Trolling Lures, 1st Boat Trip 2009

11 Jan 2009
Weather was fine, bright day without scorching sun, with occasional light comfortable
breeze, beautiful day for fishing, water a little cold though, averaging 22 degree C.

Was invited to this boat trip due to a friend who cannot make it today, work commitments... Thanks for the invitation.

Part 1

Russell picked YF and me up 6.30 am and we headed on to
Fishing Buddy to get our bait for the day's trip.

Met up with KJ and Edmund at Punggol Marina, all high spirited, exchanged "greetings"
and usual horse play followed before we boarded the fiberglass boat. Jimmy is the skipper today.

Without wasting another second, we started fishing after KJ briefed me on today's trip and some details to the method used for today's trip.

It was mainly a trolling trip. We were trolling lures, at shallow water along the wave breaker at a very slow speed (like walking). The objective is to cover a very large area which is impossible by land based luring method.

Minutes into action, YF had a hook up, a moment of hesitation allowed the fish to get into the rocky cover, after a little tuck of war, the fish surfaced, a very good size Malabar Grouper (Epinephelus Malabaricus) estimated to be around 5~6 pound, but the shock leader was too badly injured by the abrasive rocks, and burst off the moment Edmund tried to leader in the fish. The Beauty was lost, along with the lure.

I had a solid hook up about 30 minutes later, the fish dash for cover, trying to escape, it succeeded in locking itself up in the rocky cover, but was freed the moment Jimmy brought the boat around to the opposite direction, and the beautiful Malabar Grouper was landed, weighted in at 4 lbs on Boga. Should it be land base luring, I would have lost it. Thanks Jimmy.




Malabar Grouper (Epinephelus Malabaricus), 4 lbs caught on Halco Scorpion 125 3 meter+



The lure.

KJ had a hook up too not long after, a beautiful 4 ponder as well. Nicely done.



Take that!! Malabar Grouper!!




KJ so clever.... Kekekekeke...



The lure. By Bomber of which model I do not know.

All was quite after that. We moved on, to another location for some bottom fishing, with bait.




Total landed for the part 1 of the trip. Nice quality sized fish. No quantity maybe partly due to the cold water, I believe.

End part 1

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Part 2

We took our lunch while on the way to the next location, usual chit chatting and more horse play. Hahahahaha...

Set up bottom fishing rig and dropped the line down as soon as the anchor was set. The
waiting game started.

Jimmy was working very hard, he wanted to make sure that we all had our fun, and
fishes of cause, but in this kind of condition (cold water), that was about the best that he can do for us, appreciate your effort Jimmy.

The catch rate was bad, KJ landed a good platable size "Ang Kueh" (Crimson Snapper, Lutjanus Erythropterus), and an "Ang Zho" (John's Snapper, Lutjanus Johnii).

Edmund caught an Eeltail cat fish (Plotosus Canius), released. Russell caught another "Ang Zho" and an Orange-spotted Grouper (Epinephelus Coioides). No contribution from me. No Photo for this round too.

The catch rate was very bad. Had changed many spots still nothing.



Wait long long.....


YF had registered hit on jig at one of the location, but sadly no hook up, and Edmund got himself scared silly by a popper. kekekekekeke,.....

Late afternoon, we set off to the last location for the trip, for another round of trolling.

End of part 2

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Part 3

It was 5 pm now. All of us were pretty worn out, after the less than satisfactory bottom fishing earlier in the afternoon.

We started the game as soon as Jimmy signal us to lower our lures.

Not too long into the game, YF had a hook up. A Mangrove jack.




Swee Bo? Mangrove Jack (Lutjanus Argentimaculatus)




One more shot, smile...yes.... So clever.....



Taken on Alive Lure.

I had a take, and teared the lip of the fish I guess, and lost it, I gave a hard set while the boat is still moving. Stupid move. kekekekeke....

Edmund had a big take, but lost the fish due to cut leader when it was brought near the boat, we suspect that fish was a good sized Kim (Barramundi, Lates Calcarifer)
What a waste...

I had a huge hook up later, the fish tried it's best to escape, the fight was wonderful, Jimmy lip grip the fish and landed it after it was spent.




Woot woot, fish on!!!



I'm not gonna let you go babeh...




Yeah!! personal record broken by this 18 lbs Pickhandle Barracuda (Sphyraena Jello)



Respectable fighting fish taken on Alive lure.

The beast was released without further harm.

Russell registered a hit too, but failed to hook up, suspected to be a barracuda also. Tough luck..

KJ suddenly turned serious as his rod made an ulgry bend, fish on! After some tuck of war, which sent KJ ballistic, yelling and screaming all over the stern in estacy, the fish was landed, a 15 pounder!




A personal record breaker for KJ. You are so clever too...




Taken on Halco Scorpion 125




One more shot for the record, say "cheeeeee"...

End of part 3

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That concluded the first boat trip in 2009, closed with 3 personal records, 15lbs Barracuda for KJ, 18Lbs Barracuda and 4 lbs Grouper for me.

For Edmund and Russell who were down on luck for this trip, no problem de la, you all are such a good sport, will always be a next time.... Having said that, when are we going out again? kekekekekeke....