KFC - Ah Fatt With New Friends

The last time I had been here was actually a long 6 months. Probably the longest time period that I have clocked for the return trip. Therefore, this trip was long awaited. However, it was unfortunate that many of KFC members couldn't make it for this. There were new faces for this trip though from ChiewSim and ChinHua who joined us today with their little princess, YenHan.

After a brief exchanges of greetings under my block, the jolly bunch consisting of IZ, Pat, myself and A with the above new fiends set off to Carrefour Mac to rendevous with Yew and Family. They arrived rather punctually I must say. Therefore, we made good time reaching Leman Jetty. In fact a bit too early that we had to wait for the boat.

Reaching the Kelong, I was immensely happy that we had very clear water for this trip. This was by far the clearest water I had seen. It made me just happy to look into the water column and see plentiful of fishes swimming around. Such water clarity was rather rare and perhaps only during this time of the year. Weather however was burning hot. Kelong itself was moderately occupied with about 64pax. Not too bad and we still have ample fishing space.

We set up quickly and started fishing. CH with his cheapo rod set managed to get some good cactches. Tambans however were conspicously missing. We only managed to get some decent bait fish. IZ quickly used some and hit on his favorite Todak rather quickly. That done, he went on to target other species of fishes. (at the end of the day, he got bored with Todak fishing).

The other folks were just simply relaxing and enjoying themselves fishing with no pressure whatsoever. It was easy to get some thing on simple Tamban jig baited with sotong. Soon the make shift aquarium was filled with assortment of fishes. However, we were indeed very low on fishes suitable for live baiting. Seeing that, I bought from Ah Yong (Ah Fatt's Kelong manager/boss) some live prawns. But using live prawns were trickly as they would be quickly killed by all the peckings from the small fishes. Therefore, they don't last very long.

I was also glad to see people getting squids, no less in the day time. Encouraged by their results, I also did some squidding and managed to break my long standing squidless period of close to a year. In fact, the rest of the folks too managed to get one or two squids. They were indeed coming into the season.

Night came and I tried out luring to see if the Parangs were around. And to my utmost gladness, they were indeed. I had many strikes until I finetuned the technique and landed one. Followed by another. CH and IZ got excited and tossed out L-minnows as well. IZ finally managed to score his first Parang on lure. CH came very close and had a hookup. But it dropped on the way near the kelong. Other than that, there were plenty of Lorongs to catch during the night.

Early next morning was however a great disappointment. I woke up at 4.30am and couldn't get any action. This was so due to the abundance of Jelly fishes all over. it was so thick that my lures would occasionally scope some gooey bits of Jelly fishes. Rather irritating.

The next morning, the Jelly fishes started to disperse and the water got a bit better. However, we start cannot get enough of Tambans. From the little we got, these were quickly used by Yew and others to try out Todak fishing. And it was very successful. Todaks were rather dumb here and they would go for the live bait in a short waiting time. CH and Yew with Family had good fun catching them.

We packed rather early as most of us were quite tired from the fishing under the blazing hot sun. After a hearty lunch, we departed from the trip with some pleasant memories. Although not a fantastic trip, it wasn't too bad and a rather enjoyable one due to the great company of new and old friends.

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Giant Squid Attack & SW Luring - Ah Fatt Kelong

I had not been able to join Eric for his previous 2 kelong trips, and we decided to do one come August. Last Sunday, I got the message that we would go on National Day itself. I replied, "ONZ".

However, it was expected that the kelong would be packed, and we would definitely encounter the infamous causeway jam. So, I made plans to go over as early as 6am, in order to try avoid it. But alas, as we drove from our home in Marsiling just before 6am, we already were joining a long queue to the checkpoint. But luckily, I was able to clear it within half an hour. But Eric's group wasn't so lucky. I was sure they got the jam full force.

That day, I was feeling under the weather. Just 2 days ago, I had a staff down with flu. As I had spoken with him quite often, I felt myself catching the flu. It started with a sore throat, a dry cough. I tried to self medicate by drinking lots of water. However, on Wednesday, though I wasn't too sick, I wasn't feeling too good either. To make matter worse, I had to go for boat fishing after Kelong trip. Stressed!

So on the drive up from the checkpoint, I had to visit the Loo often. Along the way, I detoured to Kota Tinggi to find a restroom. Because of that, we actually made it to Leman Jetty around 9.20am, via the Sedili way. But we were still early compared to Eric's group. But they weren't too late, and arrived around 10am. I got meet Ann's husband, also Eric, for the first time.

Machiam wedding dinner


The boat had to alight some passengers at hotboys, and we found to our dismay, that hotboy's was quite empty. On reaching Ah Fatt, kelong was packed to the brim, with the kelong in danger of tilting over. Eric even commented that that was the most people he had ever seen in a kelong. For a veteran like him, that was saying something.

Rods all over


We fixed up our rods, and proceeded to start jigging for bait fishes. But again, Tamban were quite sparse. In fact, I only caught 1 for the whole trip. But I was getting lots of KeKe (Pony Fishes), which I casted some out for live baiting. I was also pulling up Emperors on Tamban Jig without bait. Strangely, the usual "Orange" fish was not abundant this time. Todaks also took a back seat, although some were around. A cast out a float rig for them, and there were some runs, but it was far between. Live baiting totally no action, and live bait came back still intact. No big fishes were also sighted. Current was strong, as this was a new moon. And wonderfully, weather was just superb. There was an inkling of rain, but the rain never did come, and the weather remained cool and windy, just nice for a day of fishing.

Inconsiderate neighbours behind.


However this trip, I was highly irritated with the amount of ciggie smoke all around. As we were bunked almost right in the middle of the kelong. The wind brings us whiffing all the smoke. Fishing folks seem to relate relaxing fishing with smoking at the same time. With my challenged respiratory condition, the smoke really made my breathing very laboured, and I coughed quite persistently.

Fishing also was quite a difficult affair, as there were rods all over. There were lots of time spent on unravelling tangles and crossed lines. Seeing the condition, I attempted to try squid jiggin in the day. I took out my trusty shrimp hunter, and went around the kelong dropping my jig to test water.



Ann was first to hit something of interest: a very huge Emperor. I hurriedly took a pic, but unfortunately, her eyes were closed. :P

"Giant" Squid attack


Eric posing with "Giant" Squid


For myself, lo and behold, what luck I had. At one corner of the kelong, something took my jig ferociously and started peeling out my lines on my Zauber. First I thought, sangkat...but no, it was liftable. Then I thought, maybe a fish took it. The fight wasn't like any whimpy strike of a small sotong. My rod was doing a U bend and I fought hard to pull the thing up. It was a joyous sight when it broke surface. It was indeed a squid, and a giant one at that. I took my squid back to our quarters for some photo. Eric saw it and was amazed at my squidding skills. Unfortunately, Ann, Ann's husband and Eric's Dad did not get to see it. Everyone on the kelong also was very impressed with my lucky haul. I thought I saw some folks proceeded to squid thereafter. :). But after that, no more luck. But then again, I didn't try very hard as I went back to Tamban jigging and all.

Fearful children of night "Giant" Squid


So that was my lucky strike #1. Soon it was evening, and Eric prepared for parang hunting. I asked him to informed me if there were parangs around, as I had not been very productive with this and wanted to try more. But before that, I went around with my Yozuri again, and dropped my jig all over. And once more, I got lucky. Another strike, and again, no small fellow. It was about as big as the first one. This was at the far corner of the kelong. On my way back with the caught, everyone was shocked at the size of the sotong once again. I think from then on, I must have become the "sotong king" for that trip.

Eric and his parang


This time round, the kids saw it, as well as Eric and Ann's husband. After photo taking, Eric said that he had gotten some parangs. His Dad was in the midst of an action, and he was videoing it. But unfortunately, it dropped on the way up. Eric took over, and managed to get a strike on another parang. Wow, this luring thing was definitely working. I immediately consulted him on the rig, and took out my newly acquired pin minnow and started to setup. I did a few cast, and gosh, the action was very good at one of the corner. I thought the hit rate was like 1 strike for every 5 cast. Very very effective.

Small Barra on lure


My first haul was a tiny barra. The strike from them was much lighter. I got a few strikes on parang as well. The strength of the load, was definitely indicative of a parang. But first 2, I didn't get the chance to see it. It head shaked it way out of the lure. The next one, I saw it did an aerial jump, and that was the end. The last one, I already got it under the kelong. Started hauling it up, and it wiggled free. How frustrating!!?



Around the late night, there was a sudden splurge of fireworks from HotBoys, presumably to celebrate our National Day.

So, for all my efforts, I only managed to get 6-7 small barras on the pin-minnow. But one wrong cast saw my pinny hit the roof and flew off. Argh. I tried to replace it was my red-head rapala. The trick seems to be the shiny surface. I did get a tap but that was it. Another cast, I was luring back, and suddenly the line went limp. Line broken at the swivel end. The barrel weight was quite nasty on the line on the swivel. That might have caused it to break. I next changed to my under used lucky craft darter. I thought that looked a little like the pin minnow. And I got a strike and up came a small barra. I was really tired by then, being almost 12am. I decided I really need to sleep and unfortunately had to leave the parang hunt till the next morning.

Our inconsiderate neighbour was playing mahjong and smoking their lungs away just next to the sleeping kids. I really quite irritated with them. A went over and asked them to move to another place, as the kids were coughing and having difficulty sleeping. Surprisingly, they immediately snubbed out their ciggies and stopped the game. After that, the air was much fresher, and I managed to catch some shut eye.

Badly taken pic of my 2 footer Barra


Very soon, it was morning again. I woke up around 6am after some desparately needed sleep. I took out my crystal minnow and went around casting for parangs. At one far corner, I got a lucky strike, and dragged up a wiggling 2 footer barra. This trip, I seemed only to attract barras. Interestingly, I could lure without any wire and the barras couldn't cut off. Seemed that the lure itself protects the line from being cut.

Next morning 1st small sotong


Next morning 2nd small sotong


After that, it was already bright, and luring stop being effective. I went back to squidding and got lucky again. But this time, I was using my 2.5 inch shrimp hunter, and only managed a smaller sotong. 3 minutes later, I hauled up another one. A was pretty excited and passed the rod to her for trying. And she hitted another one within another 3 minutes. What a good catch rate. Unfortunately, after the 3rd sotong, the action stopped.

Bottom fishing yielded nothing. Even small hooks with sotong baits were not taken. The fishes must had changed location. Live baiting also no result. I decided to clear up the stuff and packed early.

Overall, this trip was my most successful salt water luring ever. Coupled with the lucky haul of sotongs, surely a most memorable one. :)

So tired.


Eric with nice fish. (Blue and Gold Fusilier)
http://www.fishbase.se/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=918


Small fish in Parang stomach. Looked EXACTLY like the pin minnow!


Eric's catches on Lure


A big selar on Jig. The other groups caught quite a few this size also.


The children having fun "torturing" the fishes. I scolded them, but they retorted, die already..>:(


Mahjong was more hot than fishing


The fruitful luring spot


Innovative Bait Well


This guy was featured in Rod&Line before


Beautiful Kelong skies


Big Selar


Beautiful fish


My fish my fish!


The fishes tremble in fear when these 2 fish :)


I caught bucketful of these. (Ponyfish)


This is a Kembong, said Eric


I love kelong food. (actually, this trip, the food was quite bad)

Ah Fatt Kelong - Razor Attack

Misty road to Leman


The four terrors of the kelong


It was just barely two weeks ago that I had been to a kelong. But when Eric said he was going to Ah Fatt this CNY, it tempted me to join him. First day of CNY seemed good as there should be quite few people, assuming most people would be out visting. Furthermore, with the 4 days break, it seemed like quite a waste of holidays if I wouldn't do something adventurous. So, in a short notice of a day or two, I was off bounded for another killing at the kelong (hopefully). This time round, I brought along Era, her first trip to a kelong.

I am finally here!


Friendly manja cat at the jetty

We reached there quite early this time and had time for a leisurely breakfast and simple shopping. Strangely, along the way, it was very misty and I could barely see beyond 100m. Eric and gang arrived just after 9.30am as their van had missed the turn. There was some re-modelling of the area and I almost missed the turn too.

This time, I had the chance to fish with most of his family, his sister, brother, sister-in-law and his two niece and nephew. It was good to catch up again although it was just a short while ago that I had last seen them. After rounds of Gong Xi Fa Chai and the usual pleasantries, we set off to Ah fatt. The water this time round was calmer and clearer too. The sun was quite hot, but that was standard for this time of the day.

Photo after touchdown


My first 2 barracudas!


What big teeths you have!


Twitching baitfish despite the missing lower half. Fish took tamban jig, Barracuda whacked fish


Upon settling down in the kelong, we rigged up and I was the first to hit something strong. In my cluminess, I grabbed my rod and struck, but I was careless to have my fingers in the path of the braided lines. It sliced my fingers a little, but luckily, it wasn't too deep. But when I pulled up, the hook was missing and all. The other rod with the apollo also came up clean with the two hooks missing. Eric and gang immediately knew they were dealing with the razor gang - barracudas. They had come prepared and rigged up hooks with wire. I had my wire too, but alas, it was too thick and I didn't think that the fishes would take the bait. In no time, Eric's family were pulling up barracudas one after the other. They had this special cuda rig, that I was soon to learn. Copying them, I also managed to get my first 2 cudas in a while. For their size, they sure fought like hell. These fishes were equipped with a set of incredible set of teeth. One of my bait that I pulled up had been sliced into half, and yet the bait didn't know that the other part was missing and was still twitching around. Really an eye opener. Someone had some luck and got a queenfish at one corner that afternoon.

A's first todak!


Beyond, I wasn't having much luck with any other fishes, certainly not the kind of catches that I was getting at ah ngan. I taught A how to catch a todak and she was hooked. Thereafter, tambans were no challenge for her and she busied herself catching about 10 todaks in total. The fast strike and acrobatic sure was impressive for a beginner. Due to that, I was very low in my supplies for bait fish and didn't throw out my lines often enough. The children took the tamban rod and had fun themselves fishing. Also due to the constant cutting off of the rigs by the cudas, I was quite unprepared for this trip.

My first of the two parangs I got on the regular dead meat rig


Come night time, it was worst. The supply of live bait was non-existence. But Eric and gang busied themselves with parangs and they were very successful. He got this powerful lure that he could get parangs after parangs. Again, I took some lessons from Eric on parang fishing, but I didn't have any luck getting one that night. There was a sudden commotion at around 12am and there was a triple hookup around that time. Somebody got a cobia and it swam from left to right and tangled up everyone's line. Then in the middle, someone landed a giant barracuda. I was helping eric to untangle his line that he left at a corner. But when I pulled, there was a reaction. After I managed to get the line untangled, I found a fish at the other end. In the dark, it looked like a cobia. I was excitedly calling for Eric to come fight the fish. But on closer look, it turned out to be a slipper fish (remora). That was quite a disappointment for Eric as slipper fish is quite useless. (can't eat). Around 1am, I thought I should sleep a little as I had to drive the next day. I set the alarm for 5am to resume my parang hunt. The morning hours, the parangs came in a wave and everyone was pulling up parangs after parangs. I myself got lucky and landed 2. But once daybreak, the parangs were gone for good.

Baby Barracuda hit lure.




I tried my hand at some morning hours luring and was rewarded with 2 small barracudas attacking my yozuri crystal minnow. Although small, it was quite fun. But no luck for more exotic fishes like GT, which Eric got the last time.

That morning, I got a good bite with the rod dipping but I was very clumsy due to my oily hands from all the tambans. I held my rod to strike but dropped it instead. Thereafter, the opportunity was gone. I only got to pulled up an empty rig. That sure felt like a sizable one. Other than that, nothing much else. The children had fun under the tutorage of Eric to challenge themselves in a mock competition. I had a terrible birdnest on my record and wasted quite a lot of time trying to untangle the lines.

Good trip, although not as lucky as the last time. I missed the photo opportunity to take pictures of the children fishing. But I sure learnt quite a bit this trip. I was satisfied to set another first for barracudas and parangs on dead meat this time round.

A's flying todak