Shimano Saros 2500F

I decided to give myself a Christmas present this year.

Since my outing with Ah Fong, I've come to realize my tackle for kayak fishing wasn't cutting it for boat charter fishing. Since that trip, I've gone on a few other boat charters using my old Shimano Slade 4000 reel that was bought long time ago. This reel is rather large and I thought I would prefer a smaller sized reel.

Since I've been using the Shimano Saros 1000F for some time now for kayak fishing, I thought I might as well get the larger version. So I purchased online a 2500 sized Saros for boat charter fishing. I think it is light enough and would not be so tiring fishing with it the whole day.

PCG Encounter

I had an encounter with the Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) today whilst kayak fishing at Sembawang Park.

 I was 'pulled over' by PCG at the end of my fishing session today for 'landing my kayak on a protected area'. What was I doing? I was standing knee-deep in water taking a piss! Yes, even if you need to pee, you CANNOT land/walk/wade in a protected area. While I was being 'interrogated' by the PCG, the junior officer started saying:
1) since the land is protected area, the waters off the land are also protected areas. (Not true)
2) He also said I should get a bigger boat so that I won't get into trouble(??).
3) fishing near a kelong is not allowed. (Not true but be considerate to the kelong owners)

After a few more exchanges, I said to him that I am aware of all the prohibited areas as stated in the MPA circular and this area(water) is not part of it. Moreover, after I was done peeing, I went back into my kayak. It was not as though I was fishing from the shore on the protected area. Seeing that he couldn't 'scare' me, they went into their boat and after 10mins, the senior officer came out to explain to me nicely. He advised me not to land on the protected area anymore as its against the law. I then purposely questioned him as to whether I can continue to fish in the waters off the protected area. He sheepishly said yes, as long as no landing on the protected area.

All kayak anglers should familiarize themselves with all the danger/restricted/prohibited areas that they plan to fish in. Its when you know what's right and wrong, then you won't be 'bullied' into something which may not be true.

Revenge

Decided to launch at Sembawang Park again after being busted off the previous week. Was drifting around the shallows when spotted some nervous baitfish splashing around. Casted a live prawn near the splashes and did a few twitches. Next thing I know, I was connected solidly to a hard tugging fish. The fish started to take line, looking for snags to bust me off but I managed to steer it into less snaggy areas. After a few circles around my kayak and a few headshakes for good measure, I managed to land the beauty. Was a superb fighter and was truly stoked at catching my biggest Barramundi to date!

Gear used:
Rod - Shimano TCurve Tropical PE 1-2
Reel - Shimano Saros 1000F
Line - generic 20lb braid
Bait - live prawn
Rig - Carolina style

Fish ID - Barramundi (Lates calcarifer)

The one that got away

It's been quite a while since I last launched at Sembawang Park. So today I tried something a bit different. I went to Sincere Tackle to load up with $10 worth of live prawn and launched at Sembawang Park after lunch in order to catch the outgoing tide.

Paddled to the stumps and started drift fishing around it. I casted to all sides of the structure and was rewarded with a palm-sized Ang Chor (John's Snapper). Released it quickly and continued to fish. As it was rather quiet for a while, I paddled off towards the river mouth, hoping to see if any predatory fishes were waiting at the river mouth to ambush the baitfish. Hung around there for an hour or so but no action.

Paddled back to the stumps and tried casting out a live prawn again. This time, as the prawn was sinking, I could already feel the erratic movements of the prawn. Next thing I know, my rod jerked forward and I could hear my reel drag screaming away. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! I hung on to the rod but now the fish went around the stumps and I tried to angle the rod and line away from the barnacle-covered stump. Next thing I know, SNAP!!! I got busted off when the braided line rubbed the stump too hard. Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Can't believe I lost what could have been a very big fish! Paddled home slowly, feeling dejected.........

Sickle Fever

At my usual launch point, I headed out to the fishing spot. I rigged up the Telescopic rod with mussel bait from the blue barrels and used the Shimano TCurve Travel rod to rig up with the leftover 3inch Berkley minnow soft plastic on a jighead. I parked the Telescopic rod and used the TCurve to jig the plastic Minnow up and down but nothing was interested. However, I was getting some bites on the mussel bait that I had on the other rod. Unfortunately, I didn't get a solid hookup.

So I thought I might as well put some mussel on the hook at the end of the soft plastic. Tossed it out and jigged again. Something grabbed it real quick and the fish was ON! Took a bit of line but I managed to bring it up and it was a Sicklefish. Nice round body! Looks like the mussel trick worked. Put the fish on the stringer and continued fishing.

Re-baited my soft plastic and tried again. Nothing for 30mins then another hard pull. Felt like the same fight, so I called it for another Sicklefish. True enough, it was. Only that this fella was slightly bigger. Strung him up as well and headed back to shore.

I think the soft plastics can be effective but it would depend on the water clarity. As you know, sometimes the water in S'pore can be rather poor.

These 2 Sickle Fish would be great for dinner!

Gear used:
Rod - Shimano TCurve Tropical PE 1-2
Reel - Shimano Saros 1000F
Line - generic 20lb braid
Bait - Berkely Gulp Minnow 3 inch
Rig - weighted jighead

Fish ID - Chao Xi aka Sicklefish (Drepane Punctata)

Pussy spot!

Launched from Pasir Ris Park today. As usual, the waters were mirror calm and no wind. I had purchased some Berkley Gulp Minnow plastic baits after reading about them in a fishing magazine. I decided to try them out today. I also now carry 2 fishing rods, the Shimano Eclipse Telescopic and the Shimano TCurve Tropical Travel rod. The reason is on my last undocumented kayak fishing trip, I broke my telescopic rod after pulling too hard trying to un-snag the rig. I had to cut short the fishing session because of it.

Used a small jig head and threaded the Minnow lure onto the hook. Tossed it out to the fishing spot and started to reel it back slowly. I could feel the plastic moving on the bottom, so being afraid that it might get snagged, I quickly flicked the rod tip up and started reeling. Straight away, I felt something pulling hard. Fish made a short burst but I managed to reel it in. Heart was thumping in anticipation with what was on the end of the line. Then it surfaced..... nabei! A rather large catfish! After my last encounter with a catfish, I made doubly sure that this pussy didn't come near my kayak at all. Used my boga grip to hold it and took a couple of pics before releasing it.

Not bad, 1 cast 1 fish. So continued fishing at the spot and managed to land another 2 fish later in the morning. Catfish again! Must be a pussy spot. They are fun on light tackle but I don't eat them. So they were all were released unharmed.

The wind really picked up at 1030am so I decided to call it a day. Too tired to paddle against the wind.

Gear used:
Rod - Shimano TCurve Tropical PE1-2
Reel - Shimano Saros 1000F
Line - generic 20lb braid
Bait - Berkley Gulp Minnow 3inch
Rig - Carolina style

Fish ID - Ah Seng fish aka Mozambique Sea Catfish  (Plicofollis polystaphylodon)

Baitfish surface action

Haven't launched from Changi Boardwalk for some time so I decided to head there this morning. Was on the water by sunrise and proceeded to the fishing spot. I had bought some plastics again to try and this one was a fluorescent yellow twin tail plastic. I just wanted to try if the fish would chomp on such a 'loud' colour plastic.

I cast towards the rocks and slowly worked it down the rocky face to the bottom. On my 2nd cast, a fish grabbed the lure and I quickly reeled it in. It was a small Orange-Spotted Grouper and was released. Not too bad, only the 2nd cast of the day and I'm already on the board.

45mins later, another Orange-Spotted Grouper climbed onto the plastic lure as I was twitching it back. It seems that the 'loud' colour doesn't really put them off. I'm guessing the dancing twin tails were too enticing for the fish to not take a crack at it! This Grouper was released as well.

After that, it all went quiet. I changed to a few other plastic lures but nothing was interested. Then just as I was getting ready to head back, I heard some splashing sound behind me. I turned the kayak around to witness an extraordinary sight. The splashing was made by some baitfish and it was everywhere. I couldn't really see the baitfish but the splashes just kept on going!

So I decided to stick around longer and casted my plastic lures in and around the splashes. After 15mins or so of casting, nothing was interested so I called it a day just before noon and headed back home for post kayak fishing cleaning.....

Gear used:
Rod - Shimano Eclipse Telescopic 3-4kg
Reel - Shimano Saros 1000F
Line - generic 20lb braid
Bait - twin tail plastic lure
Rig - Carolina style

Fish ID - Orange-Spotted Grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

Another colourful Grouper

Launched at Pasir Ris again hoping to get some bigger fish. Went towards the kelong areas again in search for the 1kg specimens.

Anchored up near the eastern-most kelong and started fishing. Very quiet morning, only a few nibbles here and there. Moved a few times until the last spot. Decided that that was going to be the last spot of the day. As I was getting my stuff ready to head back to shore, I placed my rod under my lap. Then I felt a slight movement. Looked up to see the rod tip going 'tap, tap, tap'. I quickly grabbed my rod in anticipation of the next tap. Instead of a tap, the rod tip bent straight down and I quickly strike the rod. Fish ON! The fish made a few short runs then I managed to reel it up. Up comes a Brown-Marbled Grouper. This fella was under a kg so after a few shots, it was released.

With that last minute action, I was left a happy kayak fisho!

Gear used:
Rod - Shimano Eclipse Telescopic 3-4kg
Reel - Shimano Saros 1000F
Line - generic 20lb braid
Bait - dead prawn
Rig - Carolina style

Fish ID - Brown-Marbled Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)

Nice marking Grouper

Took the kayak out today for a fishing session at Pasir Ris Park. Decided to fish around the kelongs just outside the blue barrels. With the fish finder, now I can see where the anchor lines are for the kelongs and also some other structure around the area. Although I had got my new fishing rod, I decided to continue to use my telescopic rod for kayak fishing for now. Luckily I had a spare one after the other one broke on Ah Fong's boat.

I rigged a dead prawn and casted towards the edge of the structure and waited. Did a slow retrieve back with some twitches in between. An hour passed without any action so I moved to another spot. After 15mins or so, while retrieving the bait slowly, something took the bait and sped off! Fish ON! I tried to put some pressure on it to slow it down and it worked. Shortly thereafter, I managed to bring the fish up. It was a Brown-Marbled Grouper with very nice markings! This fella was about 600g I think. After some pics, it was released.

That was the only action for the day.

Gear used:
Rod - Shimano Eclipse Telescopic 3-4kg
Reel - Shimano Saros 1000F
Line - generic 20lb braid
Bait - dead prawn
Rig - Carolina style

Fish ID - Brown-Marbled Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)

Humminbird Fish finder

After 6 months of kayak fishing, I think it's time to invest in a fish finder. So which one should it be? After much research, I decided to get the Humminbird DSI 798c. It has side imaging and color. Price was quite steep but I guess it'll be a good investment.

Picked it up online and now I have to hook it up with the battery and figure out how best to put it on the kayak.

Went to buy a 12V 7Ah battery and placed it in a waterproof seal bag. Connected it with the fish finder and then placed at the front of my kayak. As the transducer came with a mount, there was no way for me to mount on an inflatable. So I did the next best thing, I rigged up a bungee cord and tied it around the front of the kayak. Although that introduced some drag to the hull of the kayak, I think it will be a worthwhile trade-off. I can always unhook the bungee cord with the transducer if I want to move faster.

Can't wait to see if this device would increase my fish-catching numbers!