Hundreds of Samoans from all walks of life gathered at different beaches throughout Upolu and Savai'i on Sunday morning, hoping to catch the elusive palolo worm.

The first rising predicted for Sunday or Monday morning created a lot of excitement throughout the nation as people pin their hopes on a big catch.

In the big island of Savai'i, the Palolo Festival was a big hit attracting many visitors there. Although there were a lot of exciting activities, the most important aspect for everyone is to actually catch the delicacy. 

In Upolu, hundreds gathered at the south coast and huddled at dawn at the Tuialamu strip at Aleipata on Sunday morning. Many of them stayed overnight at nearby beach fales hoping to catch the much sought for seasonal palolo. 

According to local fisherman Mika, the rising should happen on Monday morning.

" I was just out at the reef," he said. "And I don't think the palolo will be out on Sunday. Monday may be a better day for it."

Masami and Angie, from Apia, also went to the south coast to stay the night in a beach fale in the hope to catch some palolo.

 " We made our ula moso'oi, garlands of ylang-ylang, to attract the palolo," Angie said. 

But they did not have the fishing net for the palolo so they asked the villagers to help them make it. 

Meanwhile, Taua Mani announced to his bar attendants on the evening of Saturday that he was selling palolo catchers for 10 tala. 

" We are selling the palolo fish catchers for 10 tala if you want to buy one," he said to his guests. 

Around his beach fales, families and children were gathered to sleep for the night till the dawn rise for the palolo not five minutes down the road. 

Many people scoured the sea before sunset to catch the much anticipated palolo. Unfortunately, Angie lost her shoe and reported to staff at the beach fale where she spent the night, that they were new shoes. 

She also said that they only saw thin strips of palolo, so it was not a lucky catch. 

A resident of Vailoa, Miriama told Samoa Observer that she heard from people who went there that there was not really any palolo out there. 

" I heard it was just thin strips of palolo. So I am sure there will be better luck tomorrow," she said. 

Mika said he woke to cook food and make a fish soup for his family instead. 

" I did not go to do any palolo. I had fish, but I think I will try tomorrow morning," he said.