Shanghai, literally translated as "Upon the Sea," sits at the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta, where it meets the Pacific Ocean. Yet, for those of us living here, it doesn't exactly conjure up images of sport fishing, or any other sort of fishing, really. Skyscrapers and a bustling metropolis are more in line with what residents expect and realistically experience on a daily basis.

If you do see fishing within the city, perhaps the stereotype would be an old man pole fishing on a creek or hidden canal, subsistence fishing, frankly, not appealing to most would-be expat anglers. Whether that's due to assumptions that there are no fish, the fish are too small, the urban center doesn't offer the natural escape anglers seek, or the water conditions seem less than ideal... probably describes the spectrum of initial thoughts on fishing within the community. However, with just a little effort you can go fishing in Shanghai, and actually catch fish. Big fish.

I went along with my buddies Rudy, who used to own that beer bar some might remember, Kaiba, as well as my other friend Jordan who does these BBQ pop-ups now and then that we have at Rooster.

The day starts around sunrise (earlier if you're more hardcore) hopping into a Didi and heading south. Why? Because fish generally eat first thing in the morning. So just after sunrise is when they're most active and hungry. Best time to catch them.

Fun Fact: Jinshan is the only Shanghai district without a Metro station.

Roughly an hour's drive (about 170 yuan/US$23.7 from downtown) takes you beyond the city center and ring roads, across bridges and waterways, and through farmlands before eventually arriving at "South Pool Lure Fishing Base." No fishing license is needed, and the pond's opening hours range from 6am to 9pm in the summer months and 7am to 6pm the rest of the year.

Several different ponds are scattered across this farm-like expanse, varying in size, contents and even how you're allowed to fish them. After paying the 200-yuan fishing fee, rig up your gear, cast your line and let the fun begin.

Disclaimer: These are stocked ponds and this isn't a wild or natural fishery. But it's also one of the few places you can catch large native species legally in Shanghai. Fishing is banned in the Yangtze River and its connected tributaries, making nearly every waterway in the city technically unfishable (including Suzhou Creek). Perhaps the closest comparison for these ponds in the West would be stocked trout lakes in North America or carp ponds in Europe.

Now, this where we get into "long-time laowai" stuff, because we happen to know the owner of these fishing ponds. The own of this particular pond, Dr Qin is a most gracious person. And yes, he's a real medical doctor. We had a chat with him.

Hello Dr Qin! Can you tell us a bit about this pond and its history?

This pond in Jinshan started in 2018. I'd had two other ponds before, but they were too small for the number of fish I wanted to raise. I built this one from scratch, based on my own plans – it took nearly three months.

What's your general opinion about fishing in Shanghai?

For people living in Shanghai, if you want to catch a variety of fish – especially larger ones – you really need to come to a managed fishing ground. Wild fishing options are very limited here. In the Yangtze River and Huangpu River, fishing has been banned for 10 years. We're already four years into it. Technically, you can't fish legally in most major rivers in Shanghai. There are lakes and rivers around Shanghai, even on Chongming Island – but there aren't many aggressive fish suitable for lure fishing. They just won't bite.

Do you have gear for those who don't own fishing equipment?

Yes. yes. We have rods and reels for people who don't have gear. Anyone can come and fish. Just need to pay the entrance fee, 200 yuan.

What I'm holding up there is a yellowcheek carp (ganyu 竿鱼). This fish is arguably China's prized sport fishing species. A predatory carp species that can grow over 2 meters long and up to 50kg, it's a fast and powerful fish built like a torpedo that's native to the Yangtze River basin. You'll immediately know when you have one hooked as its initial run will rip drag off your reel and leave you holding tight. Dr Qin's fishing pond is stocked with plenty of these fish ranging from juveniles to monsters.

Fishing here is definitely an experience. Goats wander the premises, dogs bark at waimai (delivery) drivers bouncing along gravel roads with lunch deliveries, and a small break room provides protection from the elements plus cold beer (water too) to complete an authentic fishing experience.

Most anglers use spinning or bait-casting reels (spinning reels have a fixed spool and are easier for beginners, while bait-casting reels sit on top of the rod and give more control but take practice), but there's also plenty of space for fly fishing (casting a nearly weightless lure using the line's weight instead of the lure's). Depending on the pond and species, you may be allowed to take home your catch, although catch and release (returning the fish alive to the water) is generally the preferred practice. Dr Qin encourages the use of barbless hooks (hooks with the backward-facing point removed or flattened so they're easier to remove) to minimize the risk of injuring the fish. There are nets and boga grips (a handheld clamp for holding a fish by the mouth without harming it) available for gentle handling.

What You Need to Know About Getting Gear:

Online Gear:

If you like couch shopping, then Taobao will have you fully covered. Here's your beginners list:

1. Light Spinning Reel

• Chinese: 轻型纺车轮 (qīng xíng fǎng chē lún)
  
• Tip: Look for sizes in the 1,000-3,000 range – perfect for small-to-medium fish in Shanghai's lakes and rivers.
  

2. Light Spinning Rod

• Chinese: 轻型纺车竿 (qīng xíng fǎng chē gān)
  
• Tip: A rod around 1.8-2.1 meters is easy to handle and works well for beginners.
  

3. Monofilament Fishing Line (≤ 15lb Test)

• Chinese: 单丝尼龙线 (dān sī ní lóng xiàn)
  
• Tip: In China, line strength is often listed in kilograms – 15 lb ≈ 6.8 kg. Search for "≤7kg" lines.
  

4. Popular Lures

• Crankbaits: 摇摆饵 (yáo bǎi ěr)
  
• Vibros/Vibration Lures: 震动饵 (zhèn dòng ěr)
  
• Rubber Worms: 橡胶虫 (xiàng jiāo chóng)
  
• Tip: While "any lure will work," these are widely used and stocked in Shanghai tackle shops.
  

5. Simple Carp Setup

• For those who want to catch carp (鲤鱼 lǐ yú) – a favorite in local waters:
  
• Small Hooks: 小钩 (xiǎo gōu)
  
• Split Shot Weights: 咬铅 (yǎo qiān)
  
• Bobber/Floats: 浮漂 (fú piāo)
  
• Bait: A simple piece of corn (玉米 yù mǐ) works wonders.
  

In-Person Shopping:

Decathlon: This place has a modest selection in their stores. Just type in Decathlon in Didi and you'll see a bunch of locations.

Lanling Flowers & Bird Market: 1539 Lingshi Road, near Nanhuayuan road (灵石路1539号，近南华苑路). Stall D-14. Also, type in "Lanling Flowers" and you'll see it in Didi.

Where to Go:

Dianping is also incredibly useful and searching for fishing gear (钓具 diàojù) or fishing pond (钓鱼塘 diàoyú táng) will offer more results than just seafood restaurants. Dr. Qin's pond isn't the only stocked pond available for fishing in Shanghai, although it is my personal favorite. Several other ponds can be found on Dianping and are generally in the Jinshan or Fengxian districts.

Dr Qin's Pond: Nan Chi Lu Ya (南池路亚)

Didi: 南池路亚

Address: On the south side, 13km east of the Hongzi Road and G15 intersection, Jinshan District

金山区红梓路与G15路口往东13公里南侧

Jinshan Pond: Bihai Jinshan (碧海金沙)

Didi: 碧海金沙

Address: 6 Haihan Rd, Fengxian District

奉贤区海涵路6号

Chongming Island's Pearl Lake offers fishing opportunities and even potential boat access taking you to parts where large yellowcheek and sea bass can be caught. It's quite a distance from our downtown Shanghai, but the Pearl Lake Resort would be the key to your stay, access and ability to hire a boat for fishing on the lake. For a weekend away this is going to be one of the more adventurous options and would require more planning, coordination and more advanced Chinese-language skills.

Shanghai cuisine is full of fish, and historically, geography and water resources certainly influenced its flavors. Today, Shanghai's status as the preeminent food import hub of China perpetuates this in modern times with access to the highest of quality seafood options, but local fishing as a hobby remains mostly under the radar.

Being a modern and high-tech city doesn't mean the city is devoid of older and more traditional pastimes and hobbies; you just need to go a little bit off the beaten path sometimes to make your pursuits become a reality.

Go fishing. See for yourself.