Any fisherman will tell you that no trip out on the open ocean is ever the same. The murky waters are still full of mysteries and secrets yet to be uncovered, and you never know what strange objects or creatures can suddenly appear in your fishing nets.
This, on top of the fact that the open ocean can be one of the most challenging environments to tread, makes every voyage unpredictable. It can go from as calm as a night in a village to as rough and dangerous as Detroit City on New Year’s Eve.
This is why most fishermen are at least somewhat relieved when they can head back to shore after a couple of long and hard days of fishing. But when this fishing crew encountered something they would have never expected on their way back home, none of them hesitated to spring into action immediately.
The fishing crew aboard the Golden Delight experienced this to the fullest extent. But what they found in the water might just make it all worth it.
They had been out on the open ocean for almost two full weeks—much longer than usual. However, they barely managed to catch anything in the first couple of days, and they couldn’t afford to return to the harbor empty-handed. These hardworking people didn’t have a lot of cash saved up for days when they returned without a catch.
Being a fisherman is a difficult and dangerous job, but it sadly doesn’t come with a guaranteed salary. Keeping all of this in mind, their main problem was that, due to overfishing, they often caught fewer profitable fish than they had just a few years ago.
Thus, they decided to change their strategy and head further out into waters with less traffic from other fishing boats, increasing their chances of a successful haul. It took them a while to get there, but luckily, their efforts were not in vain.
They found a large patch of open water completely absent of other fishing boats, meaning they had no competition. The first time their nets touched the water, they knew they had struck gold—especially when they started pulling them back in. The net was tougher to reel in than it had been in almost a year.
With a lot of effort, they managed to get it on board and gazed in awe at the incredible mass of fish moving frantically on the deck of the ship. The first net was full, and they had just caught the largest amount of fish they had ever hauled on a single fishing trip. Their storage space was completely packed after only two days of fishing in this spot.
The crew was overjoyed and celebrated every haul they brought aboard. Their luck seemed to know no bounds.
During those two days, they not only caught an abundance of fish but also encountered some amazing marine animals. The most spectacular of all was a pod of whales that swam alongside their ship.
With the ship’s storage filled to the brim, they were finally ready to head back home. They couldn’t afford to wait any longer—otherwise, the fish could spoil, making all their efforts futile.
However, on their way back, they encountered treacherous waters that were nearly impossible to navigate. They had to make a detour to avoid a storm that could have cost them their lives. This added at least two extra days to their trip.
To escape the worst of the storm, they first had to backtrack, moving away from it before circling around to safer waters. The storm was faster than they were, but their calculations suggested they would avoid the roughest and most dangerous parts of it.
Luckily for them, the captain’s calculations were correct.
Exhausted from being at sea for so long and suffering from a severe shortage of fresh water and food, the crew was desperate to get home. They knew that land was still a couple of days away, and they would have to hold out a little longer.
Fortunately, they were aboard a well-stocked fishing boat, meaning they had plenty of fish to eat. They also managed to catch some rainwater during the storm, ensuring they wouldn’t completely dehydrate.
To pass the time, the rest of the crew spent their days playing cards or dice, gazing over the endless sea. Occasionally, they spotted some marine life, but sightings were rare.
They were bored and tired of the smell of fish, but they were almost home. If the captain’s estimates were correct, land was only a day away.
Then, suddenly, one of the most beautiful sights appeared before them—land, rising just above the horizon.
The crew erupted in excitement, celebrating as if they had won the lottery.
While most of the crew was focused on celebrating, one crew member couldn’t take his eyes off the land. He was finally about to go home. But then, something emerging from the water caught his eye.
It took him a few moments to adjust to what he was seeing—a beautiful, mature dolphin.
At first, this wasn’t unusual. Dolphins were a common sight on their trips, and they had encountered multiple throughout this journey. They were always cautious to avoid catching them in their nets, and on rare occasions when they did, they managed to set them free.
But something was off about this particular dolphin.
It seemed to be struggling to move, unable to dive back down. It only took the perceptive crewman a few moments to realize what was wrong—its tail was caught in a large, heavy fishing net.
The net had likely been discarded by another fishing boat—or perhaps even by them. They, too, had lost a few nets and pieces of equipment to the unpredictable mistress that is the ocean.
The dolphin looked extremely exhausted, having dragged the net around for who knows how long. It had likely been separated from its pod, as no other dolphins were in sight.
Realizing the severity of the situation, the crewman immediately alerted his fellow crew members. At first, they were too caught up in their celebration to understand what was happening. But once they spotted the struggling dolphin, they knew they had to make a decision.
Would they turn their boat around and chase after the helpless dolphin to free it, even if it meant being delayed from reaching home? Or would they continue their journey and ignore the suffering animal?
The decision was made within seconds.
Without hesitation, every crew member agreed—they would go after the dolphin.
Some might assume that because fishermen make their living catching fish, they have no regard for marine life. But in reality, fishermen deeply respect the ocean and all the creatures in it. Their survival depends on it.
The captain quickly turned the boat around and started chasing after the dolphin. The exhausted creature tried to dive a few times but struggled to stay submerged.
The boat soon caught up to it. At first, the dolphin tried to flee, but after a few failed attempts, it simply stayed near the boat—either recognizing they were trying to help or simply too exhausted to resist.
The fishermen didn’t have an easy way to bring the dolphin aboard, so they decided to use the very thing that had trapped it—a fishing net.
To their surprise, they successfully captured the dolphin on their first attempt. Carefully, they pulled the exhausted creature on deck.
Two of the strongest crew members held it steady while the deck leader took his knife and carefully cut the tangled net from its tail. With a few precise cuts, the entire net came off easily.
They quickly inspected the dolphin for any injuries, but fortunately, it appeared to be in good condition. Almost instantly, it seemed livelier, its strength returning now that it was free.
Without wasting time, the crew members opened the deck’s ledge. With some pushing and shoving, they managed to return the dolphin to the water.
The moment it hit the sea, it dove deep down and disappeared.
Satisfied with their work, the crew cleaned up the deck while the captain set course for home. The rescue had added five to six hours to their journey, but no one regretted their decision.
As they continued sailing, something incredible happened—a dolphin appeared beside their boat, leaping gracefully through the water.
They were almost certain it was the same dolphin they had saved.
Given how intelligent these creatures are, it wasn’t unlikely that this was its way of thanking them.
Finally, after a long and exhausting journey, the crew reached the shore. Not only had they secured a well-deserved paycheck with their massive catch, but they had also returned with an unforgettable story—one that would be told for years to come.
