Upgrading reel

Since I started kayak fishing, I've been using the same Tica reel. I was not fishing for about a month and it seems now my Tica reel is failing on me. The saltwater has done some damage to the internal parts that even the handle won't crank!

Time to upgrade. After much research (again on Shimano Australia website), I decided on a Shimano Saros 1000F reel. This reel was decently-priced and would fit my kayak fishing activities. So I purchased it online and picked it up.

I was surprised to find an extra spool inside the box. Since this was a new reel, I decided to change to braided line as well. As I wasn't too sure about which brand of braided line to use, I popped into a local tackle shop. It so happens that they have a cheaper, generic braided line and suggested I start out with that. So I let them spool the reel with the generic 20lb and 30lb braided line on each spool.

Is it overkill to load 20lb and 30lb braid on size 1000 reel? I don't know.......

But now I'm ready to rock and roll again!

Rompin #1 - Second day Rompin

We set off in the morning around the same time but this time on the way to the fishing grounds, the ride was extra bumpy! The wind was blowing and it was a dark and gloomy sky. Got wet from the sea spray as there was no where to hide from the wind!

Even when we reached the unjam, the boatman was having difficulty tying up boat to the unjam. In the end, we just motored to stay in position while we tried as fast as we could to catch enough live bait for today's fishing.

When we reached the Sailfish grounds, the seas were still very rough. Merv and Ian decided it was not safe to launch in these kind of swells so all of us fished from the boat. We all had our rods out with live baits at different distances and depths. Soon, Ian had a hookup and it was indeed a Sailfish. The Sailfish had him going round the boat in circles a few times but finally it was subdued. A couple of pictures later, the fish was released.

Video of Ian's hookup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=T-epCTCGkCM


I also managed to hook up my first Sailfish. It was quite spectacular when they do their acrobatics in the air, trying to dislodge the hook.

Video of my with my Sailfish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6Bk7XzSwHFM

All in all, we managed to land 2 Sailfish and 2 Spanish Mackerel.

It was an enjoyable trip with new friends.


My gear:
Rod - 1pc rod borrowed from Merv
Reel - Shimano Stella 20000
Line- 80lb braid
Hook - 4/0 circle hook
Bait - live Selar

Rompin #1 - First day Rompin

I was messaging Merv just the other day on his weekend kayak fishing plans when he mentioned that he was going on a 3D2N trip to Rompin with Ian to catch Sailfish on kayak. I checked my own calendar and found out that I was free. So asked if I could tag along and he said, "No problem".

Woo hoo! First time going fishing offshore in Malaysia. As a newbie, I told them I don't mind just fishing from the boat while they go on their kayaks. I can be their deckhand too for loading and unloading their kayaks.

Merv picked me up from Tiong Bahru MRT and off we went to fetch Ian from MBS. After a 2hr plus drive, we arrived at Rompin and proceeded to check-in at our accommodation. Had dinner and some shopping for drinks/snacks for the next days trip.

Next morning, we launched from the wooden jetty with boatman Ah Ken. The seas were pretty rough. Luckily, I had taken my seasick pills. We started out at an unjam (Fish Aggregating Device, FAD) looking for baitfish. Used sabiki rigs to catch Selar or Kembung. Managed to fill the live well pretty quickly and off we went to the Sailfish grounds.

The seas calmed down somewhat and both Merv & Ian launched their kayaks. I was pretty happy just to fish from the boat. The boatman set up 2 rods at the back and sent out 2 live baits rigged under balloons to target the Sailfish.

While drifting, I continued to use my sabiki rig to catch baitfish around the area. Just before noon, the drag on one of the rods started to scream! Under the instruction of the boatman, I just held the rod until the line stopped peeling out and just lifted the rod. As soon as the fish felt the hook, it went on another screeching run! When it finally stopped, I went about pumping and reeling. The boatman called it for a Tenggiri (Spanish Mackerel) because there weren't any acrobatic jumps as expected from Sailfish. Soon enough, we got the fish boat-side and it was indeed a Spanish Mackerel. Quite a large one as well! He gaffed it up and its picture time! Woo hoo, my first Spanish Mackerel!

Later, when Ian paddled back to the boat to refill on baitfish and water, he told us he kept getting hooked up on GT. GT?? Giant Todaks!! (Needlefish) Before the live bait can be presented for Sailfish, the Needlefish would get them first.

                                            Ian, fishing from his Advanced Elements kayak.

Merv on the other hand, managed to land a Spanish Mackerel from the kayak and later in the afternoon, he managed to hookup and land a Sailfish. It was quite a spectacle to watch him going toe to toe with the Sailfish. In the end, he managed to bring the Sailfish boat-side to unhook and release after taking some photos.

The Sailfish was handed to the deckhand to revive and finally releasing the fish to fight another day!

We thoroughly enjoyed our first day of fishing. Hoping the next day would be better!

Gear used:
Rod - 1pc rod borrowed from Merv
Reel - Shimano Stella 20000
Line- 80lb braid
Hook - 4/0 circle hook
Bait - live Selar

Fish ID - Spanish Mackeral aka Tenggiri (Scomberomorus commerson)
             - Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)

Escapee hunting

Decided to go hunt down the escapees today!

Bought $10 worth of live prawns from Gina and launched from Changi Boardwalk. Paddled across to Ubin and began to cast at places that I think might hold some fish. Paddled along the shoreline till I reached a river mouth. Looking around, I saw a large tree that had fallen over near the bank at the river mouth. "Let's try there", I said to myself. Casted a live prawn and landed right under the trunk. I let the prawn sink till the shallow bottom. Straight away I could feel the vibrations as if the prawn is darting around. Next thing, felt a sharp tug and the fish was ON! The fish darted into the snags but I managed to maneouver it out. As it came to the kayak, saw dark red sides and bingo, Mangrove Jack!

Woo hoo! So happy to land my first Mangrove Jack. Put him on my clip stringer and continued fishing. Tried the spot again but nothing turned up. Moved into the river and fished but nobody else seem to be home.

Called it a day and paddled back to the launch point with my dinner in tow!

Gear used:
Rod - Shimano Eclipse Telescopic 3-4kg
Reel - Tica
Line - generic 8lb monofilament
Bait - live prawn
Rig - Carolina style

Fish ID - Mangrove Jack (Lutjanus argentimaculatus)

Fish escapee news!

Read on the forum that there were some fish escapees from fish farms in and around Ubin a few days ago. Specifically, Mangrove Jacks! I've not caught one of these before.

Go Bucket

Was looking for something to put all my fishing gear in on my kayak. Searched the Web and found this. Its a Seattle Sports Go Bucket. I think it should fit nicely in the round space behind on the kayak. Ordered!

Barradise!

Pulau Ubin just looks so fishy from every angle! Fish farms, mangrove systems, small creeks..etc all seem to be a perfect place for fishes to find shelter and food.

Decided to kayak across to Ubin today to explore the area. Launched from Changi Boardwalk at sunrise and kayaked out to Fairy Point channel marker. Checked that the shipping channel was clear before I started paddling across. Wind was calm and no chop on the water so the paddle was quite smooth. Took me about 15mins to paddle across the channel using the shortest distance to the nearest fish farm on Ubin side. From there, I just paddled along the shoreline, exploring the area.

I entered one of the river systems and it was rather quiet and peaceful in there. Fished around the river bends and along it. Then I spotted and submerged tree trunk that was in line with the river edge. I tossed a live prawn next to it and started to reel it back slowly. As I was enjoying the scenery, I felt a sudden jerk on the the line and then slack..... Nabei! Reeled back to find an empty hook. Ok, the fishes are here! Tossed in another live prawn and concentrated this time. Line pulled and this time I pulled back. SET! Fish ON! The fish made a bee line for the deep part of the river, which was good for me. Slowly played the fish and brought it alongside. Yay, a table-sized Barramundi! Snapped him on the stringer clip and fished on.

Casted another live prawn into the same area but nothing else. So I ventured deeper into the river system. As I was heading out of the river, I decided to try the same spot again. Tossed in the live prawn and felt the hook snag. Gave the rod a light flick upwards, trying to free the hook, and felt it come out. Immediately there was a BOOF! and my prawn was inhaled by fish. This fish decided t do a few acrobatic jumps and I saw it was another Barramundi. Reeled it it and strung it up.

So happy that I caught 2 Barramundi today. Headed back with a big smile on my face!

Gear used:
Rod - Shimano Eclipse Telescopic 3-4kg
Reel - Tica
Line - generic 8lb monofilament
Bait - live prawn
Rig - Carolina style

Fish ID - Barramundi (Lates calcarifer)