Zhanjiang borders the Beibu Gulf to the west. The dried red fish and red fish tubes produced in this sea area are one of Zhanjiang’s famous specialties. Among them, Zhanjiang’s dried red fish is famous for its Xuwen dried red fish.

The scientific name of red fish is red fin snapper, also known as red fish, red trough fish and red chicken. It is a warm water middle and lower-level fish. The fish is large in size, with small spines and excellent meat quality. It has the characteristics of high meat content, high protein and low fat. It is a pollution-free green aquatic product. The northern area of ??the South China Sea is rich in Beibu Gulf waters. The fish body is oval in shape and slightly flattened laterally. It is generally 20 to 40 centimeters in length and weighs about 2 to 3 kilograms. The head of the red fish is relatively large, the body is covered with large comb scales, the lateral line is completely parallel to the dorsal edge, the eyes are widely spaced and protruding, and the whole body is bright red, hence the common name of the red fish. In addition to being eaten braised or steamed, redfin snapper is also suitable for making fish fillets, fish balls, fried fish fillets, etc.

The red fish produced in the Beibu Gulf of Zhanjiang are healthy and strong, so they can generally live for 4 to 5 years, and those with longevity can live for more than 7 years. Its individuals also grow larger, have thicker flesh with less thorns, delicious meat, high protein content, and rich nutrition. Therefore, it is classified as a high-quality seafood fish and is a famous seafood delicacy. The annual output of red fish in Zhanjiang is relatively stable and can be caught throughout the year, mainly in spring floods and winter floods.

There are many types of fishing gear used to catch redfish, with bottom trawling being the main method. "Redfish longline fishing" is a traditional operation method. A mother ship carries 25 to 36 sub-boats. The golden thread caught during the day is used as bait for catching redfin snapper at night.

The production of dried red fish in Xuwen has a long history. The red fish produced by it are usually fished by the "red fish longline" method in the Beibu Gulf. During the spring flood period, the fresh red fish hooked are immediately sold to hundreds of people. It is naturally formed by repeated drying on the decks of kilometers of ships. Therefore, Xuwen dried red fish is famous for being naturally dried.