23rd February 2004 - Inshore Fishing Expedition

[LBT]

eAfter our 6 pipes escape, we the 3 amigos are back doing what we enjoy doing most – fishing! [P.S: In front of our wife or girlfriend we will tell them we enjoy kissing and hugging them the most; however we must emphasis, that is merely a political statement to ensure that we don’t have to spend the night in the guest room] Joining us for tonight’s event are Vincent, Mike “the fishing guru”, & his Empress Dowagers – Alice.

Tonight’s event begins with “Sotong Jigging For Sotong”; extensive equipments were set up in attempt to capture some “sotong”. After numerous failed attempts, jigging for crabs became the main priority for Adrian and Mike, but they produced nothing. Looking at the situation, as the president of the Kosong Club, I begin to contemplate the high possibility of recruiting more members into my scarcely populated Kosong Club.

When the coast is clear for us to enter the prohibited zone, our contingent moved into the premises as if we are heading for a Mardi Gras Parade. For a start, this new location produced plentiful Tamban & Assam fishes, however, the grand finale came when Vincent’s rod suddenly bended and stretches near to it’s breaking limit. Everyone scumble into his position in attempt to assist Vincent to land that monster hanging on the other end of the line. [Honestly speaking, I haven’t seen such team work effort ever since during my army days when my sergeants told us: “Chow &%#$#&! No Teamwork! No Book Out!”]

Everyone was in his position, Adrian became the standby fighter, in case Vincent need someone to take over to fight his catch. Mike & myself climbed over the ledge waiting to provide aerial illumination [shining the torchlight into the water] and logistic [pulling the catch out of water] support. While Edy assume the position of back end communication support.

Vincent crank hard in attempt to gain line, as his rod stretches to its breaking limit. As Vincent continues to gain line, he start to mumble to himself maybe it’s a big stingray, while the rest of us boosted his confidence and moral further by assuring him that whatever that is, its going to be big. After a good 5 minutes straggle, fatigue began to take toll on Vincent’s arms. As soon as, Adrian took over the task, he immediately embarks on short pumping action to try to gain as much line as possible. After a much needed rest for his fatigue arms, Vincent starts to have doubts on his hook up. To clear his doubts, he asked Edy if his line had entangled to his, as Edy was fishing not too far away from him.

Edy reassured us in a loud and confidence tone; “No lah! My line is here, sinkers here!” Upon obtaining assurance, Adrian was even more determine to drag whatever that was out of the water. His effort was finally paid off when Vincent’s leader line began to surface. All of us held our breathe and anticipated. Never in our wildest imagination would we expected, Vincent caught Edy’s sinker [no more no less, it comes in a pair, a size 12 & a size 18, commonly known as Godzilla’s balls]

Before we conclude the night’s event, we ventured to another prohibited location but still failed to produce anything significant. If Tamban & Assam were not fishes, I would have recruited four new members to my Kosong Club.

As the designated Food & Beverage Manager, supper is a definite must for any fishing expedition. Tonight’s supper venue - Roadside Alfresco Dinning [Shenton Way kopitiam makan fried rice and noodle].