A Respite at LSR

I had been quite busy to fish lately and it also has been some time since I have gotten anything. This morning, as the regular ritual, I went over to LSR (Lower Seletar Reservoir) for some practising after sending D to her swimming lessons over at Yishun Swimming Pool.

The weather for the past few days had been rather wet. But this morning, it was surprisingly quite hot and I did work up a perspiration while doing my casting. Water also looked quite the aglae green with lots of cloudy suspension. And as with every sunday, the whole reservoir was invaded by kayakers.

A lady and her daughter were playing ball and it accidentally flew into the water just to my right. They waved over to a nearby kayaker to help to retreive the ball. But after boy kayaker got the ball, he couldn't throw it properly and it landed on the rocks and back on the water again. Boy kayaker lost his balance and capsized over into the water. After that, he had to do some capsizing drill to rid the kayak of water. Lady and girl were very apologetic. I moved over and signaled the boy to push the ball to me with his paddle. Grabbing it, I tossed it back to a thankful lady and girl.







Shortly after, as if heaven was rewarding me for a kind deed, I felt the most familiar tug when my lure was just about 5 ft away from the bank. From the intermitent pull and my rod bending over, I knew then I had a fish on. Grabbing the leader, I lifted it up the rocks and on the grass. It was quite a good size PB, and one of the biggest I ever had.

Not bad for a very short outing. I was there like barely half an hour. I hastily took some pictures and released the fish back into the water to fight another day.

Xiao Guilin

D eagerly ran up the hill, to fetch a pail of water


It wasn't quite sure if it is legal to fish here. But looking around, I didn't see any NF(no fishing) sign. Only a No Swimming sign for obvious reasons. The quarry could be deep in some places, and therefore dangerous.

Sebaraus were here!


Checking out the area, I was right at the bank of a rather crowded place. But to my delight, I saw four 1 feet long Sebaraus swimming rather near the banks. And then a small PB around the area too. Wah, I didn't know that this place was so happening. But with the crowd of picnickers around me, I resisted the urge to draw out my old trusty and start casting.

Nice view, but no action


Circumventing the pond, I found a quieter place where someone else was also fishing, albeit doing baiting. Setting up my weapondry, I started casting with my HKS red head darter. But that did't work well. Next came my Lumi SS Minnow. But the casting distance wasn't too good. I finally settled on my Angel Kiss. That went further due to the heavier weight, but totally no action at all. Seemed like the fishes were not at this side of the quarry.

As usual, I received funny stares from people who was thinking what this crazy guy doing. And the occasional gasp when they saw me pulling up the "fish", which is my lure. Some people, never see a lure before.

My lumi lure taking a rest


Despite the ostrich egg session, it was nevertheless a good attempt at a brand new place. Sebaraus, please wait for me.

Sedili - Ujam fishing

I couldn't quite confirm going for this trip till the very last minute. However, on Friday, the runway was set for me to go. Quick call to Patrick and the plan was to rendevous at Jusco Shell station at 3am in the morning.

First thing to do for fishing, is to pump petrol


I want my food in 1 minute


Driving in at 2am, I was still caught in an half hour jam. Nothing too bad and quite crazy considering the time. Patrick came with the others and I was soon making the aquaintenance of Edmund, Qin Long, Vincent. Joon I had met previously during a tackle shopping trip. All of them were obviously experts, judging from the fishing gear that each one of them had. There were Jig-zam, Stradic, Bay area, Golden mean Sabre dance, Certate Hyper custom, Caudia Kix and all the goody stuff.

We soon sped off to Sedili after stocking up on food and what nots. Reaching there, we were shocked to find the carpark full of cars. There was news that a trawling boat came back with 200kg of Tengirri (Spanish Mackeral). Everyone was having high hopes of getting a Tengirri or two.

Early morning exercise


This watch can tell me the tide and how many fishes we will get today


So crowded


Goodnight guys


I tossed this out to troll, but realized that trolling was hard work


Beautiful Sedili sunrise


Not so tired yet


We had to wait a little till 6am before the boats could move out due to the low tide. From there, the boat ride was a long wait of 2 hours. When we finally reached, the sun was already up and shining. But for the trip, the weather was quite kind and not very hot.

Ujam #1


Fishing here is easy. Drop and retrieve for a full house


Vincent's parrot came visiting




Edmund preparing his "surecatch" fish bait


Edmund with a nice ACK


"Red chicken"


At the first Ujam, I was very happy to see batfishes swimming around just under our boat. The water was clear and it was a nice feeling to be at a ground with plentiful fishes in sight. I rigged up a Sabiki and my first haul came up with a full house (line with a fish on each of the 6 hooks). There were plentiful of Selars and Kembongs around the Ujam.

Vincent was the man for the day with the most varied catch. He was first to get a good fish. After some fight, up came a decent parrot fish. Not bad.

Joon and Qin Long are avid jiggers, and out went their expensive jigs. Patrick and I also tried some jigging, but nothing was interested in biting metal.

The boat got a little rocky, and Patrick and Edmund started getting queasy from Sea sickness. This must be the worst trip for Patrick and he had to "merlion" 4 times during the whole journey. Edmund spent most of his time sleeping away, and only woke up to fish a little when the fishes were around.

The boat drifted around, and the fishes started disappearing. Sabiki going down would come back empty. After hanging around the Unjam for the morning, boatman drove us to another Ujam to continue the fishing. For the whole trip, it was just fishing around 2 Ujams.

Ujam #2. (the bamboo stick sticking out)


I puked how many times already?


My Cencaru nice or not?


Our sumptuous lunch on the boat


Why my $20 jig not working?


My first not big todak. Released


This fish good to eat. I catch one


2nd Ujam water wasn't that clear. But Sabiki going down did get some assortment of fishes. The guys did caught some interesting fishes like Crimson snapper, groupers, and Cencarus. And plentiful of Kembongs.

I was trying out live baiting most of the trip, and I drifted out kembongs and Tambans in the hope of getting some macks. However, I was wireless and even if they bite, I would not likely be able to get them. Bait was struck a few times but by todaks patroling the water. For the first couple of times, Todaks would run, do acrobatic jump and shook off the hook. I adjusted my technique and was finally able to get one in for some photo taking.

We spied some boiling surface activity and the experienced guys here were shouting Tongkol, meaning Tuna in Malay. I badly wanted to get one. It would be interesting. The advise was to drift Tamban near the Ujam to entice them to bite. Out went my Tamban offering and it was largely untouched, except for the occasional disturbance of the pesky todaks.

Big todak


Action abit


Nearing the end of the trip, my line shot out again and I struck and had a firm connection. But from the signature jump, it was another todak. However, this one was a big one and I didn't want to lose it. Playing it slowly, I managed to get it beside the boat. Patrick handed me his Boga and I gripped it at the mouth to lift it up for some photo taking. It was an impressive sized todak. In fact, the biggest I have caught. Weighing it with the boga, it measured slightly beyond the 2kg mark.

After some photo taking, I released it as most aren't interested to eat todak.

ZZ time


All knocked out


Catch no fish? buy some durians


Sedili one "man" security force


Supporter of myfishing.com


Buy 3, 1 pack free? (Bargaining at the fish market)


We came here for these. RM35 per kg


top view of our catches. Plenty of Cencaru below


Some of the catches


Some more of the catches


We packed and called it a day around 3.30pm. From there, most took a slight nap for the 2 hour drive back. Reaching the Jetty, the guys went to do some shopping for Durians along the way. It was quite cheap at 3 durians for RM10. From there, we went on to the Sedili fishing port market to get some famous big prawns at the cost of RM35 for 1kg. According to the guys, it was very cheap and worth it. I got a kg myself to try it out. Some of them even bought some fishes to bring home. I found that quite amusing as weren't we supposed to have just returned from a fishing trip? We split up the rest of the catch at the Port and from there, I left the group to make my way home. The checkpoint was rather jammed and it was an hour drive across the slow bridge.

All in all, despite the nothing outstanding trip, I did enjoy myself with the fishing and the company on board. Sedili fishing is not that taxing as the Pekan one, but I was quite tired nevertheless after returning as I had hardly slept along the way. But definitely a worthwhile outing once a while.

This boat got a decent place to do business


Simple bait well


It is somehow comforting to see water going out from the boat


My fishing rod straight or not?


Tallest building in Sedili


Postcard pic


Sedili car park


My 2 feet on firm ground