Miri Marine Harvest Trip #2 - Dogtooth tuna

Back on Marine Harvest boat for a 5-day fishing trip. This time we flew to Miri and boarded the boat at Miri itself. This saves us from the back-breaking 4-hour drive to Bintulu. In any case, the fishing grounds that we are heading to is closer the Miri than Bintulu.

This time we are heading to Louisa Reef and Royal Charlotte Reef. Journey is about 10 hours.

After dinner and loading up the boat, we set off. About 2 hours into the ride, I could feel the waves were pretty big and my sea-sickness started to rear its ugly head. After another hour, I couldn't take it any more and out came dinner! Even though I took my sea-sick medication, the rocking was unbearable! Halfway through, the boat anchored up to as it was too dangerous to continue in the darkness.

Just before sunrise, the boat started again towards our fishing grounds, Louisa Reef. We only reached the fishing grounds in the late morning. I was totally puked out, lying in the bunk, exhausted. Even when we started fishing, I was in no mood to get out of bed. So the guys began fishing and started catching Dogtooth Tunas.

I spent the next 24 hours recuperating in the bunk. Didn't eat, only 100Plus to keep hydrated. Only started to come around on the 2nd day, when the seas were much calmer.

Started fishing but as I was still weak, I decided to do bottom fishing only. But the waters were around 120m deep plus the current and sinkers, would be around 150-200m of line to be wound up. After a few drops, I was too tired and called it a day.

Later in the night, I came out to fish. The rest of the guys were jigging but I decided to hook strip of tuna bait and dropped it down. Halfway down, a fish snatched the bait and sped off. Free-spooled for 5 secs then I engaged the drag and FISH ON! This fish gave a nice fight and was duly boated. First time I'm catching this fish, Southern Ray's Bream.

Last year we only caught 1 specimen of this fish, but this year, we couldn't stop catching them! Some were 3-4kgs!




Next day, I felt much better and we were fishing in slightly shallower water of 80m and the current was rather slow. Managed to hook up some nice coral fishes.

                                                    A nice Rusty Jobfish.
                                                         

I'm using only VMC 4/0 Circle Hooks and they work like a charm. The trick is to allow the fish to take the bait but not too long in case it finds a hole to hide in and snag you.

                              Robinson Sea Bream, seems like a common catch in these waters.

                                                                   Five-Lined Snapper.

                                         Juvenile Tomato Rockcod?

Was using mackerel tuna strip baits on my bottom Apollo rigs. The problem was trying to get the bigger fish to eat the bait and not small fishes. So I used bigger strip baits!

Sure enough, This biggie decided he was hungry and climbed all over the bait. Rod loaded up and up it came! This is the first time I've caught a Longnose Emperor and circle hook nicely pinned at the corner.

Unlike a Grouper which will bloat halfway up the water column, this fish fights all the way to the surface!



Then one kaki hooked up big time! Fought for about 20mins and a whopper Dogtooth Tuna emerged.

Nice set of chompers!

Continued bottom fishing and was rewarded with a nice Rosy Jobfish.

A little while later, one of the kakis hooked up something big. He was fighting the fish for close to 30mins and we took turns to reel the fish. Finally when the fish neared the surface, we saw that it was a Thresher Shark and it was foul-hooked at the long tail. Slowly we brought the shark over onto the deck for some quick pictures before releasing it back into the sea. Awesome looking fish!





Stalking bird!

As I was still pretty weak, I decided to skip the night fishing session and rested.

Next morning, started bottom fishing again.

Double hookup of Rosy Jobfish and unique color fish



Another Longnosed Emperor. The fish color changed because I spiked the brain. Maybe should spike it after the photo!


Night-time came and it's back to targeting the Doggies. Switched to my jigging setup and used a 300g leaf jig.A buddy suggested I attach those green flashing strobe thingy on the jig.

Dropped the jig over and worked from the top 50m of the water column. After about 15mins, then I got a hit! Fish ON! Fish took out some line but managed to bring it to the boat.

Yess!!! Finally my first Dogtooth Tuna of the trip. Was just a small fella compared to what the other anglers have been catching.  Still quite happy with the catch.

Continued jigging and hooked up again. This time the fish was fighting in short bursts and unpredictable. With my trusty Shimano Talica 8 II in low gear, I managed to bring the fish up. Quite a decent-sized Big Eye Trevally. Nice fight!

Jigging through the night produced a few more Doggies and Big Eye Trevally.

We fished all the way till dawn when it was time to head back. A long 10-hour journey back to port. 

Back at port, we took out the bigger fishes for photographs. We did pretty well!

Overall, this was a good trip. Even though the sea-sickness knocked me out the first 2 days, I was still glad to be able to fish these amazing waters and see all these different types of fish.

Fish ON for next year!

Jigging gear used:
Rod - BlackMarket Slow Jig PE 3-5
Reel - Shimano Talica 8 II
Line - YGK Jigman X8 50lb
Lure - Daiwa Leaf 300g

Bottom gear used:
Rod - Expert Graphite JigForce PE3-6
Reel - Shimano Talica 12 II
Line - YGK Jigman X8 65lb
Bait - bonito strip baits
Rig - Apollo

Fish ID
Southern Ray's Bream (Brama australis)
Robinson Sea Bream (Gymnocranius grandoculis)
Rusty Jobfish (Aphareus rutilans)
Five-Lined Snapper (Lutjanus quinquelineatus)
Longnose Emperor - Lethrinus olivaceus
Big Eye Trevally - (Caranx sexfasciatus)

Changi Ah Fong Trip #7 - First fish of 2017

After scoring 0 fish on 2 boat trips in Jan, it was high time I caught a fish!

Boarded Ah Fong's boat with the usual kakis and began fishing. As I've been a zero-fighter for the last 2 trips using madai & tenya, I decided to go back to basics with a running sinker rig.
Hooked a live prawn and down it went.

A few anglers were already starting to catch some fish. Waited a little while longer and finally felt some nibbles. I let the fish take the whole bait and then slowly reeled back. Hookup! Wasn't a big fish but a fish nonetheless! Came up to be a table-sized Grouper. This fella had quite a big crab in its mouth!

First fish of 2017!

All the other anglers were also hooking up Groupers of various sizes.

30mins later, I got my 2nd Grouper. I was using a Tainawa hook which is similar to a circle hook which doesn't require a strike to set the hook. Just a gentle lift of the rod while reeling back would usually set the hook nicely at the corner of the fish's mouth.

I must admit that the Tainawa hook does look a bit obtrusive when used with a live prawn. It'll probably be best used with bigger baits. A thought for next time.

Just after lunch, I felt my bait flicking and so I was ready to free spool a bit. Sure enough, the fish took the bait and swam off. Free spooled for 3secs and then tightened the drag. Fish ON! This fella felt heavier and slowly it was brought to the surface. A nice +1kg Grouper!

2 other anglers were having much better luck with 2 Groupers around 4kg each and another one at 2kg.

 Foul-hooked up a coral with some marine worms.....

As our live prawns finished almost after the catch of the big Groupers, we decided to call it a day early. Headed back at 4pm!


Final catch of the day!

Gear used:
Rod - Eupro Salty Fighter PE0.8-2.0
Reel - Shimano Talica 8 II
Line - YGK JigMan X8 Ultra 50lb
Bait - Live prawn on 2/0 Tainawa hook
Rig -  Running sinker

Fish ID - Orange-Spotted Grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

Back on the Hobie i9s

It's been a long time since I brought out my own kayak to fish in Singapore due to work and family commitments.

Finally managed to squeeze in a day and decided to launch from Pasir Ris Park.

A quick setup and I'm off to the blue buoys. Seems the barrels have been cleaned off any mussels. There goes my berley!

Headed towards the western side and was greeted by a family of sea otters. Cute little creatures and they were hunting a school of mullet.

Tossed a few plastic lures around the structures but nothing was interested. Tried with some frozen prawns also no takers. So I headed back out to the blue barrels.

Had my telescopic rod in the rod holder baited with frozen prawn. Was luring with my soft plastic when the telescopic had a take. Quickly switched rods and the fish was still hooked. Played the fish slowly and brought it up.

Saw a familiar flat, shimmering shape appear and it was a Chao Xi aka Sickle Fish. Decent size for a meal but this was a Catch n Release trip for me. After a few pictures, fella was released.

I moved along the blue barrels, fishing each spot for about 30mins before moving on. Had a few other bites, mostly mini catfish which were duly released.

I had managed to find some remaining mussels attached on some chains and harvested them to use as bait. I was tied up loosely on one chain and was chilling on the kayak when suddenly the rod in the rod holder bent down hard into the water! I quickly grabbed the rod and line was peeling out under the barrels into open sea. I realized I had to release the kayak from the chain and try to get the fish under control. I managed to get away from the barrels but I could feel the fish making short bursts. And then the inevitable happened as I began to reel back some line. Line had become stuck. Tried to angle the kayak and line in order to get free from the snag. Then I felt another short bursts and line went slack.......... Busted off at the main braided line. Sheesh! 

Adrenaline still pumping through my body as I re-tied my rig.

Continued to fish at the same spot but the only thing that was interested was this ugly eel. Quickly released before it got tangled further on my line.

 Winds were picking up so I called it a day. Dark clouds were also forming on the horizon. 

Pretty slow day, punctured by a brief adrenaline rush! That's what fishing is all about!

Gear used:

Rod - Shimano Telescopic 6' PE0.8

Reel - Shimano Saros 1000

Line - Spiderwire Fluoro Braid 10lb

Rig - Frozen prawn on size 1 J-hook

Fish ID - Sickle Fish aka Chao XI (Drepane punctata)