Sibu Ah Fatt Kelong Fishing Trip

Date: 24th August 07 (Friday) ~ 25th August 07 (Saturday)

Tide

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24-08-2007 0954 2.0
24-08-2007 1348 1.7
24-08-2007 1905 2.1

Chinese Calender: 七月十二

Tee-Tee-Tee.........0530, my phone finally rang and my Kelong Trip has finally began. After meeting up my kakis, Darren and Marcus at Woodland...............Malaysia here we come. Within 15minutes, we have reached Malaysia-Johore Bahru with full of excitements and a hungry stomach.

After filling up our stomach at Pelangi, it's already 0730. Without delay, we drove towards the direction of Kota Tinggi. Driving up to Tanjong Leman was a no sweat job at all. Just remember to go straight after the “Kota Tinggi-Desaru cross junction “and follow the road sign “Mersing” and you will never go wrong. About 1.5hrs of journey, we finally reach the exit to Tanjong Leman whereby there is a police post at the entrance. With another 10minutes of driving, we have reached our destination, Tanjung Leman Ferry Terminal.

Do remember to pay a RM$4 jetty tax before you board the boat. It’s a must to be done before boarding. At the Ferry terminal, we met a friendly guy Ah Zhong who is working in Celestica-Malaysia. As we are fishing fanatics, we are able to break the ice with our fishing talks. It is fantastic having to meet another fishing companion on our Kelong fishing trip. At around 1030, our boat arrived and here we go…… “Ah Fatt Kelong”.

Tanjung Leman Jetty

At 1100, we finally reached Ah Fatt Kelong with full of energy as the weather was beautiful and the sea was amazingly calm. Although, this was my second visit to Ah Fatt Kelong, the atmosphere, smell of the sea and the Kelong are pretty much the same as usual. Within a shortwhile, everyone had finished assembling all their gears eagerly to hook-up their 1st catch of the day.

Oh boy!!!........,the weather after our lunch had made a full 360 degree changed. Strong wind started to blow and the sea became choppy within seconds. But to our good fortune, the rain held out. The closest whiff of rain was just a couple of drops. Miserably, the wind was blowing quite strongly for couples of hours. In the end, with a mixture of sad and hurt feelings, we had to cancel our offshore boat fishing so as not becoming a Merlion........rocking left and right for few hours.

The same old location and bed which i have sleep during my 1st Visit to Ah Fatt Kelong

Our main objective for this trip was to go for an offshore fishing trip but due to the unforeseen circumstances no offshore fishing was done. Fishing on the Kelong is quite boring with all the small “Leng Jiam” (Pink Ear Emperor) and “See Leng Zeng” (Butterfly Whiptail) attacking whatever we cast. At around 1700, Macus came to me with a 2kg Todak (Garfish) which delighted everyone’s heart. Darren straight away changed his gear to fish the Todak but lady luck is not with him throughout the day. As for me, my fate is similar to Darren and therefore, I only concentrate with my “Leng Jiam” and baitfish jigging mission. At least something is better than nothing. Some special variety was caught and release such as Stonefish, baby barra and Boxfish.

Cute Boxfish (top) & the Unlucky Ugly Stonefish get hook on the body (bottom)

Never Stop biting Leng Jiam (top) & Hungry Little Barra taking my tamban jig (bottom)


During the night, it was not much difference compare to the day fishing. I have tried fishing for squid but no chance for me to update onto my fishing record. Nothing was caught for the 3 of us. A malay Kelong staff came to the location whereby Darren and I was fishing. After a few seconds of looking at the surface of the water, he came back with a pole rod. Within a minute, a big Selar was caught and follow by one after another. Seeing all those big selar caught, Ah Zhong and I tried our luck on fishing Selar with our Tamban Hook but to no avail. Targeting the Selar is as difficult as doing my A-Maths question. It seems that all our gears is being cursed throughout the day and night......whatever magic we can squeeze out from our brain in order to catch the Selar is not working at all. In the end, without any catch, I knocked off at 2200 to have my sweet Selar fishing dreams.

My 1st Regret......How i wish to be able to catch this Selar

At 0400, woke up and explore around the Kelong. There were a few guys fishing but no bite. After having my breakfast at 0630, all of us continue with our fishing. Nothing but “Leng Jiam” was caught in the morning. At 1000, I hooked a small “Leng Jiam” and cast out using a float just for the sake of fun. After 15minutes, my Shimano Biomaster GT4000 was screaming like hell and my 10ft Surecatch Prokat rod was bending like nobody business. I began my split-second Shutter run to rescue my rod. Sadly, within that few milliseconds, my leader line broke due to my stupidity of using only 15lb leader. All my hope of getting a big fish diminished at that point of time .....What the hell am i doing with a 15lb line!!!. With full of disappointment, all of us began to pack our stuff preparing to leave the Kelong. As there was an hour left before leaving, we explored around the Kelong and was amazed of how people doing their fishing. Saw an aunty fishing at a small opening near the toilet with a handline, hooking up many “Pek Tor” (Rabbit Fish). Don’t ask why I feel uneasy of the rabbit fish caught as I think that whoever saw it will have a worry feeling of what was fed to the fish......hahahahahaaaa!!! Half an hour before we left, saw an uncle jigging for squid. I told myself that this Uncle should be wasting his time and where the hell squid will be caught in the morning. To my amazed, a squid was caught after 5 minutes of jigging. Second was caught shortly. At that point of time, I almost fainted on the spot.....!!!

My 2nd Regret.........Squid Sashimi anyone???

Overall, it was a fun trip for all of us but if we are able to go for our offshore fishing, it will be splendid. Throughout our way back to Johore Bahru, it was raining cats and dogs and extreme care while driving is a must. After our delicious Johore dinner at “Ah Keong fish ball noodle”, i drove up to Permas Jaya fishing tackle shop to round up our fishing trip without buying anything. Hohohohooooo, i'll be back to take my revenge at Sibu Kelong...Selar and Sotong..BETTER WATCH OUT!!!

11th August 2007 (Saturday) -Ah Fong Boat Trip

* 11th August tide 07 (Saturday)
0358hr :0.2m
1126hr:2.4m
1616hr:1.5m
2156hr:2.6m


Chinese Calender: 六月二十九















My Arsenal:
Reel: Daiwa Dynastar 300DX (Over), Shimano Aerlex 4000 (Spin)
Rod: Zeus OS Red Venom PE 1-3 (5'3") , Zeus OS Red Scorpion PE 2-4 (5'6")




After 1.5 years of non-boat fishing, finally decided to go for a boat trip. On wednesday, call up Mr Selleh to check with him for available slot for the coming saturday trip. I was indeed lucky that there's a few slot available and without further a do, i confirmed the trip. The night before the trip, i couldn't sleep well as i was quite excited and my mind is full of fish..fish and fish. Although with all the exciting imagination of getting fish, i'm a bit worry that i might have seasick on the trip after long time of non-boat fishing.......hahahaaa..me and my worries!!!

Friendly Folks on Ah Fong Boat

Reach Changi Jetty at 8:00am and met Selleh, Joseph, Arthur and Lim who are the friendly folks on this fishing trip. My mind is full of fishing thrill but looking up the sky, it does not seems promising as some dark clouds are hanging over our head. Fortunately, the weather throughout the day is pretty good. Has been a bit worry on my gears which i brought on this trip might be too light and hence, i prepared another overhead bottom fishing gear just in case. Most of the guys is on light tackles and therefore, my PE1-3 rod and Shimano Aerlex4000 are chosen to be my Changi fishing Arsenal. Selleh our champion of this trip was indeed lucky as he got the first strike of the day with a handsome grunter (Gu Hook) and then follow by a flathead (Gu buai) and John's Snapper (Ang Chor Kee). Joseph also got his first strike in the morning with a Grunter as well.
















Selleh's Arsenal and his Prize












Ah Fong and his equipment


Our boatman, Ah fong has changed a few spot for us but its seems that those with Spinning gear are not so lucky. Believe it or not, Arthur, Lim and me did not get any bite for the whole morning. Hohohohoooo.....It seems that our spinning gears are being curse. Eventually, the curse was finally broke when i caught my first and only Grouper (Gou Hee) of this trip...........really proud of myself but i decided to release it due to the size was too "BIG" for my liking....hahahahaa. Full of surprises, i went on to catch a mix variety of things, like coral rock with shell, seaslug, corals' leave and finally ended the finale with a good catch of grunter. Arthur who uses a Daiwa Fream 4500J with a Shimano Jigwrex landed a John's Snapper (Ang Chor Kee) as well. Lim, the youngest chap of this trip manage to hook up Ornate Threadfin Bream (Ang Gor Li). I would like to compliment Ah Fong, our boatman whom is very hard working fellow as he will change another spot if we are not getting anything. Maybe its just our luck for not getting any biggies. At 5pm, we decided to stop for the day. Boat reached the Jetty, and we all went our own ways.























Me and my only "Giant Grouper"






















Me and my only Grunter




Our total catch for the day

Well, its quite an enjoyable and satisfying trip for me. In addition, i have proved myself that i'm not prone to seasickness and with all my worries of being a Singapore Merlion are just some silly thoughts. All in all, i have pretty nice company, and would look forward to fishing with them again.

Fishing- Part of my Life

I have been fishing with my dad since year 1990 and everytime it has indeed giving me lots of satisfactory as well as sweet memories. Moreover, it has been giving me all sorts of surprises since day one and i strongly believes that "Life is like a Deep Blue Sea, you never know what you gonna get". My very first fishing experience in East Coast Park at the beach was a mess for both me and my dad as we have zero experience in fishing with the gears. Luckily, we met a malay uncle whom guided us on using the gears and tying the knots correctly. Although without much experience, we still manage to catch an Ikan Duri (Salt water catfish) on that day. Since then, both me and my dad will go fishing in every part of Singapore where we all know of during the weekends. Our passion for this hobby grows and one fine day, my dad bought a 12ft Porta-boat in year 2002 with a 5hp Mercury outboard motor which cost ard S$6000 in total. Our favorite boat fishing spot is in Changi, Telok Blangah and Tuas and everytime is a fruitful trip for both of us. In year 2005, my dad had sold off the boat due to under-utilised as well as having problem in transporting it. Well, although without our small boat, my passion towards fishing is still as strong as ever and it has already becoming part and parcel of my life. No matter what, i would like to share my joy and my best moment with my love ones and also hopefully when i have my own child, i will present this blog to my children and share my vast experience with them.