3D2N trip on Seven Seas Conqueress with a new group of kakis. Morning departure and it was 3pm before we could start fishing.
As I was new to this group, I took up my fishing position at the sides of the boat. The deckies were really helpful in setting up my fishing rods. I just passed them my rods and reels and when it was time to start fishing, all were rigged up, ready to go!! Now that's service for ya!
Afternoon action was sporadic and I didn't catch a fish till evening. Caught a 1kg Kaci on Apollo rig with live prawn. Finally, back in the action!
Come night time, we moved off to a location to catch squids as bait for our target, Ang Chor. Again, the deckies rigged up their squid jigs on my fishing rod automatically! I managed to hook up 4 pieces of XL squid during the session before we headed off to buy some from a local kelong as it wasn't enough for the nights' fishing.
Current was very strong at night, even a size 20 sinker was flying away! After a few hours, I've had enough as it was just unproductive fishing with such a strong current.
Slept till sunrise and came back out to fish. We were still at the Ang Chor spot so I dropped my ranggong rig over with a strip of squid bait. Left the rod in the rod holder with the clicker on. 15mins later, the clicker started to sound slowly. Got the rod out and free-spooled the reel. As I was using a circle hook, I had to let the fish take the bait and run. And so it did.... count to 5 and engaged drag! Fish ON!
Straight on, I knew this was a big fish. It went under the boat and then straight out to the horizon! At first I thought it was a large Queenfish because I could see the line coming up to the surface. But it went further into the horizon. There was temptation to increase the drag but I just held on. When the fish finally stopped, I slowly reeled back. Good thing the fish stayed almost on the surface as it was easier to reel in. Finally managed to see what it was and it was a large Cobia!
Finally got the fish near the boat and the deckies were ready with the gaff shot. Got close but the deckie missed the shot and that spooked the Cobia big time! It circled around the boat, entangling a few lines and out it went into the horizon again!
Had to scramble around the boat to untangle the lines before managing to control the fish again. Slowly worked the fish back near the boat before another deckie managed to gaff it accurately. Phew!
Nice Cobia, weighed in at 7kg! So happy!
That got the adrenaline pumping! Another kaki beside me managed to pull up an XL Ang Chor while I was fighting my Cobia.
The rest of the morning was spent moving from spot to spot; trying to hit some Ebek spots.
Had a good take on my rod and managed to hook fight the fish. But halfway through the fight, the fish fell off. Reeled back to check and it seems that the hook came out. Another angler also lost a fish mid-fight. We both surmised that the hook pulled away the delicate lips of the Ebek.
After lunch at a new spot, I moved to the front of the boat and dropped my rig over. Within 5 mins, I felt a light tapping on the line and I slowly eased the spool. On the next solid tap, I strike. Fish ON!
The fish went on a powerful run but it was under control. Gained some line before it surged again. Reeled back and when I thought I had the fish subdued nearing the surface, the line went limp........
Shitx!! Not again!! As I was reeling back the rig, I could see the fish floating up to the surface due to decompression. It was a large Ebek!
Boat Captain Ricky was kind enough to pull up anchor and went to retrieve the fish! Deckies managed to gaff the fish up. Phew!
Night time action was pretty slow again, although I did catch a few more squids. Current picked up again and I went to sleep.
Just before dawn, the remaining kakis got into a 15min frenzy of Ang Chor. They managed to pull up some nice sized fish. I woke up after that to fish but it all went quiet again.
The deckies managed to scoop up some cute octopus during the night!
We called it a trip just after dawn and headed back to the marina.
I wasn't aware of a pool going on for heaviest fish for this trip. And by luck, I won it with my 7kg Cobia!
It was a fruitful trip, with me catching my target Ebek and bonus Cobia. Most of the fish were XL and of quality. The deckies were really helpful in every way! Great job!
Till the next trip!
