lin Shen, you call this your first time?!]

It's so smooth! It feels like I'm watching a fish-carving demonstration at a top-tier Japanese restaurant!

[That's normal. After all, Anzi has dealt with bears, wolves, and deer before... their body structures are all similar!]

Raven and Mike were also stunned. They had thought Lin Yu'an would make a rough, uneven cut, but he achieved perfection with just one stroke.

Lin Yu'an didn't stop there; he dealt with the other side in the same way.

Finally, two mackerel fillets, each weighing over ten pounds and resembling huge pink gems, were neatly placed on the cutting board.

“Okay, now…” Lin Yu’an was just about to pack the fish fillets.

“Wait, Lin.” Mike suddenly called out to him, a mysterious smile on his face.

He took out a clean Western-style kitchen knife and skillfully cut off a small piece of meat from the firmest part of the fish fillet at the tail.

Then, with an extremely professional technique, against the grain of the flesh, three slices of sashimi, as thin as cicada wings, were quickly sliced ​​out.

“Here,” he said, using the tip of his knife to place three translucent slices of sashimi in front of Lin Yu’an and Ruiwen respectively. “Before the main course, let’s have an appetizer. It’s a sailor’s tradition to taste the most primal flavor of the sea.”

[It's here! A live tasting event!]

Wow, Captain Mike's knife skills are amazing!

Lin Yu'an looked at the piece of sashimi that still held the warmth of life, and without the slightest hesitation, put it directly into his mouth.

The fish has a very unique texture, extremely bouncy and even a bit crunchy; you can feel the distinct fibers when you cut into it. However, the flavor is quite mild, with only a faint salty and savory taste, lacking the rich sweetness one might expect.

“It has a very interesting texture,” Lin Yu-an commented. “It’s very chewy, but it doesn’t seem to have much flavor.”

“Absolutely right!” Raven also tried a piece and immediately took over the conversation in the tone of a gourmet, starting to explain to Lin Yu’an and the viewers in the live stream.

"Lin, what you are tasting now is the state of fish meat before it rigors after death. At this stage, we call the texture of 'live fish meat'."

"Its defining characteristic is its extreme 'elasticity' and 'crispness,' which is a texture that some people particularly love."

She paused, then continued, "However, for a flavorful fish like mackerel, this isn't its best state. Its soul, those umami substances, are still dormant in its muscle cells."

Mike, meanwhile, carefully wrapped the remaining two large fillets in vacuum bags before fully immersing them in the refrigerator filled with ice-cold brine.

“Alright,” Mike closed the lid of the box, clapped his hands in satisfaction, and then, facing the camera, picked up where his daughter left off, beginning his “food science” lesson.

“Raven is right. We put the rest into ice-salt water and let it lie comfortably for at least four or five hours to allow it to ‘mature at a low temperature’.”

"The fish's own enzymes will act like countless tiny chefs, breaking down those stiff muscle fibers and making the meat incredibly tender."

"At the same time, the most important umami substance—inosinic acid—will also be produced in large quantities during this process, making the fish taste rich and sweet." He glanced at the time, a hopeful smile spreading across his face. "When you slice and taste it again in a few hours... Lin, you'll find that it has completely transformed into a different kind of food!"

"That's the true, top-tier flavor of mackerel, and it's our favorite flavor in Florida."

[I've learned something new! It turns out sashimi isn't always better the freshest it is! There are so many things to consider!]

[Low-temperature aging? It seems to be the same principle as aged steak!]

[Damn it! This streamer not only shows us the scenery and lets us try extreme sports, but now he's going to tempt us with food late at night! I'm already getting hungry!]

This vivid and professional explanation made Lin Yu'an and the viewers in the live broadcast room suddenly understand.

Just then, Lin Yu'an pointed to the huge fish skeleton and head still attached to the cutting board and asked, "What should we do with these things?"

Mike glanced at the distance from the shore displayed on the GPS and waved his hand dismissively: "These are all naturally biodegradable. Just throw them back into the sea and let the little guys on the ocean floor share with us."

"Wait a minute," Lin Yu'an stopped him, picked up a small spoon and said to the pieces of meat clinging to the bone on the fish skeleton that couldn't be perfectly sliced ​​off due to the knife skills, "I think it's too wasteful to just throw them away like this."

Raven and Mike both looked at him curiously.

Lin Yu'an used a spoon to meticulously scrape off the remaining bright red fish meat from the spine and ribs, quickly filling a large bowl.

"Mackerel has such a good texture and elasticity, it's a real shame not to use it to make fish balls. We can add handmade fish balls to our hot pot for lunch."

"Handmade fish balls?" Raven's eyes lit up instantly.

Mike laughed out loud: "Lin, your spirit of making the most of everything is just like an old sailor!"

Lin Yu'an smiled and put the bowl of fish into the refrigerator. Mike picked up the fish head and bones that had been scraped clean and walked to the stern of the boat.

“Alright, now these are the parts that really need to be taxed.” He threw the fish bones into the sea. The remains tumbled a few times on the deep blue surface before quickly sinking and disappearing.

After finishing with the mackerel, Mike looked at his "old buddy" that had remained completely still the whole time, and a complex expression appeared on his face, a mixture of happiness for Lin Yu'an and helplessness for his own air force.

"The competition isn't over yet, Dad!" Raven reminded him with a smile. "The rule is that it's about who catches the most fish. What if you catch a lot next?"

"Ha, you're right." Mike waved his hand, but a hint of defiance still lingered in his eyes. "The game won't be decided until the very last moment. Lin, don't get too excited. The real big fish are usually the most patient!"

Clinging to his last glimmer of hope, Mike rearranged his fishing rig, even replacing it with another "killer bait" that he had treasured for many years.

After a short rest, Lin Yu'an cast his fishing rig back out.

However, it seems that all the good luck was used up on that mackerel.

For the next two hours, the boat sailed through the waves, getting closer and closer to Nassau, but the two men's fishing rods seemed to be under a spell, and not a single whistle of the fishing reel sounded again.

The viewers in the live stream calmed down from their earlier excitement and began to discuss with great interest the "new pole metaphysics" that Lin Yu-an emphasized in his wilderness solo living program.

[Hilarious! Captain Mike may be verbally defiant, but his actions betray him – he changed the bait anyway.]

Is this the angler's last act of defiance? As long as the rod is in the water, there's always hope!

[It seems like Grandpa Mike is about to break down.]

[You know what, there's some mystery behind Anzi's new fishing rod! Ever since he started living alone in the wilderness, he's been catching fish even with just a stick as a fishing rod!]

[Really? Is the new pole-making metaphysics real? I've got a bold idea!]

By the time they finished, it was already past eight in the morning. As they returned to their posts, a blurry outline began to slowly appear on the distant horizon.

"Land in sight!" Raven pointed ahead. "Nassau! We're almost there!"

Mike sighed deeply, slowly reeled in his fishing line, and removed his "old friend," which carried his last hope, from the rod holder.

“Okay, I admit it.” He walked up to Lin Yu’an, his face showing a hint of regret, but more so a heartfelt sense of magnanimity.

He patted Lin Yu'an on the shoulder forcefully. "I lost! Sometimes, new weapons are indeed more effective than old ones! Well done! Your first deep-sea fish is a top-quality mackerel! Tonight, the deck... is mine!"

Mack accepted defeat gracefully, displaying the demeanor of an old-school sailor.

At 10:15 a.m., as the ship approached, the outline of Nassau became clearer and clearer.

The first thing that catches the eye is the Atlantis Hotel, a pink fairytale castle, located on Paradise Island, which is connected to Nassau by two long bridges.

Its massive arches and towering towers, bathed in the Caribbean sun, exude opulence and stand in stark contrast to their surroundings.

"Alright, guys, let's get ready to enter port." Lin Yu'an's voice broke the crowd's gaze as he officially switched back to captain mode. "From now on, we'll begin the port entry procedure. Raven, prepare to lower the sails. Mike, prepare to start the engines."

"Received!" The two immediately sprang into action.

Lin Yu'an turned off the autopilot, took control of the steering wheel, and picked up the VHF radio microphone on the bridge, tuning it to the internationally recognized channel 16.

“Nassau Port Control Center, Nassau Port Control Center, this is the sailboat North Star, over.” His voice was steady and clear.

After a brief static, a male voice with a heavy accent spoke from the radio: "Roger, North Star, this is Nassau port control. Please report your position, intentions, and number of people on board. Over."

"Port control. The North Star is located approximately three nautical miles southeast of the port entrance. Requesting entry and proceeding to Nassau Yacht Harbor. We are a 45-foot American-flagged sailboat with three crew members, all without injuries or illnesses. Over."

"Roger, North Star. There is a large cruise ship departing from the port. Please wait slowly in the channel outside the entrance and be aware of the wake of the cruise ship. Also, before reaching your berth, please raise the 'Q' flag on the starboard girder of the mast. Over."

"Understood. We will wait outside the entrance and raise the 'Q' flag. Polaris, call ended."

“Quarantine Flag.” Mike had already taken a plain yellow square flag out of the locker.

“It means ‘My vessel is in good condition, requesting entry permission.’ We are theoretically not allowed to disembark or have any contact with people on shore until customs officials board the ship to inspect and complete the formalities.”

[I learned something new! A yellow flag means "request to enter the country!"]

[How ceremonial! It feels like an ancient ship entering a harbor!]

Are all quarantine flags the same? They don't look very nice!

During the ten-odd minutes they waited for the cruise ship to depart, Raven and Mike had already tacitly lowered and tidied up the mainsail and foresail completely.

Lin Yu'an started the engine, and the deep roar of the diesel engine replaced the tranquility of the sails, marking their temporary transformation from "Sons of the Wind" back to "Body of Steel".

After the port control center issued a clearance to enter the port, the Polaris slowly sailed into the main channel of Nassau Port.

Inside the harbor, several giant cruise ships, resembling moving mountains, were quietly anchored, while thousands of tourists waved from their decks, filling this otherwise tranquil island with a cacophony of activity.

“Welcome to the visitor-only Disneyland.” Raven’s tone carried a hint of local sarcasm towards the visitor area.

Lin Yu'an ignored her complaints and focused intently on maneuvering the ship through the busy waterway.

Here you'll find not only huge cruise ships, but also water taxis, high-speed sightseeing boats, and small boats belonging to local fishermen. The sea conditions here are far more complex than in open water.

He picked up the VHF microphone again and switched to the internal work channel of Nassau Yacht Harbor.

"Nassau Yacht Harbour, Nassau Yacht Harbour, this is the sailboat North Star. We have reserved a berth and are currently approaching from the main channel. Requesting guidance. Over."

“Received, North Star, welcome to Nassau!” A warm and cheerful female voice came through. “This is Mary. Please turn left along buoy number 2. We have sent a guide ship to wait for you at the channel entrance. Your berth is berth number 12 in section B.”

"Received, Block B, Unit 12. Polaris, call ended."

Sure enough, at the entrance to the channel, an orange inflatable speedboat was waiting for them. A dark-skinned young man on the speedboat smiled and waved to them, then made a "follow me" gesture and began to lead the way.

The Polaris followed the guide ship and slowly sailed into the maze-like yacht harbor.

Both sides were lined with all kinds of luxury yachts, each worth a fortune, their masts like a forest, their white hulls gleaming in the sunlight.

Beautiful women in bikinis sunbathed on the deck, while the ship owners leisurely drank champagne on the aft deck, creating a scene of extravagance and decadence.

The young men on the pilot boat had already led them to berth B12 and were skillfully helping them prepare the mooring lines.

Lin Yu'an, with complete concentration, used the "reverse catapult" technique to precisely control the Polaris, slowly reversing it towards the narrow berth.

Just then, Raven suddenly exclaimed "Huh?" and looked at a ship near the berth they were about to approach.

It was a supersailboat, even larger than the Polaris, at least 350 feet long, entirely black, with futuristic and aggressive lines.

“Damn it,” Mike frowned instantly and cursed under his breath, “How did we end up here?”

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

(Next month is almost here, don't forget the sheep giveaway next month!)
(End of this chapter)