Shoreangler

December 2000, labrador park new jetty just open about one month ago. I was among the first few to fish at the place. At that time, most anglers fish there only know how to target half beak or small gar fish with float. Didn’t see any one jig for tamban. Me n my buddy Chuan was the first few to used tamban jig over there. When those angler saw how easy we catch, the next day everyone follow. haha…We have a friend who stay at bukit merah n was riding a motor bike. When he know that we are fishing over there during the night, after his work, he will visit us n buy us roti prata for supper. On one of our over night trip the following morning, we have run out of bait. Desprate, Chuan just get some left over roti prata n hook it up on his handline hook then lower it down below the jetty pillar. We were busy jigging around hoping to get some bait fish. Suddenly, “PONG” his handline fly up into the air….with natural respond, Chuan quickly went to salvage the handline spool. I shouted at him to grab the line…. He make a big mistake….he should immediately grab the line instead of  going after the spool. By the time he realise, its already too late….The fish has gone under the jetty n the 50lbs hook snood was cut. I look at him n he look at me….What the hell ???? Roti Prata the fish also take ?????Hahahahaha……now we know there is a new type of bait.

We were fishing on top of a breakwater stone near to the Changi beam. This beam provided the guide line for boat not to get too close to the corner of now changi naval base. At that time this place was just empty reclaimed land. That night only me n my buddy Pau both of us was fishing. Around 9pm something, we encounter a school of big marine catfish taking our bait. One after another rods all got hookup. U can hear the alarm keep on screaming one after another. This 5 to 6kg fishes is not welcome by us as it will just open the mouth wide n let U wind in the line. It’s quite heavy at the end of the line. If we not careful, our sinker might get snag at the rocky edge of this breakwater stone. Another reason is it tend to have a heavy rain after this fishes was caught. It already happened a few time before n tonight might happen again. True enough, the rain start to fall not long after this. It was so heavy that the whole breakwater was flooded. As the place was open area, we only have a canvas to cover our head. The floor was uneven n flooded, so sitting down mean getting the pant wet. The rain didn’t stop the whole night. We only had one choice, squat until the next morning when the rain stop n we packup.

This happened just a few days after the New Changi Hospital was open. Me n my team mate n another guy Fatty went to the Hundyai reclaimed land for fishing. This place has a big reservoir which inside has lots of big n small fishes. There is a high ground opening link to the sea. If the tide is above 2.6m, the water will be able to flow into this big pond during incoming tide n flow out during out going tide. If the tide is lower than that, the water in this big pond is stagnant. If there is a night incoming tide n water flowing in, at the opening part, big red legged prawn up to five inches long will also follow the current n swim into the pond. This secret is not known to many except some regular there. The water at this opening part is only about  one feet deep. U can catch them easily by using a torch to shine on this crystal clear water n search for them. Their two big eye is red color under light n U can use your bare hand just to grab it. Another way is to use cast net. We ever catch up to few kilo on a single trip. For this trip, Pau n Fatty was assigned to do the net casting while me n Hwee was to watch over the fishing rod. Around 1am plus, Pau come over to inform me that Fatty was stung by a white strip eel type catfish on the feet n was very painful. Fatty was stubborn when he netted this catfish n didn’t throw it far away. Instead he just put it aside n accidentally step on it. On seeing his pain, I decided to fetch him to the hospital. Leaving Pau n Hwee there to do the fishing. We reach this new hospital around 2am plus n Fatty was given a jap that cost him $60 dollar. Haha….After this we went back to the spot. As Fatty was driving, the pain was quite bad n he told me he can’t drive now. No choice, we had to stay there until the next morning. He rested until 11am when the pain is better then get up. Pau accompany him while I fetch Hwee back.

On one of my fishing trip to the breakwater of now changi naval base, I accidentally got a hook embedded onto my.leg at the part behind the knee. Still remember it happen in the morning after a over night trip. I was retrieving the line n the sinker got snag among the stone just below the water. I gave the rod a few hard lift n the sinker was out n fly toward my direction. The hook just come straight on me n it was in. Upon seeing the wound, I know I need a operation to take it out as the barb is already inside the fresh. We didn’t bring any steel cutter with us. That place was deserted n only me n my two team mate around. I am the only one driving so its not possible to come out n get help. I decide to do the operation myself. I learn about this medical thing during my 14 years service with the army special forces. I ask one of my team member to go to my car n pickup a new pen knife blade. I burn it with a lighter to sterilize it. One of my hand sqeeze very tightly on both side of the wound so that to numb the area. I took the pen knife n cut a small opening on the spot the hook barb is n bring it out. While I was doing this, my two team mate just look stun. Haha…they just don’t believe I do this to myself. After this I pour some green grass oil on the wound n cover it with a plaster. Haha… it is painful…but after about fifteen minute rest, I am already doing my fishing again..

Still remember one of the year before 2000. I went alone to the now changi naval base wharf to fish as my team mate are all busy. The place was about to start the building for the navy n some construction equitment has already arrived. It was already passed mid night n the weather is cold. There is a very strong wind blowing endlessly. I was tired by now n decided to take a rest. i place a ground sheet n sleep on it with my back pack as pillow. Cover my self with another canvas. Half way through my sleep, I feel something hairy rubbing againts my face n neck. I got shock n immediatly use my hand to brush it away. Quickly sit up n look….hahaha….I saw three doggy puppy running away…..Hehe….this are wild puppy dog around there. Think because the weather is cold so they try to take cover under my canvas. Haha… it really gave me a scare of my life….

It happened quite a number of years back, me n my team went to a breakwater stone at east coast for a overnight trip. Nothing much on that night except some small fishes. It was already early morning but the sun haven’t rise. We change our bait n went to rest. 6.20am suddenly one of my team mate reel  alarm was screaming. It was Hwee rod n Pau was the one laying close to it.. He immediatly pick up the rod n strike…Wow!…line keep on running out.. He fought it for about fifteen minute n yet we still can’t see the fish…I took over….another ten to fifteen minute gone n the fish was still fighting strong…We know that it was a big ray but it just refuse to surface…It didn’t really run much except the initially run but when we manage to gain some line in, it will strip it out again. This thing has been repeating again n again. Then it was Chwee turn to fight n follow by Hwee the rod owner..After that Pau take it over again…We keep on rotate to take turn to put pressure on the monster but just can’t able to bring it up. The rod was test to the maximun n the line also. Two over hour gone n still the fish fight on. Into the third hour, four of us was already shaken. We were hungry , tired as lack of sleep. That place was deserted n no others around for help. We decided to team up. That is one holding the rod n another standing infront of the rod with his hand supporting the rod n push up whenever needed to pump. This way the guy holding the rod will not be tired easily. This method help us a bit but didn’t affect the fish. It still fight very strongly whenever some line we gain. At the last minute, we bring it very close n almost surface it but line was cut when it rub again the stone. It was 9.20am when it burst. Exactly three hours. Phew ! what a waste..

Few year ago, I went alone to a breakwater stone at east coast for a night fishing. After setup my tackles n casting out the bait, its a waiting game. Nothing to do just look around. I saw a man casting net near the water edge. Not long after this, he walk over to my place with all his barangs. He show me two small sand eel n ask me what fish can be catch with this bait. I told him it the stingray favorite. He told me he didn’t caught any stingray before n don’t know how to go about. I help him to tie a bottom feeder rig n also gave him a hook with wire trace. After he set up his rod n reel, I tie the rig into his mainline n bait up for him. Then I told him to cast out. We sit down n chat along after this. About fifteen minute later, suddenly his rod bend n reel alarm sound. He quickly pick up the rod n strike. Wah! bersar(big in malay) he shouted. I told him to go steady with it. After fighting it for awhile he say he cannot stand it anymore as he never fight such big fish before n ask me to took over the rod. After I took over the rod than I realise it is a ten feet rod. Reel is mediun size spinning reel. But his reel seat is spoilt n everytime you turn the reel handle, the reel will be rocking left n right. On no! I ask him what is the poundage of his line, he reply 20lbs. With the reel rocking n the fish pulling, no choice I have to use my hand to grip tight onto the reel seat n fight the fish. Haha.. what a new way. Luckily the fish not very strong fighter n after sometime with all the hardwork, I manage to bring the fish close to the breakwater n surface it. Wow it a nice stingray. As we don’t have any gaff, I told him to go down slowly to the water edge n use his thumb n index finger to grab onto the fish nose n bring it up. Wow! finally landed. He was so please n keep on saying thankyou to me. I weigh the fish n it tip the scale at 9kg. Phew! exactly the same as his line breaking strenght. Wonderful! n I never forget the rocking reel seat.

Date: 03-02-2007 Time: 0845am Rod: Penn Powergraph Surf 12ft. Reel: Penn 500L Jigmaster. Line: 30lbs mono join with 40lbs leader. Rig: Long snood bottom feeder Hook: Long Shank Stainless steel size 5/0 Bait: Fresh dead tamban

It all started on yesterday night 02-02-07 around 8.30pm. I was just back from work when I recieved a call from Budgeye, a member of fishingnewsroom. He was interested to join me on tonight fishing. I told him I hasn’t decide where to go. I quickly took a bath n after this I gave him a call that I wanted to headed down to bedok jetty. The tide was coming up n the north east wind was blowing endlessly. Quickly set up my two rods n casted out. About twenty minute later budgeye joined me. He casted out a heavy tackle set n a lighter spinning one. It was his lighter set that perform well tonight. Within two hour n only four cast, he landed a 2kg conger eel, a white strip eel type catfish, a guramah n a small little marine catfish. Our heavy sets got nothing. It was quite cold after midnight n we decide to packup around 2am. He headed home while I went to take a rest on my multi purpose van.

Wakeup around 7.30am n headed in to the jetty. The T-juntion front was quite occupied n only left the right side end have some space. Decide to take it as the tide is coming up. This morning the current is smooth but the sea is quite choppy as the surface wind is strong. After setting up, went to jig for tamban. Not even one caught after sometime. The old men(Ah Meng) who sell tamban jig was ready to go back n offer me his only one tua bak n five tamban he got it earlier. With this baits, I quickly went to cast it out.

I was about to go n jig for more tamban when my Penn 500L Jigmaster reel alarm went off. Quickly turn back pickup the rod n strike. From far I saw a huge shadow jump up from the water surface n went down again. My mind was thinking I got a big queenie. The fish didn’t do any more jumping again n the fight become tougher n stronger. After some tug of war, I manage to bring the fish closer but it still under water. It swim inward to my left side n entangle another fishing line. I told the owner to release his line n the fish wanted to headed straight under the jetty. But by this time my 40lbs leader already a few round turn in my spool n I quickly climb up the jetty railing n steer the fish out. By now it has already surface n all who present there can see it was a huge cobia. Upon seeing this, I get my self mentally prepare for a tough fight by keeping the line tight n short. The fish make a quick dash toward my right side by stripping some line out n headed again for the under of the jetty. I have to climb up the railing again to steer it out. With my 40lbs leader in the spool, I am very comfident of controlling it.

But to my surprise, when I saw my hook was just about one centimetre hook inside the upper jaw of the fish, my heart is worried. It mean with any loosen of the line between me n the fish, with just a shake of the head, the hook can be easily come out. By now a malay uncle has bring along his rope gaff n try to gaff it for me. After a few try, he manage to just hook up alittle on the side of the fish. He try to pull it n the fresh tear. The fish make a dash n the rope gaff got entangle with my rig body. I started to shout for another gaff. A father n son team has it but take sometime to fixed up. Meanwhile I manage to bring the fish head above the water while it still struggling around. It take about five minute for the gaff to fixed up n within this time is really a torture n stressful for me due to the weak hookup. I have bring my own gaff but I can’t hand the rod to someone else as any mistake mean the fish will be gone n I just don’t like to take the risk. It took about 11 years for me to hookup such a big one after my team landed a 20kg one years back.

The gaff finally ready n come along. A good gaff on the belly of the fish n it was pull up by two guys. Wow! finally I can relaxed. Many photos were taken n I thanks all who come n help. I took out my 22kg weigh but the fish was too heavy for it. Many present there guess it was above 30kg but to my experience, I will put it at 25kg. An hour later, I was on the floor cutting out the fish. I divide it into 9 pieces n pass it to those who help landing it. All are smiling n deep inside my heart I was so happy as I just broke my personal best record on cobia by surf fishing.

Check out the original post here: https://shore-angler.com/2007/02/03/i-broke-my-personal-best-record-on-cobia/

Woorrrrr….It is very heavy…..

This monster is just as long as the jetty stone bench.

This is how it look when just landed. It will turn darker after it die.

Look at the big eye n mouth.

The Penn Powergraph Surf- A rod that are tested for big game shore fishing. It handle anything along our shoreline with ease.

This is the reel that landed it. The Old Penn Jigmaster 500L.

Look at the half open up hook.