Thursday, August 13, 2015

Fun Facts



Salty Shark 咸鲨鱼

Most of the fish have little salt or do not taste salty at all. Sharks are unique. Accordingly to deepseawaters.com, they have meat as salty as the ocean they live in. So now you know how much salt to include in your shark meat or rather just release them : ) 
大多数的鱼肉本身都不含有盐分可是鲨鱼就不一样。根据deepseawaters.com, 鲨鱼的肉里的盐分能与他们所居住的海相比。 下次在吃鲨鱼肉时就知道因该要下多少盐了。 


Photo credit: www.amazon.com



Age of Fish 鱼的年龄


Do you know that you can tell the age of the fish by looking at the scale. Look carefully at the scale if they are big enough or use a magnifier if you have one.  On the scale, there are growth rings that reveal the age of a fish. 
你可知道鱼鲮能透露它们的年龄?只要仔细的观察或利用放大镜就能从中看到鱼鲮上的年龄环了。
Photo credit: http://www.chesapeakelighttackle.com/


Flying Fish 小飞鱼


On average, flying fish can glide 160 feet and they can reach heights up to 19 feet, 5 meters.
According to National Geographic, flying fish have been recorded stretching out their flights with consecutive glides spanning distances up to 1,312 feet (400 meters).
一般的飞鱼都能在水面上滑翔大约50米的距离与5米的高度。 根据National Geographic飞鱼的滑翔距离曾经记录在400米。太厉害了! 

Photo credit: http://www.chesapeakelighttackle.com/

Fish can drown 鱼也会淹死

Fish live in the sea but that does not mean that they don't drown. Just like us humans, fish need oxygen, so if there isn’t enough oxygen in the water, they will suffocate and drown. 
虽然鱼成长在水里不代表它们不会淹死。与人类相同, 鱼也需要氧气一旦水里的氧气不足它们就会被水淹死。
Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/keithdiplock/green-wall/

Most Poisonous Fish 

The most poisonous fish in the world is none other than the stone fish. The venom can cause unbearable pain, swelling, tissue death, shock paralysis and even death if not treated immediately. The next time if you hook a stone accidentally, it is wise to give it a second look before holding it in your hand.  
世上最毒的鱼是石。 它的毒液能引发无法忍受的痛感,红肿, 导致组织死亡,暂时瘫痪甚至死亡。 如果下次无意把一颗石头钓上来记得要再看一次, 而不要直接用双手去抓。 



Photo credit: http://thefisheriesblog.com/

Faster Fish in the World

Capable of travelling up to a top speed of 110km/h it is the fastest fish on Earth. The Indo-Pacific Sailfish have the power that can stress out your fishing gears. if you are chasing after one, it is advisable to have a bottle of fresh water next to you as they can help in cooling down your reel. 
它可以在短时间内达到110公里的速度。印度 - 太平洋的旗鱼是地球上最快的鱼。它的速度肯定能把一般的钓鱼用具试到极限。 如果有机会挑战它们记得要带上一瓶淡水在必要时把水l淋到鱼铰上能避免过热。


Photo credit: http://scubadiverlife.com/

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Most expensive lures

Ever wonder how much is the world's most expensive fish lures and how they look like? Check out these amazing masterpieces.


Comstock Flying Hellgrammite

This imtation of a dobsonfly is considered as the first wooden lure by collectors. It is worth at around $12,000. 

Photo credit: http://www.wideopenspaces.com/




Heddon Night Radiant

A top water plug produced in 1912. It was advertised as a moonlight bait. The estimated worth for this lure is around $10,000. 
  • Photo credit: http://www.wideopenspaces.com/


Krantz & Smith Chautauqua Minnow

A very rare antique fishing lure because only a very limited amount was ever made. The highest bid for a single lure was recorded at $35,000. 

Source: Wide Open Spaces
Photo credit: http://www.wideopenspaces.com/




Heddon Frog

The frog lure was made in 1897 by a honey maker, It was intended to be a gift with purchase of his honey. Today, there are 8 of these hand crafted wooden frogs around and it can be sold at $30,000 each.

Source: Wide Open Spaces
Photo credit: www.pinterest.com




1853 Giant Copper Haskell Giant Minnow

The first American fish lure made with copper and has a rotating fin. In 2003, the lure was sold at Lang’s Discovery Auction in Waterville, N.Y. for an astonishing $101,200


Source: Wide Open Spaces


Photo credit: http://www.wsj.com/



Million Dollar Lure



Photo credit: http://www.ealuxe.com/

This amazing lure or should I say jewelry was released in 2006. It is made from 31bs of gold and platinum and around 100 carats of set diamonds and rubies. You might think that this piece of luxurious art work has never been put into action but you are wrong. According to source,  it was actually used at the 26th Annual Brisbee’s Black and Blue” tournament in Baja California. 

Now do you have one of these? 

Thursday, July 30, 2015

The Desaru Ah Long Xperience






First time on board Ah Long's boat and was quite an experience. Boat is clean, new and spacious, ample space to maneuver.  


We arrived at the first spot and could see lots of surface action. 30 minutes past but managed to land only a small Bonito.

Sensing that the fish are not active, he bought us to the next spot. Somewhere to target some lazy fishes like the Groupers. And this were the results.....


Current movement was slow so we employed slow jigging technique with Madai and slow fall. Plenty of Groupers but most were not a keeper, so they were released later...

Captain Long is enthusiastic and passionate about fishing. 
To ensure that we get as much fun as possible, he kept the boat drifting and re-positioned it as soon as it misses the reef , 2 thumbs up! 


 All fishes caught on jig, a great practice session



A big bonus after hours of jigging. Hook up on a 8kg Tenggiri on Storm Koika jig 30g. 
You can find Ah long on Facebook.


Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Toxin in fish!!

http://www.mar1sportfishing.com/Barracuda.html

Right now I guess most people are well aware of the mercury in top predatory fish but not many are aware of high toxic level in these fishes. If consumed, one can experience pain in the muscles.

The threat is wide as the toxin can be found in Barracudas, Snappers, Dorados, Groupers and the list go on. You might be wondering, these fishes are by nature not poisonous nor venomous, so why are they toxic?

To elaborate further, we have to trace back all the way down the food chain. It begins with a type of algae, which exists on coral reefs in warm tropical and subtropical ocean water. This green organism is actually a carrier of a type of toxin called ciguatera and can be easily transmitted to small fishes when consumed. This will pass on predatory fish that has eaten one of these fishes and eventually to any human whom had ate the predator. 

It is advisable to avoid top notch predatory fish that are extremely ferocious and aggressive like the Barracuda, especially when they are caught off the shallow water. A study has suggested that they encompass the greatest risk of ciguatera poisoning. 

Common symptoms of ciguatera poisoning include nausea, vomiting, pain and in the hands and muscle.

 It is  advisable to quickly consult a doctor, if any of this symptom occurs after you have consumed a predatory fish,





http://news.ufl.edu/archive/2015/06/number-of-people-sickened-by-toxin-in-barracuda-and-other-tropical-reef-fish-higher-than-previously-reported.html

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

7 fun steps with a Sailfish




Had some fun with a sailfish during a recent trip to Rompin. It was an excellent and fruitful trip. With the professional assistance from the captain and crew, everyone on board had a fair share of the sail experience. With 6 people on board, we landed 5 and 1 got away before we could witness its beauty. 

Below is a short clip of the fight with a decent size sailfish in which, I have summarized it into 7 fun steps, hope you Kakis enjoy the clip!  


Monday, July 27, 2015

Simple braided line to mono knots

www. awesomefishing knots.com



You are on a offshore trip. During a fish frenzy, your line snapped. To make the situation worst, you are only confident  in your FG or PR knot ( a knot you have practiced and tested umpteen times) which supposedly is the best  leader to braided line.


However, to tie them well it will require a fair amount of time unless you are in the Pro-category. And by the time you are ready to soak the line in again, you noticed that the school is now gone and you have missed the day's only exciting period. Sounds familiar?

As a passerby in this situation, I now armed myself with an easier and faster knot as an alternative. Despite their simplicity, most of the knots are designed to withstand very strong resistant. Personally, I use an Albright knot as a backup to the FG and it has never failed me.

Below are some compilations of fast knots video with clear step by step instructions for you to find your second best. Enjoy!

1. Albright Knot





2. Yucatan Knot

3. J Knot




Do fish feel the pain??

http://www.islamoradatarpon.com/

This debate has been going around for as long as we can remember. Many anglers including myself are hoping that fish do not feel the torture when we engage them in a Tug of War. 

I recall a fishing encounter from one of my buddy anglers. He was fishing along a river in Germany when a Trout took his bait. The Trout was landed after a few minutes and was released as it is not a keeper. He tracked the movement of the fish and saw it returning to the same location. In curiosity, he cast the fly right back at the same spot. Amazingly, the fish took it again. Again, he landed and set it free and the fish swam  back to the similar hideout. Not convinced, he cast to the spot once more and the once again the same fish took it. Since then, he has been fishing guilt free. 

http://troutderby.com/

Is it really the same fish? I can only take his assurance that it was. 

Recently, there is an article that attempts to cast the myth away. Done by international researcher they have concluded that fish do not feel pain.

Personally, I feel that the article is not convincing enough as it is highly possible that fish can react to pain in a totally different way than what we expect. 

See what you think about the it, here is the link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2261424/Anglers-finally-hook-scientists-settle-age-old-debate-fish-feel-pain.html

Do drop a comment, if you have any related story or opinion. Cheers and keep fishing! 


Thursday, July 23, 2015

3 keywords for selecting a wire leader

http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/

Using wire leader is not always the best choice in fishing as they are more visible in the water and not easy to rig up hooks. Often, they are utilize only to target toothy game fish like the Tenggiri ( Narrowed barred Spanish mackerel), Barracuda, Sailfish, Marlin and Wahoo.

Today, technology has caught up with anglers' demands as there are many types of wire leaders available in the market. However, it can also get a bit confusing when choosing the right wire for your trip. Standard products are titanium, multi strand, nylon coated multi
strand and single strand stainless steel wire. 

Here are few things that you might want to look out for in a wire leader.

1.  Flexibility. A flexible wire enables easier rigging and less prone to kinking

2. Thickness. A thinner wire with stronger poundage equals to lower visibility 

3. Durability. A durable wire that can withstand the torment of predators can save precious time in changing  rig as they can be reused. This is especially crucial if the fish are in frenzy mood.  

Most hardcore anglers these days prefer titanium wire as they entail most of the above qualities. However, they come with a premium price tag compared to their counterparts. 


Sailfish caught on 20lbs multi strands stainless steel wire leader (Elephant brand) 

http://barjackfishing.com/



The trick is to know what you are ready to compromise. 

Wires like nylon coated and single strand normally kink after one fish and need to be replaced. This will not be an issue if you are willing to prepare a bunch of rig prior to the trip.

Nylon coated wire also have the tendency to trap salt particles in between the coating and the wire which will lead to corrosion. It is thus advisable to discard after used. 

If the water you are fishing is tannic then thinner low visibility wire might be redundant. Then maybe opting for a thicker bite proof wire is more practical.

Knowing the right type of connection is also crucial as wire tend to work better with certain securing method.  If you are not confident in tying an albright knot then you can skip the premium selection of titanium wire and opt for the nylon coated multi strand wire that works well with crimp. 

Hope that this article is able to solves your doubts on the basic of choosing wire leader. For more detail information, below are more websites that you can visit. Cheers! 



http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/techniques/rigs-and-tips/metal-logic

http://www.go-saltwater-fishing.com/leader-wire.html

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

The Damai fishing experience


Having a GT (Giant Trevally) on the end of a line is the to do list for many anglers. However, many do not have the chance to do so as they often require a lots of travelling especially when you are living in Singapore. 

Knowing that, many fishing pond operators in the region are now filling their enclosures with these swimming Lamborghini. One of the best place to get the kick is Damai fishing village, Johor, Malaysia. 

Mine first encounter with the GT was in fact in one of their ponds. It was filled with excitements. Rods broken, line snapped and unexpected big groupers. 

To date, I have been there several times and it  has since become a reliable testing ground for my setups. So I thought will be good to share some of the things I have noticed in their ponds. 

The Location


Google map 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damai.fishingvillage

Address: Damai Fishing Village 大马钓鱼中心, Jalan Kassim Nur, 81200 Pulai, Malaysia



Here are few tips that might be useful the next time you visit Damai GT pond. 

1. Each pond have their own criteria on setup. Make sure your setup complied with their rules. They are strict with the rod and reel size but not so much on the line poundage. 

Pond C+: Fish normally below 3kg. 
Rod: PE 1 and above 
Reel: Size 3000 and above
Line: 40lbs and above 

Pond C: Fish normally above 3kg. 
Rod: PE 2 and above 
Reel: Size 4000 and above
Line: 60lbs and above 

Grouper pond 
Rod: PE 3 and above 
Reel: Size 5000 and above
Line: 80lbs and above

 



Pond rules

2. Doing the Burley is the most effective way of luring and triggering a feeding frenzy. However, try not to do it at the beginning as they will not last the entire 3 hours session. Usually bite rates are high during the beginning and tends to quiet down, this is when the Burley should comes in.

3. If the Burley fails. Get the fish feed and change to smaller hooks size 1/0 and 20 lbs below Fluorocarbon leader. Fish feed are dry food that they used to feed the fish there. They are almost similar to dog food, dry pellets. Slowly penetrate the pellets with the hook, ensure that they are not broken. Small hooks and light leader will ensure the pellets stay afloat for a while. Get someone to do the Burley with these pellets and cast your bait into the water at the same time. 


Fish pellets http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products/1191

4. From experience, raining is the best time to fish at these ponds. Lots of takes including surface poppers. The rain seems to trigger their frenzy instinct but please beware of lighting. 




5. If you have booked a session in Pond C and had enough fun with the GTs, try casting near to the extended platform. This is the area where most Groupers are hiding. Beware of the structures as they can cut your line pretty fast. 

6. Remember to de-barb your hooks as operators tend to overlooked this when fishes are crazily feeding and you certainly do not want to hurt the fish. 


Below are some pictures and videos, a compilation of the fishing experience from recent trips. 

Have fun and enjoy yourself the next time you are there, lots of tight lines and reel screaming actions!



Pond C









Pond C+








Sunday, June 28, 2015

Top saltwater spinning reel

What do you look out for in a salt water spinning reel? We have listed down 4 main criteria for your reference. 






Durability –  Made to last. Able to withstand the might of the ocean and the power of game fish. Start with the physical. Usually material of reel will be made of graphite,aluminium or some other non-metal substance like carbon in CI4+
Line Capacity – Should be able to be loaded with line capacity that can outrun your the game fish. 
Targeting – It is an add on bonus if you have a specific target fish and the method of fishing. Certain reels have better performance in jigging that luring, so a little research can go a long way. Knowing the species can also ensure a fair and adrenaline pumping fight. A heavy reel with lots of line capacity will certainly overpower the fish, which equals to a easy win.  
Bearings – Good bearing is important for a smooth fighting experience. 











Saturday, June 27, 2015

Fishing in East Coast Tasmania, Australia


A holiday combined with fishing on the east coast.
Brought along a handy telescopic with the intention of landing some unique species. 
Just stopping and fish by the shore. Can't do a holiday without fishing the local water...



Ultra beautiful shoreline at your doorstep. Can you resist not soaking your line??

In Tasmania no fishing licence is required. It is good to visit the local tackle shop for some advice. Feel free to approach them and tell them your fishing intention and they will be more willing to share some tips and even their fishing spots. 

As recommended I was asked to gear up with a running sinker rig. Shown below was the setup I used.







The results were satisfying. 




Landed a big Stingray at Swansea. Fight lasted for 30 minutes.




Nice size Bream at Swansea. 

Leather Jacket at St Helen. St Helen is also the best offshore sport fishing destination. 


The traveled route and fishing location. 

Took a plane from Melbourne to Hobart, Tasmania. From there one can easily rent a car at the airport (Pre-booking is adviced). We drove up all the way to the north, travelling along the east coast. You can choose to return your vehicle at any of the departing airport giving you lots of flexibility for planning your itinerary and inserting some fishing into your trip. 

Free feel to drop me an email if you have some questions, will be glad to share. 

Have fun and keep fishing!!