Shoreangler

Date: 12-11-2005  Time: 2330hrs   Rod: Loomis Franklin Big Game 12ft.   Reel: Shimano Calcutta 400S    Line: 20lbs mono.   Rig: Long snood bottom feeder    Hook: Long Shank size 4/0     Bait: Overnight fresh squid.

It didn’t rain in the afternoon n the tide was early full around 8.30pm. It also has a good smooth current flow after the tide turn down. Everything look very promising for a good night shorefishing. Armed with a box of overnight fresh squid, I meet Ron around 7.30pm at the beach. Each of us casted out two rod with long snood bottom feeder rig as after the tide turn, it has quite a good current flow.

Around 10pm plus, a angler nearby landed a good size dog shark. It also show the feeding period has started. Without saying, all rods were change with new bait. Fifteen minute later, a small palm size fingermark snapper caught by another member of the group. Haha.. 2-0 down again. Sadly to say is by now all our bait casted out are very lasting n yet no fish bite.

11.30pm, suddenly I saw one of my rod the line gone loose. Hehe..strike n yes! got it. It struggle tremendously to dive downward. I know it quite sizable as I have to pump my rod hard to bring it up. It only after numerous up pump n down dive that I manage to surface it. Wow! it look big on water surface. After landed, I tied it in the water as it still early to packup. We try hard to level the score difference but was not successful. Haha…..it already 3am n with some lighting flash appear on the skyline, we call it off.

Went to jetty yesterday night to search for baits until 5am this morning. This small barra took my squid bait on a long snood bottom feeder rig around 12.30am. My reel alarm was trigger by the strong pull. After that it swam right into my way causing me to worried thought a cobia is charging toward under the jetty. Haha..all because I was using a slow gear reel.

Date: 22/23-10-2005

My initial plan was to go to bedok jetty to get some fresh bait. But I was oversleep n had to change my plan. I call Ron to meet me at the spot instead of joining me at the jetty. After a quick dinner, I grab some frozen baits from my freezer n headed down.
Reach there around 7.45pm. Start to setup my tackles. Ron arrived a little while later. The tide is still going down n there is no current flow. I casted out the two rods while Ron is still setting up his tackles. After 15 minutes, I check my bait n found that its fully gone. This dampen my hope further of hooking something beside tonight slow current n low tide. I notice to create a better chance of a hookup, we have to change our bait more often so that the fish has a chance to hit it first before others sea creature finish it.
It already 9.20pm, the tide has just turning up. Ron was busy changing his bait. I had just finish mine n was looking around at the water. Suddenly, Zzzzzzeer… a alarm sounded with a short screech. I look at my two rod but it didn’t have any movement. There is also no loosen of line. I hesitate which rod to strike. It was only after a closer look that I notice my loomis rod has some slight rattle. I pickup n strike. Yes, something heavy there. The fish do some initial dive but was easily bring to surface. Haha… a glimmering fingermark snapper. I use my rod to lift it up. It was about near to a kilo in size.
With this catch, it boosted our confident. We work harder. Another friend Bugeyed come to join us. It was almost 12am. The skyline far away has started to have lightning flash. Rain cloud started to gather overhead. I was changing the bait on one of the rod when Bugeyed notice my other rod the line suddenly gone loose. He wanted to tighten it for me but I pickup n strike instead. Yes, another hookup. Without much effort, I bring it to surface. Another fingermark snapper landed. Its slightly smaller than the first one.

Ho ho…two in a night, how lucky. But the best show tonight is not over. The lightning flash over the skyline is non stop. Rain cloud is much thicker now. I told them the rain might be coming soon. Few minute later, I saw far away the place has already blur. It show that it could be rainning over there. We were hesitate whether to packup as some high wind has blown away some of the rain cloud that gather overhead us. We delay for another 10 minutes. Then the cold wind arrived. We started to packup. I grab my things n run toward my MPV. But Ron and Bugeyed didn’t make it. Wow!, it was so heavy and with the gusty wind, we were all drench. Haha…what a way to finish this lucky trip

Date: 01-10-2005

Went to pickup Allan around 6.45pm. We reach our spot around 7.15pm. Tide was coming in on slow current. The sky there was cover with rain cloud n lightning. We were worried that it might rain n spoil this beautiful saturday night. Lucky enough, the sky was clear after 15 minute later n we start to setup our tackles. Ron arrived soon n join in. Five rods alltogether but two hour passed and nothing happen beside the long lasting baits.
9.30pm, the tide was almost full. While we were chatting, suddenly Allan reel alarm goes off. He rush up to his rod n strike, yes, heavy at the end of the line. The fish gave some strong fight with deep dive here n there. Allan holding well with his tackle n soon manage to surface it. Wow! a big fingermark snapper 1.7kg landed. With this we knew the feeding time has started. All rods were rebait n casted out. Very soon one of Ron rod the bell ringing. He strike n wind in a small bream. Around 10.15pm, Another Ron rod the bell ringing n bent forward. He strike but missed hook.
15 minute later, Again the bell ringing. This time he strike hard n yes, Heavy…at the end. The fish move along with the current n make very deep dive. Ron was holding dearly to his rod. From the bent of his rod, we can tell it is something big. Lucky is his line are brand new so can withstand it well. After some hard fought battle, he manage to surface it. Wow! wow!, a new Fishingnewsroom shore caught record on fingermark snapper was set. It weight a wopper 3.9kg. Beautiful! Half n hour later, my turn. The fish took my just casted out bait n jump up. It cross over n entangle with one of Ron rod causing his bell to ring. Ron strike n I notice my line gone slack. I wind in and notice the entanglement. It was a small barracuda about 900g who took my single hook bottom feeder rig. By now the tide is already moving down. We fish until around 1am and decided to packup.

Date: 17-09-2005   Time: 11.45pm    Rod: Daiwa Long Cast Design 12ft.    Reel: Abu 7000 Red Classic    Line: 25lbs mono   Rig: Single hook long snood bottom feeder.   Bait: Frozen squid     Hook: S/S Long shank 4/0.

As usual, my friday night spent on collecting baits and saturday night is to go fish hunting. Reach spot around 7.30pm and the tide was already midway up. The current was smooth and sea surface was calm. Set up two rods on bottom feeder rig with squid as bait. Bait was very lasting and hardly need to change it. This gave me lots of comfident of landing something tonight. Nothing happen until 10.45pm when the tide start to turn down. I saw my loomis rod tip has some movement. Strike n wind in a palm size fingermark snapper. This show me sign that the feeding period has begin. Quickly change fresh bait and cast out. Sure enough, at 11.45pm, my Daiwa rod bent n the reel alarm scream. Pickup n strike, yes, something heavy at the end of the line. This fish fought well with some strong left n right struggle when I try to surface it. Initially thought it was a big fingermark snapper. But when it surface, it was a barracuda about 2kg plus. It make lots of splash n jump on the water surface before I able to tame it. Try to lift it up with my rod but was too heavy and I have to use my hand to grab on my leader to bring it up. Quite a surprise to me for this fish to take my bottom feeder rig as this prediator normally roam around mid to surface water level. By now the current was at full flow. Rebait and cast out again. After the tide change, the bait is no lomger lasting. Every wind back need to top up the bait. I fish until around 2am n decide to packup.

Date: 20/21-08-2005    Time: 12am plus   Rod: Loomis n Franklin Big Game 12ft..   Reel: Abu 7000 Red Classic   Line: 25lbs mono.  Rig: Long snood bottom feeder  Bait: Frozen Squid    Hook: S/S Long shank size 4/0.

Reach there around 8pm plus. Ron arrived soon. It was crowded n lucky we manage to find a place for our rods. Both of us set up two rod each. Ron used his spinning set with sarong as bait. Me two multiplyier set with frozen squid as bait. Tide coming up was slow n calm. No action from any of the angler there even until full tide. One thing good tonight is the bait is more lasting. A few time I wind back no need to change bait. I told ron we have great chance to hit something. Weather n water was a bid cold due to the afternoon rain. When tide turn down, the current move fast. Ron have to change his sinker to hold bottom. Around 12am plus, I saw my loomis big game rod tip has some rattle. Pickup n strike. Yes, something heavy on the line. In my mind thought it was a ACK. But wind back turn out to be a brown dog shark. Used my rod to lift it up as the water is high. The hook was deeply set so can’t unhook it. Yeah! finally landed something. We continue to fish until 2am. But no more action n we packup.

Date: 07-08-2005   Time: 3.15am    Rod: Daiwa Long Cast Design 12ft.    Reel: Abu 7000 Red Classic    Line: 25lbs mono   Rig: Single hook short snood bottom feeder.   Bait: Frozen squid     Hook: S/S Long shank 4/0

After some good rest on yesterday afternoon. I headed down to this spot and reach there around 7.30pm. It was not crowded as the water is low n just turning up. Notice that there is some sea dredging work carried on throughout the night not far away from this spot. I set up two rods with short snood bottom feeder rig. Bait was frozen squid. No action at all up to the full tide around 12am. When it start to turn down, my daiwa rod tip has some rattle. I wind in and a small kuku fish was hook. Unhook n release it. Around 2am, again this rod tip shake. Wind in a small tie knot eel. Water cold ? or water affected by the dredging work as now the current is flowing this way. 3am, still no bite. Thought of calling it off. Was winding back my loomis rod when I saw my daiwa rod has a slight bend n the line gone loose. Quickly stop winding n put the loomis rod back on the rod stand. Strike my daiwa rod n yes! I can feel something good at the end of my line. It make some deep dive before I can surface it. Ya, a nice size fingermark snapper n I used my rod to lift it up. Mission accomplish! Haha….

Date: 29/30-07-2005    Time: 6.45am   Rod: Loomis n Franklin Big Game 12ft..   Reel: Abu 6500 Sport Rocket   Line: 20lbs mono.  Rig: Short snood bottom feeder  Bait: Fresh Squid    Hook: S/S Long shank size 4/0.

Original plan for tonight trip is to go jetty to get some fresh squid n go somewhere else to hunt for fish. Reach jetty around 7.30pm. It was already crowded at the end part. Manage to found a place n set up my squid lamp n also casted one rod for fishing. Squid was quite rare tonight as there are a few lamps around to share. But with hard work during the low tide period still manage to scoop about ten over pieces. One of my friend come to joint me around 10.30pm so I accompany him until 2am. With no fish bite at the jetty beside fresh squid as bait, I decide to go some fish hunting after I pack up from the jetty. I head down to this spot n reach there around 3.10am. Well, this place still have a few anglers around n I manage to casted out two rods. One is a multiplyier n another a fixed spool. Both on short snood bottom feeder rig as the current is not strong. Bait are all fresh squid. Tide was coming up but there is not action. It was almost 6am in the morning when suddenly I heard my fixed spool rod which I had lean on the railing after casting out has some movement. Immediately I strike the rod n I can feel something big at the end of the line. I fought the fellow for awhile n lost it due to a missed hook. It could be my mistake for leaning just the rod guide on the railing. When the fish took the bait, the rod guide slip n the rod can’t stand firm n move about.. So the hook didn’t set properly. Well just too bad n have to try again. I rebait both rod with fresh bait n casted out. Hard work always have good return. Around 6.40am, my multiplyier reel alarm gave a short screech n I quickly strike. Yes, a nice palm size fingermark snapper at the end of the line. Unhook, rebait n casted out again. Twenty five minute later the same reel screech again. Same another fingermark snapper landed. Both are about the same size. By now it already day break n I am very satisfy with the result. I pack up when those daytime anglers start to arrived.

Date: 05-06-2005    Time: 10.30am   Rod: Daiwa Long Cast Design 12ft.   Reel: Abu 7000 Red   Line: 25lbs mono.  Rig: Cable car slide down  Bait: Live Herring(Tamban)    Hook: Short shank live bait size 2

Went to BJT yesterday night. Manage to find a place for my rod although very crowded. Casted out two rods on the incoming tide. But bait was very fast disappear within minute. Nothing happen beside constant changing of baits. Around midnight, upon seeing this type of condition, I decide to cut short the trip so as to take some rest and fish at the next morning tide. Reach there around 8am. Tide was coming in and the current flow was nice. Jig for some live herring and set up two rods on cable car rig. About 10am, the sky started to gather some rain cloud and the sea is very choppy due to a strong blowing southern wind. Suddenly one of my rod the alarm gave a short screech and the line became loose. Quickly strike, but nothing on the line. It could be the work of a garfish(todak). Rebait and casted out again. By now the sky started to drizzle. Fifteen minute later the rain stop and the sea is calm again. I started to jig for live bait as spare. Suddenly saw my Daiwa rod tip shake alittle. Decide to check it out. Ho.. ho..ho.. wind in a nice size Wolf herring at the end of my line. Easily use my rod to lift it up. Yap! my decision to cut short yesterday night trip and fish in the morning tide has paid off.

Date: 29-05-2005   Time: 0200am   Rod: Loomis n Franklin Big game 12ft.   Reel: Abu 7000 Red   Line: 25lbs mono.   Rig: Single hook long snood bottom feeder.  Hook: S/S Long shank size 4/0   Bait: Fresh squid(caught on the night before)

Reach location at around 8pm and the tide was at the lowest. Set up two rod with difference long n short snood bottom feeder rig. Bait casted out was fast disappeared. When the tide started turning up, the current flow was very slow. Nothing happened until the tide started to turn down. The first was when my loomis classic rod tip has a nop and the line went loose. I strike and wind in a small marine catfish. While I was trying to unhook it, suddenly the other rod alarm scream. I throw down my plier and strike the rod. Ho ho.. something good is at the end of my line which I can feel it. It gave quite a good fight on this slim loomis big game rod. This fellow made some deep dive with left n right turn before I able to bring it close in. What a beautiful snapper when it surface on the fast flowing water. As the water is high, I just grip onto my rig body and lift it up. It weigh almost 2kg and is my second snapper within two weekend.