Tanjung Pinang - 30 March to 1 April

[jason]

Fishing location: Tanjong Pinang in Riau Island, Indonesia
Captain: Ah kiang
Date: 30 march – 1 April, 2007
Anglers: Edy, Jason, Vincent, Kevin, Adrian, Ah guang (changi pro), Yong, Shuwen



As usual, trip start with 8 anglers meeting up at Tanah Merah on Friday morning. Took the first wavemaster ferry to Tanjung Pinang. Upon reach Tanjung Pinang, we proceed to have seafood lunch at Kelong Shangri-La restaurant. Wonderful meal with Gong-gong, mantis prawn, kampong chicken, sontong and fish (fried/ soup).

When we reach Kijang, we met a group of 30 anglers who have just return from their 4d3n trip from Pengibu. If I am not wrong, all their 30 ice boxes are filled with fishes. With this result from the previous group, we have high expectation of our trip.

First disappointment of our trip appeared when the captain told us that the weather at Pulau Lingga was unfavorable so he suggest to fish around mapur for our 3d2n trip. After the boat is filled with diesel and water, we proceed with our 2hours journey. Our first spot produce nothing significant, just a few small fishes.

When the sky turned dark, Ah Kiang took us to our 2nd spot. When we reach there, we met Boat 3 (another of Ah Kiang boat) and they are landing fishes already. Within 30mins, there is a shout of net from the front and a cobia of 3kg was brought up by the deckie. As u know, cobia hunt in pairs, so Jason brought up another cobia of similar size up. After a while, my rod took a dip and a 3kg catfish was brought up. Another similar size catfish was brought up by another angler. Around this time, ah guang caught a 2kg kaci, Vincent and yong caught a cobia each. A 4kg barracuda was also brought up. From this short frenzy, we caught several species of lower grade fishes.

As the bite slow down, our chatting session started. In the mist of our conversion, Kevin saw a slight dip on Jason’s calster 600M. He strike and pass the rod over to Jason to fight. A 5kg red snapper was brought up and this brought a smile onto Jason’s face and our expectation went up. After a while, another 7kg cobia was brought up by Vincent. While fighting this cobia, its mate was swimming beside it and we almost scoop it up using the net. More barracuda was brought up, after which the current pickup and the bite rate fell so we requested the boatman to change spot. One by one, the anglers retired to the cabin to sleep. Nothing much caught after midnight. Constant hookup can be seen on the other boat. Understand from that group that they landed 8 red snapper, 3 golden snapper, 8kg grouper and other fishes on the same spot.

It was also on the first night that I experience 2 anglers using Electric reels. These reel sound like F1 racing car when the engine reeled in the line. Fishing look effortless with this wonderful daiwa reels. This started my interest in electric reels. Only disadvantage is the small battery pack that has to be connected to the reel; imagine a big fish taking u for a spin around the boat and u have to carry the battery together with u.

The next morning, a few groupers were caught before we started our trolling session. Edy and Yong started with rapala and I used a skirt. Within 15mins, Edy’s Ishidai Z40 ratchet scream and he started reeling in his line with lots of excitement. He felt disappointed when his line became loose and claimed that he had lost the fish. Ah kiang took over and pulled in edy’s line and told us that the fish is still around and it is swimming inwards. With lighting speed, Edy reeled in his line and the tenggiri just follow in without any resistant. We resume trolling and Yong’s rod was the next to register another bite from another tenggiri. This fight was shorted-lived and tenggiri gained its freedom. As I was using a surface moving skirt, I never though that I will catch a tenggiri but surprising, line peeled off from my reel and was tenggiri was brought up. Other anglers mentioned that they saw a tenggiri flew up, trying to grab edy’s lure but it missed. Shortly, our trolling session ended. Understand that the neighbouring boat caught 6 tenggiri trolling around the same location.

Usual small fishes (angoli, grouper, snapper, kaci, and barracuda) were landed during daytime while drifting. Angoli was kept alive in the live-bait well for night fishing.

When night falls, Ah kiang brought us to a golden snapper spot. The current flow was slow and starting to pick up. True enough, with live squid, ah guang was the first to bring up a 2.5kg golden snapper. A short frenzy started, with me landing a kaci and a 2kg angcho, follow by Vincent, with a 2kg golden snapper. Champion of the night, Edy used a piece of big smelly sotong and brought up a 3kg + Red grouper. Ah guang caught another golden snapper, then barracuda started arriving and many were landed using live angoli as bait.

After mid-night, I retired into the bunk but Vincent, Jason, Kevin and ah Guang continued. These 4 guys cracked joke through out to keep themselves awake. Highlight was Vincent’s fight with a 10kg+ stingray using electric reel and Ah Guang’s 20kg shovel-nose also using electric reel. Other fishes caught include golden snapper, kaci, trevally, barracuda…..

Trip ended with us having Jason’s red snapper for our lunch, cooked in Assam padas. Edy also brought the whole group to feast on mee Soto, gado gado and avocado drink. Wonderful trip with great company and many jokes. Catch-wise, it was just average.

Thanks everyone for the trip, I enjoy myself.

Edy/ Vincent/ Jason, please attached the photos if u see this report. Please correct me if my memory serve me wrong and add in more information if I missed out anything.

Cheers

Pics are finally in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Cheers
Jason

[jason]

Wonderful Report Adrian!!!!!!
Really nice to fish with u too......

Cheers
jason

[edylie]

Wonderful Report Adrian

Fishing was not as good but we had fun and ate too much *hehe*

Hope we can fish together again!

Best Regards,
Edy

PS. Unfortunately I do not have any camera with me. So we will have to wait for Vincent or AhGuang for pictures.

[DaFrogman]

Adrian,

Great report of a great trip. Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun.

Saimee

[pemburu ikan]

Hi Adrian,
Am glad you had fun.
Good Catch Report.......Man.

Rgds.
R.

[iam537]

Damn!! Me is drooling liao!! BTW Edy, how is the performance of the Ishidai Z40?

[edylie]

Hi Les,

The Ishidai Z40 is a good reel. I use it for jigging, bottom and trolling
I have loaded this reel with 65# power pro braided line.

So far i have no complain about it!

Cheers,
Edy

[tmlim]

Great and interesting Catch Report.
Btw does Ah Khiang provide the battery for the electric reel on board? I am contemplating whether to bring an electric reel to Pengibu with him in early May. After reading the Catch Report, it may be a good idea to make a sling for a motorbike battery, just in case one needs to fight the fish around the boat with the reel.

[edylie]

Hi Prof Lim,

Ahkiang does not provide battery for electric reel. So we had a joke about bringing a portable battery pack which the angler can mount it on their back in case they need to fight the fish from back to front!

Cheers,
Edy

[iam537]

Originally Posted by edylie

Hi Les,

The Ishidai Z40 is a good reel. I use it for jigging, bottom and trolling
I have loaded this reel with 65# power pro braided line.

So far i have no complain about it!

Cheers,
Edy

Thanks Edy, Got one last month and dying to try it out

[tmlim]

Originally Posted by edylie

Ahkiang does not provide battery for electric reel. So we had a joke about bringing a portable battery pack which the angler can mount it on their back in case they need to fight the fish from back to front!

Edy, paiseh there are many pros around here. Thanks for the info and your idea of mounting the battery on the back is better than mine - slinging across the shoulder.

[mack]

DFM, tmlim, pemburu ikan - thanks for the compliment.

tmlim - i am new to electric reel and keen to get one to try out. Any brand/ model to recommend? The 2 Electric reel used in the trip is from daiwa (seafrog), size 500. For normal application like bring sinker up from deep water or fighting fishes below 10kg, it is sufficient. But when the 2 anglers caught the 10kg stingray and 20kg shovelnose, the motor cannot take it and they switch to manual reeling. They mentioned that size 750 will be more suitable for heavy fishing.

Edy/ jason - i am thinking of booking local boats to sultan shore for night fishing on 13 april and 5th may (osman), let me know if u are keen to join.


Happy Fishing
adrian

[johnhoo]

hi ! adrian
very nice long report & any pic.....?
rgd,
John Hoo

[tmlim]

Hi Adrian,

The 20kg shovelnose ray is indeed a dirty fighter, it left me with a broken gaff and aching elbow, for the whole night some years back.

As far as electrical reel is concerned, I am still a novice too. At the moment I’m having a Daiwa’s SEABORG 750 Mega Twin which has not wet its line yet. From my knowledge in electrical motor, the maximum starting torque of the motor is related to its Instantaneous maximum lifting force rating. This rating is attributed to both the electrical and mechanical structural details of the motor employed; guess this is how Daiwa distinguishes their electrical reels under such rating. However, the duration of the Instantaneous maximum lifting force should not last more than a second, otherwise the surge in armature current can destroy the motor due to severe coil heating.

Although other specifications for the reel are just as important, but I will use the Instantaneous maximum lifting force rating as a yardstick for comparison with other popular brands such as Miya Epoch, Shimano etc. The attached specifications compiled by me, indicated that the MT750 has 50% more Instantaneous maximum lifting force than the MT500.

This could be the reason why your friend suggested a 750 series to be more appropriate for his application; after failing to overcome the shovelnose electrically.

Cheers
tmlim

[Makaira]

Not a bad trip considering you guys did not get to the intended fishing spot. Adrian, you back here on vacation?

[mack]

Originally Posted by Makaira

Not a bad trip considering you guys did not get to the intended fishing spot. Adrian, you back here on vacation?

Hi KK,

Project finish so working in s'pore for now. No chance to work oversea till year-end. By the way, if got chance, can join u or ragman for a trip out? can be reach at 9665 3409.

cheers
adrian

[Makaira]

Originally Posted by mack

Hi KK,

Project finish so working in s'pore for now. No chance to work oversea till year-end. By the way, if got chance, can join u or ragman for a trip out? can be reach at 9665 3409.

cheers
adrian

You'll have to ask Ragman. He's the boat owner & I am merely a guest on his floating castle dude.

[stickbom!]

Hey Richard what kind of rods do you guys use with the electric reels?

[DaFrogman]

Originally Posted by Makaira

... I am merely a guest on his floating castle dude.

... .... More like a floating Accurate arsenal ..... When you fish with him it becomes an Accurate & Calstar warehouse ...

S.

[edylie]

Hi Adrian,

I can't make it on the 13th of April and 5th of May i have another trip to TG PINANG

Tightlines,
Edy

[Makaira]

Originally Posted by DaFrogman

... .... More like a floating Accurate arsenal ..... When you fish with him it becomes an Accurate & Calstar warehouse ...

Dude ...... he ain't no slouch either!!! The only thing I beat him on the Accurate front is perhaps the 2 speed game reels He's got a whole load of Calstars as well.

[edylie]

Good pictures Jason!

Thanks,
Edy

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by edylie

Good pictures Jason!

Thanks,
Edy

Nice pics and some nice fish there guys...Edy, from the way you described the catch it seemed to me like the trip was a total disaster