The Nadur fishermen start preparing for the lampuki season in August. Lampuki are dorado, a fish that migrates past the islands between September and November. A sleek and elegant fish, it has white flesh and a distinctive flavour of the sea.

The Nadur fishermen gather at Dahlet Qorrot Bay and prepare for weeks of hard work out at sea.

It’s a curious fact that lampuki have been caught in the same manner by Maltese fishermen since Roman times. As the season approaches, so fishermen cut and gather the large, lower fronds from palm trees which they plait into flat rafts.

These are taken out to sea where they are floated and the lampuki, finding nice patches of shade, gather beneath them. Quickly the fishermen encircle them with nets. The trick never fails!

Depending on their size lampuki are grilled, fried or made into a wonderful pastry-covered pie with cauliflower, spinach and olives, called torta tal-lampuki.

We met some fishermen at Dahlet Qorrot Bay, grouping palm-tree fronds are discussing the weather conditions. “Weather is important for us… very important,” one of them told us. “At times our catch wholly depends on weather and sea conditions.”

Asked about the coming season, the youngest fisherman at the bay said “We’re optimistic! After all... lampuki like Gozo!”

All is almost ready now to set sail and hopefully bring back home a plentiful supper!