Shoreangler

Date: 05-04-2020      Time: 2100 hrs      Rod: Penn Slammer 10.6 ft.     Reel: Daiwa Saltist 40       Rig: Long Snood bottom feeder.    Bait: Fresh Tamban

As usual go for a short trip in the evening. Tide is coming up and current is strong as it is full moon tonight. Manage to jig for some fresh bait before last light

Set up two sets of tackles. Both on bottom feeder rig. Initially bait was not lasting but it changes when tide is mid way up.

I was searching for squid under my lamp when i heard a reel alarm sounded. Rush over to the rod and I strike hard. The fish took a long run even after i tighten my drag. Stripping out all my entire mono leader which is about 100 plus meter long. It stop after and i started to pump and gain line back. It started to run out again when I manage to gain back half the distance of line. But it didn’t run far and i was gaining line again. Once it near to the jetty and almost surface that it took another last run for a dive. Once it stop I keep pump and wind and manage to surface it. The first sight of it was a diamond head pop up. Wow…Shovel nose and not stingray which i thought as during the fight it didn’t show any sign of a hookup shovel nose like leaping up and try to shake out the hook.

First gaff was on spot hook on it mouth and firm. To lift up such a big fish up the jetty, I pluck in another two rope gaffs so that to even out the weight for a smooth lifting. Estimate this fish is near to 30kg in weight. This is my personal best record on this fish species.

Date: 04-04-2020      Time:1915 hrs      Rod: Penn Power Stick 10 ft.      Reel: Shimano Torium 20      Rig: Cable car      Bait: Live herring

Go for a few hours of fishing as the tide is coming up and full around 2130 hrs tonight. Current was strong aided by the strong wind blowing from eastern Singapore.

Manage to get a few live bait and set up two sets of tackles. One on bottom and the other on surface rig.

It was almost the last light that i had this strong bite. The fish pull cause my reel alarm to sound. I strike the rod hard and wind back line. The fish make two acrobatic jump on the water surface. It can see clearly a wolf herring about near to a kg in size.

I use my rod to lift it up when it near the jetty.

Date: 08-03-2020       Time: 1200 hrs      Rod: Penn Slammer 10.6ft white      Reel: Shimano Torium 20       Rig: Cable car       Bait: Live Herring

Morning go for a short trip. Tide is on the down side and the current is very strong. Need grip hold sinker to hold bottom. Live bait is not much but can get if you hard working.

I only put one set of tackle on live bait and the other on bottom feeder as the bait was very lasting.

At 1200 hrs, I saw my rod tip rattle…I walk toward it and the reel alarm goes off. Ya…Gar fish on the line…It make several surface jump. The strong current also help the fish to struggle hard. After awhile…it weaken down…I wind back and use the rod to lift it up.

Date: 31/01/2020        Time: 1225 hrs       Rod: Penn Power stick 10 ft       Reel: Shimano Torium 20        Rig: Cable Car       Bait: Live Herring

Still on my Lunar New year holiday. So back to the jetty this morning. Tide is coming up and current is good. Manage to jig for some live bait and set up tackles.

Around noon just after finish my lunch, my Torium reel sounded. The fish make several surface jump. I slowly wind back and it was deeply hook inside the mouth. I use my rod to lift it up.

Date: 27-28-01-2020

Still on my lunar new year holiday, i make a driving trip to desaru beach for some fishing. Surfcast out to target biggie end with no result. Only a baby stingray was caught on the second nite. But using small spinning rod with tamban hook rig with prawn meat as bait caught six palm size white promfet when tide is about to fully high. This fish gave a very hard tug on the rig during hookup and fought strongly on light tackle.

Date: 24/01/2020       Time: 2255 hrs

Ah An caught this near to 30kg Shovelnose shark. It is his dream to have one caught by himself. He almost landed one about two year back but the fish manage to escape when his gaff broke off. Finally he fulfill his dream on the eve of this lunar new year.

Date: 20-01-2020      Time: 2015 hrs       Rod: Penn Power Stick 10 ft.      Reel: Shimano Torium 20       Rig: Long Snood Bottom Feeder       Bait: Frozen Tamban

High tide tonight is 2045 hrs. I last minute make a decision to go for a short trip. I grab 8 pcs of frozen tamban from my freezer and headed down. Reach there around 1915 hrs. Quickly set up and cast out. Current was strong and bait is lasting.

Around 2015 hrs, I check my line and saw the Power stick rod main line a bit loose. I tighten it and it loosen again…then follow by a slight bend on the tip. I immediately strike the rod. YES….FISH ON…not very big but still gave some struggle. I wind in slowly and it surface up near the jetty. Barracuda.. I shone my head light to check the hook up….Yes firmly hook inside the mouth. I ask fellow angler Simon to grab my leader and haul it up. Ya…my old Penn Power Stick work again..This rod had been very lucky recently.

Date: 16-01-2020      Time: 1900 hrs      Rod: Penn Power Stick 10 ft.       Reel: Shimano Torium 20        Rig: Long Snood Bottom Feeder       Bait: Fresh herring.

Went for a short trip again. Tide is going down and current is strong. Manage to jig for some fresh bait and set up two sets of tackles. As there is still day light left, I put both rods with top and bottom rig.

Bottom bait was lasting on this period of tide. No action until 1900 hrs. I saw my Penn power stick rod tip bend….I rush forward to grab the rod….the reel alarm goes off as well…I strike hard….YES…FISH ON….Here then I notice it was the bottom rig that is hook up…I can see the top rig live bait hanging around while i wind back the line. The fish gave some strong struggle moving left and right…It surface up just in front of the jetty…Haha…Queen fish….It didn’t make any surface jump at all. I lift it head above water to weaken it down. After a while, I ask a cyclist who is the only person there to hold the rod for me. I grab my ready gaff and bring it up. Estimate 2kg plus in weight. Haha.. My next fish n chip meal is secured.

Date: 13-01-2020      Time: 2010 hrs      Rod: Penn Power Stick 10ft.      Reel: Shimano Torium 20       Rig: Long snood Bottom feeder        Bait: Fresh Tamban

This evening went for a short trip. Tide was near the end of downtide. Setup two sets of tackles all on bottom feeder rig. I started with frozen tamban i brought along and change to fresh one when i manage to jig some before last light. Bait was lasting at this period.

After 1900 hrs, Tide turn up but current was smooth. Bait is still lasting at this time. Around 2010 hrs, I was standing just beside my rod when I saw the tip rattle follow by the line gone slack. Without thinking, i strike the rod hard. Yes fish ON…It just make one surface jump and follow my winding in. When surface, it is a Barracuda about near to 2kg size. I shone my head light to see how the hook up. My hook was deeply hook on the side of the mouth so don’t need a gaff. I just use the rod to lift it up.

Date: 31/12/2019     Time:1930 hrs      Rod: Penn Power Stick 10 ft.       Reel: Shimano Torium 20       Rig: Long Snood Bottom Feeder       Bait: Fresh Tamban

The past few night I had been fishing so I know that the bait is very lasting on this evening down tide period. Armed with this knowledge, I decided to go and try my luck for the last fish of the year.

With two sets of tackles, I go without bringing any bait. Just manage to jig three live herring before the day light ended. As the bait is limited, i just use it on cable car rig targeting surface predator.

Night fall…no action on surface rig. I decide to wind back to check. The live bait is still active. I decide to change it to bottom feeder as night time this rig is a better choice. My thinking is if this bait is finish, time to pack up and go home.

1930 hrs, I saw one of my line went slack. I went over wanted to pick up the rod….suddenly the line pull straight and my reel alarm sound…Zzeeeeezziiizzziii. Without thinking I strike hard….YES fish on.

The fish keep diving downward…I try hard to lift it up…I got a strange feeling…many type of fishes went through my mind…what fish is this ?…stingray..no….cobia…no….shovelnose shark….no…all the feeling is not match on this few fishes when caught.

After some struggle, I manage to bring it close to jetty. It make a last dive down before I win the battle. Once surface, I shone my head light…WOW! Big garoupa.

My friend ah An bring in the gaff. I get Simon to hold the rod and I gaff it. But it was not a firm gaff. I decide to get a second gaff to secure.

Once up, i weigh it. Almost 8kg. This could be a record on Garoupa caught by surf rod at this jetty.