My Friends' Catches 5

7kg Barramundi

Date: 04-04-2010  Tackle: 150lbs mono handline no sinker no float.  Bait: Live night herring 

He did hookup this fish a few week back but the fish make a dash into the pillar and end up his 150lbs hand line burst. That how strong and fast this fish is. For the past week, this fish appear again but won't dare to take his live bait. Maybe is healing from the wound on it mouth.

Saturday night...rain started to drizzle non stop. Every one left the place except him as his home is far away. Boring, he went to look for this fish. He found it there again. Armed with his handline, he hook a live night herring again and let it down to swim freely. Yes...the fish took his bait and he gave no chance and make no mistake this time. He bring it up and it weight 7kg. What a wonderful reward for his hard work under the rain which pour non stop even into the morning when this photo was taken.

Second Chance

Date: 23-05-2010    Time: 1am plus      Rod: Centuary Vectra 13ft      Reel: Daiwa Saltiga 40     Line: 30lbs mono     Rig: Long Snood Bottom Feeder      Bait: Fresh Squid

We was there around 5pm in the afternoon. We are aiming for a catch on this evening full tide around 7pm which has the best current flow for today tide table.

The first few squid caught was all casted out as bait. Our prediction was on target. Around 7pm...Lai rod which was on the extreme last corner the reel alarm goes off. Hong was the first to pickup the rod and strike. Wow...the fish goes off with full speed. Hong feel it was big so he pass the rod to me. I took over and the line just keep running out. I waited for it to stop and it happen after a good run. I try to put pressure on it and pump the rod up, but the fish just not turning around. After a brief stop, it continue to run on the seabed. With this happen, I know very well it is a big one and chances of landing it is very slim. Any moment the line will be cut if the fish pass by any structure on the seabed. True enough, the main line was cut somewhere near to the rig. The big one is gone.

When the tide change, the current was slow. As the night is still early, we continue to fish. Around 1am, Lai got his second chance. His alarm went off again. Same Hong got to his rod and strike. Yes.. fish is on but seem it is smaller as it didn't strip so much line as the first one, Hong very fast got it up at mid water level. But it didn't surrender fast. It got Hong to have a good workout with some good tug of war. After sometime, Hong got a bit tire and ask me to took over. I took sometime to surface it. An was ready with his newly made gaff. But the gaff sharp point was at a wrong angle and after few try still can't gaff it. Upon seeing it, I ask Hong to hold the rod and I get my gaff. I easily gaff it and bring it up. It weigh 12.5kg on the scale.

With this catch, Lai ended his dry spell running for over a year. Thanks to the sea dragon king who gave him the second chance.

Rare Catch

Date: 12-10-2010     Time: 6pm plus

Ah An caught this 4.2kg Black Sweetlip or black kaci with a handline just below the jetty. Bait is a dead tamban.

Rod Tester

Date: 19-06-2010    Time: 10pm.     Rod: Shimano 405BX 3pcs      Reel: Shimano Trininade 30      Line: 30lbs mono      Rig: Long snood bottom feeder      Bait: Dead Tamban

Raymond got his Shimano 3pcs joint rod tested when he hookup this 11.8kg stingray last night. The fish took the bait and go for a good run. It tired out after awhile before Raymond able to control it. He manage to surface it while I gave a fast gaff and bring it up. It weight 11.8kg on the scale.

Stingray

Date:18-07-2010     Time:3am      Rod: Penn PPT Sidewinder 13.6ft      Reel: Abu 10000C      Line: 30lbs mono      Rig: Long snood bottom feeder      Bait: Dead Tamban

Ah An caught this 7kg Stingray early this morning when the tide is about to turn up.

National Day award (Morning)

Date: 09-08-2010     Time: 10.45am      Rod; Daiwa Saltiga Surf 11ft      Reel: Penn 555GS      Line: 30lbs mono       Rig: Long Snood Bottom Feeder       Bait: Fresh Kunning

Today is Singapore celebrate the 45th national day and was a public holiday. The Sea Dragon King decided to award Ah Bee  this 4.2kg Golden Travelly when the tide is about to full. The fish took the bait with a good long run and make his reel alarm go screaming. Beside him, Ah Chuan also had a smaller award with 1kg plus Queen fish on cable car rig with live bait.

National Day Award (Evening)

Date: 09-08-2010     Rod: 8ft Fixed spool mixed brand      Reel: Small Fixed spool      Line; 20lbs mono      Rig: Cable Car       Bait: Live Tamban

Can't Sleep for long during daytime so went back to the jetty in the evening. Simon, Tee Kia and Eric already there. Only Simon was fishing with two rods. One on bottom big game and a smaller rod on live bait cable car.

The jetty was quite crowded with public waiting to view the fire work in the night. I setup a rod and casted out then went to help Simon to jig for bait fish. At that time the fly past helicorpters just flew past the jetty top and had very loud sound. Suddenly I turn around and saw Simon shorter rod tip bend over. Then the reel sounded and the rod almost topple over the jetty railing. I quickly grab hold of the rod and strike. While all this happen, Simon was not aware. Its only when they saw me fighting the fish that they run over. I pass the rod to him. He fought for awhile then pass it to Tee Kia. The fish was doing all sort of acrobatic on the water surface and entertaining the crowds that was watching and shouting like"Hooo...arrrr.....beautiful.....wowww.... bigggggg..." Eric took over the rod to play. I saw the fish was quite big so I fixed up my gaff. Awhile later, Eric play it near to the jetty and I gaff it up. It weigh 4.6kg on the scale. Almost everyone who witness the fight took photos on the fish like it is another national day display.

Simon didn't want the fish so I took it and fillet out the meat. It will be fish and chip for me again next week.