After fisherman Lin Hai loses his father, his enemy Zhang Tao seizes his fishing boat and dock, while Su Wan, his childhood betrothed, abandons him for being poor. Relying on the ancient methods of reading the sea and identifying fish taught to him by his father, Lin Hai repeatedly catches rare large yellow croakers and giant groupers using an old, dilapidated skiff. Each catch humiliates Zhang Tao, who has spent a fortune on advanced equipment. Zhang Tao repeatedly resorts to dirty tricks, stealing fishing grounds, using destructive nets, and wrecking Lin Hai's boat, only to suffer the consequences himself. Su Wan repeatedly schemes for personal gain but meets setbacks at every turn. Lin Hai establishes a fishing fleet with rules to protect the sea, leads the entire village to prosperity, and earns the title of Fishing King of the East China Sea.