Kelong Limat Once Again

First time for him to go under the Tuas custom bridge


Hey, a new Kelong here


Patrick happened to be free today and we decided to pay a visit to the Tuas Kelong as he hadn't been there before. To my surprise when I called to book it, I was informed that it was empty. It used to be rather crowded as there was a group that frequent there every weekend. Previously, the catch rate here was pretty impressive, and there were some photos of some past catches of big fishes.

I mis-stepped and almost fell into this hole. Unluckily my arm hit the wooden pole and stablised me


Nobody here


When we arrived there, indeed it was. The fishing was very relaxing given that we had the kelong to ourselves. However, the fishes weren't there. Even getting Tamban was a rather difficult affair. I tried to do some luring and did manage to get some bites from the todaks but couldn't get a firm hookup. As Todaks here was rather small and hence, the hookup wasn't easy.



Yay! Her first todak


Time slowed down


She got another one




Seeing not much action, I decided to throw out some glass fishes for todak fun. I let D have a go at handling the fish herself and landing it. She managed to get 2 of them, all by herself.

Good pic to make into jigsaw puzzle


Moon came out


Dog int the dog house


Leaving the Kelong


However, that was about it for the fishing here. No encounters with any other biggies. Even using bait on tamban jigs was not easy although Patrick's wife did get some wrasse and small leatherjacket. We packed around 5.30pm and got the boatman to bring us back.

Although not much in terms of fishing, it was a relaxing outing. We had a good dinner at the famous Tien Lai restaurant before heading back to JB town for some shopping and then back home.

Patrick checking on his pics


We couldn't even fill up this tiny icebox


Reaching the Jetty

KFC - Ah Huat Kelong

The last time we had been in Tuas was quite a number of months ago. For the last visit to Ah Huat, we met the new owners who promised that the kelong would be nicely renovated by the next time we come again. They had recently bought over the Kelong and is in the process of renovating it. At the current state then, it was poorly maintained. There were rather big gaps in the wooden planks, and also not much of space to fish properly. I thought of revisiting this kelong thinking that it would have finished renovation by now.

This morning, it was initially decided to head for Desaru Rakit. (Probably Teluk Sengat). But as we gathered for breakfast at Carrefour, I recalled that Ah Huat Kelong should be due for a revisit to check out the new condition. All agreed and a quick call to Liman had him waiting for us at the Jetty. My last trip there, I had hit upon a huge Queenie that bent my rod like sugar cane.

I want this fish and that fish


Wah, someday he will have this kind of boat

Do I look like an actress?

Jason kelong (nicest Kelong in Tuas)



Alicia caught her fish on her own


From the upcoming tide, got some small action.
Something took off my fish head

Upon arrival at the Kelong, we found that it was still the same kelong with nothing being done to it. The so called renovation did not take place at all. At first, we wanted to change to another place. Liman told us that the Kelong at Jason would require a minimum of 10 pax at RM130. Rather steep prices. But seeing that the Kelong was empty, we decided to try it out again.

He got his Todak fishing skill recertified


Kelong dogs. They eat fish

A Fireworm (never never touch it)

Hmm...an alien is growing on this Tamban

Well, angler of the month


Who broke the plank and fell into this hole

After fishing for a while, we found that other than Tambans (loads of it), there was nothing else in terms of good fishing. TC was doing alot of apollo with prawn and sotong meat. With that, he got the biggest fish of the trip. A good size Bream. He also managed to get a decent Todak. ZW, who usually would get a Todak or two, failed in this aspect. Todaks were around, but in small numbers and puny ones.

Reclaimation works. Singapore is getting bigger and bigger

The caretaker told us that the fishing had gone down due to the reclaimation work just across the water. From this Kelong, the reclaimed land was rather near. (<1Km). For that, the water was affected and all the fishes had gone away. But the Tambans were rather plentiful and even the fishing people on boats would anchor near the kelong to get them.

They "stole" some of this cactus plant


No fish no fish, said the Kelong helper

Jason's nice Kelong

Passing by the island (there were some people on it)

The tide went down and then it was rather quiet. Live baiting would see the bait fishes still alive after an hour. We decided not to waste time and left the place around 3pm.

Durian GSS

Zhi Char from Tian Tian Lai Restaurant

From there, TC led us to him favourite restaurant near Gelang Patah. According to him, lots of Singaporean come here to eat. The regular food dishes were rather cheap. Only the live seafood was comparable to Singapore's prices.

Followed by dessert

Ready...

Being Durian season, there were some durians for sale at RM5 per kg. Very cheap prices. We ordered around 4Kg, and to my surprise, the durian was top quality and we had a good durian party. Everyone ate to their fill. Simply delicious.

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KFC - Valentine Day Fishing

I hadn't count on this trip to happen as it was Valentine's day, and presumbly people had more romantic things to do than to visit a dirty kelong. But TC surprised me that he was game to try it and I agreed to do a re-introductory trip to Tuas Kelong seeing that he had not been fishing for a while. Since he was coming, ZW family could also ride along in his car. The day before, I also got a out-of-the-blue message from Pat that he was all cleared for the trip as well. Well, well, looked like people do like to fish on Valentine's day perhaps to have an excuse for not doing that expensive candlelight dinner.

We met as usual at the early hour to avoid the checkpoint jam. With the 3 cars, we re-grouped at the SHELL station (that people were finding hard to locate) and set off to get breakfast before hitting the Jetty. We had breakfast at the Perling coffee shop where the "parata" was sold. However, I noted that they changed the sign and it was no longer "by order". I also realized that it was quite common to see migratory birds making their way to the north from there. That must had been some north south highway for migrating birds.

"stay away from me food", hissed the monkey

Quaint JB fishing village

Boat was maxed to capacity

Up the kelong, one by one

At the Jetty, we were met by a grouchy monkey on top someone's poor car. It was proably not to happy that we were here to bring back fishes by the truck load. That was our plan as we all eagerly set off to our fishing destination.

The tide was indeed very low and when we reached the kelong, the steps were a little higher than the boat and we had to do some gymnastics to transfer all the people big and small from the boat to the kelong. However, Liman was an experienced boatman and we all got up safe and sound.

Pat and Ros trying out the fishing

My mummy is a good fisherwoman

A Chermin hauled up from the Kelong's net

One of the biggest fish for this trip

The kelong wasn't crowded at first and we only had 3 other pax on it. With the ample space, it was rather fun to fish expect that the tide was at the lowest and fishes were not around. We had enough time to prepare for the fishing as the tide would only improve around noon. The plan was to fill up our pails with some bait fish for the better fishing later. However, the Tambans were not quite around at that time, although we did get them once a while.

This climb up and down room is so fun!

I just ordered Pizza Hut (guilty look)

Behold our baby. We call him bubbles



The children had their own fun and mostly entertained themselves playing in the helper' 2nd story living quarters and playing their self made games.

Ah hong and his many catching at this kelong

The kelong help informed me that the legendary "ah hong" would be coming later. I was rather puzzled as who was this "ah hong" person and found his photo pasted on the kelong with his many impressive catches. Definitely proof that this kelong was capable of producing excellent catches.

Around 10, another big group of people came and the kelong got crowded. They were mostly using big rods and they cast their lines on top of us till we were rather squeezed for space to fish. Ah hong came later (with another big group) and it got almost impossible to enjoy the fishing with all the lines all over. I decided then to leave by 3.30pm if the fishing hadn't improve by then. Fishing in such crowded condition wasn't too enjoyable.

More porridge? (he is the porridge king, can eat 4 bowls!)

We were pressured by the ladies who were preparing our lunch to have some decent catch for lunch later. Tried as we could, all we could do was to provide 2 plateful of Tambans. Lunch was served with an impressive spread of dishes. Although the pot of porridge was filled to the brim, we managed to clean it up with nothing left.

How the expert keep their bait fishes alive

Heart stopping moment

Yet another Kitty

During lunch, there was a commotion (the only one) and someone's big rod went ballistic and line was peeling fast from it. The owner controlled it for a while but the line snapped. I was later to learn that he was on wire leader and even that couldn't hold the fish at the other end. Must have been a huge one. Other than that one time, all the other catches were mostly catfishes. Seeing how the other group do their fishing with big chunky and smelly sotong bait, it was no wonder.

Notice how the birds were all standing in line waiting for their food

A Goatfish

The lady that we met previously was doing her usual apollo fishing with prawn meat, and I must say that she was rather successful with it. Before we left, she caught a rarely seen goatfish above.

Street hawker fare at Permas Jaya

Birthday party at Jusco

Seeing the poor fishing, we spent the rest of the day doing tackle shopping and then followed by dinner at Permas. Food was cheap and good and definitely much better than the fishing we had. From there, we went to Jusco Terbrau City to do more shopping and then held a simple cake cutting ceremony for A who was celebrating her birthday today.

The fishing was rather poor today despite the promising location. There are times that I looked at the sea and lament where all the fishes were and this was definitely one of those moments. Perhaps that would be ok given that fishing was an activity that no one could predict. However, what spoilt it greatly was the overcrowded fishing condition. Nevertheless, I think it was a memorable timeout, an unusual Valentine day and hopefully our next trip should be see us bring back the truck load of fishes that we were aspiring for. :)

A Valentine Day of Fishing at Tuas Kelong

KFC - Small group trip to Tuas Kelong 3

This trip took a year to organize and we finally made it. We were to meet the other car at the coffee shop in Perling. The group consisted of IZ, Jean, Eric, ZW with her daughter and of cos myself and family.

Still dark in the morning

By order. Better eat

At the coffee shop, the sign said "parata" inside and we were all curious what parata was and had it for breakfast. Furthermore, it was "by order". It turned out not bad, but it did cost ZW a hefty amount of money, since he treated us, as it came in a set at RM5.50 each. After the hearty breakfast, we headed for the Jetty.

The Jetty

My GPS went a little kooky today and routed me to the PTP port where I had to make a merry go round and then back to the highway. We finally made it and were slightly late. The boatman was already there. However, the live prawns that I ordered didn't arrive. He said to get it for me in the afternoon. That didn't arrive later either.

Better than theme park

The ride was a breezy one to the Kelong. As expected, the children loved it. The weather however looked a little iffy and was in fact drizzling a little. IZ informed that the it was expected to be raining the entire day. Luckily, that turned out to be untrue, and the weather for the trip was quite good with overcast clouds all the time.

Drop inside, sure become skeleton

Here got space

ZW 2nd Whitefish

This fish very nice

The kelong was rather crowded with a group of Malays overniters and 2 chinese guys, totalling 8 pax excluding us. But there were still space for us to fish although a bit squeezed.Upon arriving, the rest took a tour of the Kelong and when the Kelong helper started feeding the fishes, everyone was wahing at the size of the fishes being kept beneath the Kelong.

The tide was expected to be around 3pm, and the fishing should be starting to be better at around 12 to 1. At the moment when we arrived, it was rather low tide. However, I managed to get some scarce tambans and we sent it out to wait out the bigger fishes.

Playing Fish

The children busied themselves with "playing" fishes and treating them as pets. Since the school of Tambans didn't come visiting, we let them have their fun with their own games. Otherwise, it would be a good experience for ZW's daughter to try out some fishing of her own.

String of Selars from the toilet area

My first Tenggiri!

However, the fishing was quite poor, and there were no signs of any big fishes around. The expected school of tambans came, but were out of reach away from the Kelong for some reasons. I had to cast my stinger more than 50m to get one or two at a time. It was far from the just drop and retrieve a string of them kind of thing. Due to that, we were also running low on baits. Furthermore, there were hardly any Todaks around. ZW and I only managed to see 1 after some persistent tries. ZW did manage to get 2 hits, but it let go of the bait fish rather quickly. I visually confirmed it to be a todak when it followed my lure and then made the standard turn away when it neared the kelong.

Like CNY reunion dinner?

This fish good to eat. My Papa caught one

A whipped up a rather sumptous lunch by Kelong standards, and we all had a good meal followed by more fishing.

Desparate fishing lady resort to play cheat and use the net

Catches from the Kelong Nets. Lots of Kunings

Washing up and ready to go

Last minute drama. Man rod took a bend

but it turned out to be a snag

In the afternoon, more people came, and it was getting crowded. The tide was going down, and the fishing didn't improve either. So it looked like this trip wasn't a good one, and the only thing that we could boast of was ZW and Jean's catch of a whitefish, and Eric's catch of a small tenggiri. All on tamban hooks.

We decided to leave the place after 4.30pm and made our way back to the Jetty. From there, we headed for the newly opened Jusco at Bukit Indah and had a pleasant dinner. The children had a treat of a magic show. All in all, a fun trip mainly for the kids. For us adults, the fishing was quite a bummer, unlike the first time I was there. Like life, fishing can be so unpredictable.

Sing your way home

Shopping!

Evil looking clown

They wolfed down the cake in 1 minute!

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