This is never sold at any time. The whole community joins in to provide for their meals and some people do it for fun of catching a lot in a short time. Those that cannot join in are still given a share and the whole village eats fresh fish. There are about five family groups with their own au . The best time to fish is when the tide is going out or coming in either during the day or night.
Several people go out looking for a school while the rest follow with the au .
Once they encircle the school the leader selects a good spot to hold the net down. Snorkelers then enter the circle and chase the fish into the scoop net while others splash the water to keep the fish in. There is much shouting and screaming. There is also a belief that the first group that does the ta o has to share all they catch. If they don't then the fish will go away.