Tanjong Rhu - Short SP session

It was a rather hot day, but I felt like doing some simple fishing. Following my success with SP, I was game to further experiment with it. It so happened that I was near east coast. I decided then to pay Tanjong Rhu a visit, even though the fishing wouldn't be good due to all the construction of the dam at the Marina South side.

We parked along a double yellow line. Problem with this place, legal parking was non-existent. Otherwise, it would indeed be a nice picnic spot for easy fishing. The sun was hot, and we needed a shade to hide in. A and D set up the mat under a tree. Although there was a little shade, the air was still rather warm.

Here fishy fishy..


I fished around the area for a while, but nothing was biting. Just in front of me, were dragon boats doing their practices. I decided to walk further down behind the condo, hoping for a better catch.



There was some kind of floating cordon around the bank, possibly for some dragon boat activity. I walked right up to the edge where they blocked off the rest of the park for construction. Over there, the bank was the rocky type, just suitable for SP fishing.

Green Chromide
http://www.handlinefishing.com/whatsthisfish/cichlids/greenchromide.htm


And true enough, I didn't have to wait long after my cast. I felt a slight nibble and struck. I didn't feel anything, but when I reeled up, there was indeed a fish. It was foul hooked by my grub. I hurriedly took some pics with my phone cam, and released the fellow.

Next cast, I snagged the rig, and had to walk the 250m back to where the car (and all my barangs were) to retie the rig again. And again walked all the way back. It was rather difficult.

Threespine toadfish (aka Kuku)
http://www.handlinefishing.com/whatsthisfish/toadfishes/threespinetoadfish.htm


I cast it out, and within 5 minutes another strike. This was much stronger and I thot I had a grouper. But out came the fish, and it was a kuku. I snapped some pics with my phone cam again, but this time my phone hung. I had forgotten and left my min SD card at home. Poor phone was running low on memory and misbehaving. I had wanted to call D to come take a photo, but phone wasn't working. Too bad. And I didn't have any pliers to take our the grub. Kuku are chompers, and I wouldn't want my fingers getting chomped by this bugger. I snipped off the line with my swiss knife and released it. Hopefully the hook will rust off in a short while.

I think I could have gotten more as the fishing here was quite good. And on SP too. But with the logistic and hot weather and my phone not working properly, I decided to pack and go.

Not bad at all. My 2nd and 3rd fish on SP grub.

Juicy grub. Fishes can't resist


Scary scarecrow


Future rod builder

Boardwalk with SP

I was again on leave this friday as usual in my bid to clear up my leaves before the year end. I called up Patrick to do a spot of squidding at PJ. We met around 11pm, but the tide wasn't too good. Water level was quite low, but on the uprise. There wasn't much people there, though the spots at the end of the Jetty were taken up by a couple of surfcasting folks.

We gathered near the jetty steps and cast out our little squid jigs. But maybe due to the low water, nothing productive. I snagged my jig on some obstructions, and soon lost it. Argh..another one bit the dust. I suggested to Patrick to go Boardwalk to check it out, since he had never been there.

Reaching there, I parked at my regular spot just beside the chalets. It was a few minutes walk to reach the Boardwalk, in front of the Sailing club, facing the sea. PT continued his squidding, but again, like no action. I rigged up my L-minnow to test water if the luring action might be good. But as expected, nothing at all.

The Grub


We walked to a further end to change spot for better luck. Seeing the squidding not doing well, I decided to test out my grubs, to see if SP(soft plastic) was any good here. I rigged one for PT as well, for him to try it out.

Yahoo!


As we were chatting and talking about fishy things, I suddenly felt a tap on my line. Instinctively, I struck and behold, something heavy was pulling at my line. Good thing was that I had the drag set to quite tight and the whatever thing below couldn't dash to the rocks for cover. Still, it was immovable for a short while, but I won the tug of war. Soon it was thrashing on the surface. I quickly lifted the fish over the railings, and fish flopped onto the boardwalk.

Quite a good size


Kena cheated by plastics


Taking a closer look, it was a grouper, and a fairly big one at that. Finally I had broken my grouper egg. All the previous ones I got, all very tiny weeny. But this was a respectable sized one, and good for a sumptuous dinner.

PT was impressed as well, and couldn't believe that the grub really worked. Other than a first in grouper, this was also my first fish ever to be caught with a SP. I would soon be getting a few more packs of these. :)

But after this excitement, the fishing died down, though the water was getting higher. Seeing that the time was already 3am, we decided to call it a day. I too was feeling quite sleepy but it was all quite worth the effort. :)



Yummy

Ubin Walkabout

I had wanted to do this for a long time, and today seemed like an opportune time. Nothing fanciful, but just a luring recce trip, to check out the various spots in Ubin. From some pictures that I had seen, Ubin should be full of places good for luring practises. Patrick was off that day and agreed to join me. We both reached CV quite early to have a simple breakfast of prata, and off we went to the Jetty to wait for the boat over to Ubin.

Being quite early, there were only a few others waiting for the boat. We had to wait about half an hour, before sufficient people came over to take the boat. Withing 10 minutes, we touched down on the Jetty that I now was quite familiar with.

Just like a video game


First thing to do was to get our transportation ie a bicycle. Bicycle during weekdays was like quite cheap, going at $4 for the whole day. Good deal! Unfortunately, Patrick's bicycle was not working too good and quite cranky (literally, making "crank" "crank" sounds). But he had to make do until we next past the bicycle shop again.

Scenic spot (right of Jetty)


Further up the river


Aiming for the pole


Some algae here


First spot, was just to the right of the Jetty, via a dirt road from the police post. Neither of us had been that way before, so I was just blindy heading towards the sea. Luckily, the road indeed did ended up in next to the sea. The place looked promising as the water was calm, and full of splashes, indicating some fish activities.

I was to slip on this rock later. Good thing it was quite flat and smooth


Some cuts


We setup quickly and proceeded to lure. I was sending out my Angel Kiss, as I wanted really to get a KBL. This lure was like a KBL killer. (according to the forum). But cast and cast, nothing was touching it. Patrick also didn't have any luck. I slipped on a piece of rock, but luckily the damage was just superficial. I just bought this pair of sandals, and boy, were they slippery. About 20 mins later, no bites, we decided to move on.

What is the cookie monster doing on Ubin?


Mamam Beach




By now, you would surely be interested in this.


Map of Ubin


Pic of my TD Scouter. Lost it later at the 4 poles


My Maria! (Lost it later. First casualty)


Next was to Mamam Beach. This place, I had been before. With the right equipment, full of whitings could be gotten here. But today, we were after bigger things. Out went my maria again, trying near to the fence, to the right, to the left. Patrick's rod gave some problems with the reel seat?, and I passed him my black rose, which I had brought as a spare. The unlucky thing was, at this place, my Maria hit a snag. It had happened a few times before, and to Patrick as well. Some places, had some rocks underneath. But this time, try as I might, it just wouldn't let up. I took the desparate measure to wade into the stream to get nearer. But the water was higher than my knee to make me want to dive in to get it. So, pull and pull, and then it snapped. Argh! This was not just any lure. To replace it, neither Sin or Malaysia would have it now.

On the way. Nice lilies


Close up


Friendly Nordin Beach doggy


Dirty waters




"Fly fishing" style..getting into the water


We next moved to the other Beach, Nordin. But reaching there after a tiring stretch of uphill and downhills, the place was a sore eye. The whole beach was full of litter. But nevertheless, we tried for a while, and then gave up. I sent out my L-minnow this time, but no luck at all.

Quarry. It was fenced up


Moving down then to the Jetty area, Patrick took the opportunity to complain about his bicycle and got a replacement. We had a drink here to cool off, before proceeding to the next spot.

Place landscaped. Some development going on


Nice plants


Spot left of Jetty




Next spot was to be the left side of the Jetty, where the four protruding wooden poles were. According to the forum, around the poles would be a fruitful spot. I was now trying my TD scouter. This was a deep diver, and would hit the bottom. Seeing that this place was rather kind of sandy beach, I took the chance. But luck again wasn't with me. TD scouter got snagged and couldn't be freed. Pulling the line left and right and guitaring it didn't help. And finally the line gave way, and 1 more lure down. After that, I just shot out my L-minnow around the poles. On few occasions, I even hit the poles itself. But no matter how accurate my casting, no bites at all. Weather by now was a blazing hot day.

Cold drinks sold here


Working bench


My L-Minnow resting place


Patrick communicating with the todaks here


Watch the speed limit


Very thirsty. Anything also can


View of a short Jetty here


This is a dam here


Strong current. No kidding


We moved further down on the bicycle and reach the bridge. Beside the bridge, there was some kind of hut, apparently selling cold drinks. But being weekdays, it wasn't opened. It was quite comfortable, and even had a table for us to work on. This area, I thought was the most promising of all. Cos, when we looked into the water, we could see todaks, archer, mullets etc...Boy oh boy....we quickly sent out our lures. I was trying again on my L-minnow, but dunno what luck was with me, L-minnow flew onto a plant, and got snagged! Yanked a few times, the leader at the lure gave way. Argh! A total of 3 lures lost here in this Ulu island. But this L-minnow had served me well and deserved a rest. I next took out my other white maria, and then my gold x-rap. Neither got change the fat zero that I was getting.

Patrick was a little better. Using his newly acquired L-minnow (small), he got a bite from todak, which thrashed in the water a little. Well, given the day's result, this was like the most exciting moment ever. But after that, no more, and he too returned 0 handed. By now, the weather was a screaming hot, and I was really getting burned.

This place found on the food map


Food was delicious


Gateway to Ubin


Familiar scene


Rhino rock


Ain't she a beauty?


Waiting for the 12 pax.


We decided to call it a day, and proceeded to have lunch at one of the restaurants. Food was pretty decent, and Patrick generously paid for it. After lunch, we waited at the Jetty to fill up the 12 pax to get back. We didn't wait long, as a big group of foreigners came along, and we were soon back to Motherland, with no stories of big KBL to tell.

We did some tackle shopping before going home. On the way, it started to rain heavily. As if to cry for us, "where are our KBLs?". *sob sob*.