At dawn in Nanfang'ao, fishing boats arrive at the harbor one after another, their decks loaded with blue-backed, silver-bellied mackerel glistening with oil, quickly sorted by grade, boxed, and rushed to the auction floor. This is Taiwan's highest-volume mackerel port. From freshly caught raw fish to salt-grilled, miso-braised, and ichiya-boshi (overnight-dried), mackerel is almost unavoidable as the star of any meal in Nanfang'ao.
What is Nanfang'ao Mackerel?
Mackerel is the signature blue-backed fish — rich in fat and high in Omega-3. The mackerel caught in the waters off Nanfang'ao, Yilan is known for its consistent size and freshness. Common preparations include salt-grilled mackerel, miso-braised mackerel, salted ichiya-boshi (overnight-dried mackerel), and sweet-and-sour mackerel. The ichiya-boshi is the most representative processed product from Nanfang'ao: mackerel is brined and air-dried overnight, then pan-fried or grilled, which renders the fat, firms the flesh, and produces a flavor entirely different from fresh mackerel.
The Su'ao District Fishermen's Association website explicitly positions itself as 'the hometown of mackerel' and states that Nanfang'ao holds the top mackerel catch volume in Taiwan year after year. The primary reason is that Taiwan's eastern offshore waters sit precisely at the convergence zone of the Oyashio and Kuroshio currents, concentrating migratory fish schools. Since 1997 the fishermen's association has organized the 'Nanfang'ao Mackerel Festival' (jointly promoted by Yilan County Government and Su'ao Township Office), featuring direct-from-port sales and harbor tours — one of the few local festivals in Taiwan built around a single fish species.
How to eat it like a local
Local knowledge
Verified sources (sponsored content filtered out)
- The Su'ao District Fishermen's Association website explicitly positions Nanfang'ao as 'the hometown of mackerel,' with mackerel catch volume ranked first in Taiwan.
- Yilan County Government and Su'ao Township Office have jointly organized the Nanfang'ao Mackerel Festival since 1997 — an official government-backed event.
- Nanfang'ao lies at the convergence of the Oyashio and Kuroshio currents, making it Taiwan's principal mackerel fishing ground with a distinct geographical advantage.
Visitor tips
- Some restaurants on Nanfang'ao's seafood street cater mainly to tourists. Check the price board and confirm portion sizes before ordering to avoid misunderstandings.
- Mackerel is a high-histamine fish species; improper storage can trigger allergic reactions. Choose restaurants with visible refrigeration equipment.
- The Mackerel Festival period brings large crowds and heavy traffic. Taking public transport or booking accommodation in advance is strongly recommended to avoid getting stuck in jams.
Information compiled from the Yilan County Government's Bureau of Commerce and Tourism, local township farmers' associations, and large-scale public reviews. Sponsored listings have been filtered out. Photos will be replaced with channel-exclusive footage after Dio's on-site shoot.