Bluewater Fishing Expedition
Jigging Popping Trolling Deep Sea Fishing Big Game Fishing Charters Saltwater Fishing Guides
Grandish Finale II
This is a discussion on Grandish Finale II within the Brunei forums, part of the Asia category; Yup, the weather is definitely weird.... The last week or so has seen torrential downpours especially in the evening, sometimes ...
| |||||||
| Register | FAQ | Members List | Calendar | Mark Forums Read |
28-11-2005, 10:43 AM
| #1 |
| Moderator  Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brunei
Posts: 759
My Mood:  Rep Power: 4   | Grandish Finale II Yup, the weather is definitely weird.... The last week or so has seen torrential downpours especially in the evening, sometimes accompanied by really strong winds for a brief period... your classic squall conditions. This in itself is no surprise given that its almost December and I should have all my reels in pieces on my worktable with CX and Cals Grease on hand..... BUT Waddya know, the conditions for the weekend got better and better to the point that we refueled the boat and headed out Saturday afternoon in conditions that whilst not that comfortable, were still at least tolerable.... Swells were at the 3-5ft mark and as we launched the boat, the wind was around 30kmh, enough to start flecking the sea with whitecaps as we powered out of the launch area.... After about an hour and 20mins, and a bouncy ride, we reached the first of the planned spots (a wreck) and lo and behold it looked pretty good. Taking a guess at the current, we anchored up, but whilst the boat swung over the general area of the wreck, it wasn't over the spot on the wreck that we wanted, so after letting the boat settle properly so we could determine an accurate bearing of drift, we clipped the buoy on the anchor line, hauled the anchor back in and repositioned ourselves. This time we were spot on, with the GPS reading 0.00km from the spot and not very much current at the bottom. One of our senior kakis had brought along his brother with us for the first time and unfortunately he was not yet "acclimatised" to the sea, that coupled with the swell led him to turn pale    quite quickly ... poor chap. But nevertheless, hoping to take his mind off his rolling stomach, I rigged up the rig he was using with one of my XL Ranggongs and an 80lb P-Line leader and twin Gamakatsu 5/0 Octopus neatly hooked into a 10inch long Tonggkol strip bait. Clipped on the weight, sent the rig down, 4 cranks from the bottom and put it in the rod holder for him.I then set about rigging up my own gear and 2 minutes later sent a similar rig down to the bottom same thing 4 cranks from the bottom. The rest of the crew had by the rigged up too so a total of 7 rigs were down. Glancing over at my seasick kakis rig, i watched the rod tip do the MJ tango   and after giving a warning shout, my own rig which I was holding, gave off a few twitches.... So whilst the other chap cranked up his fish in the holder, I dropped my rod tip and took 3 quick cranks and came up tight..... It felt like an MJ, not too big and yup both of us boated a brace of nice MJs in the 3kg size... But Mr Seasick then called it a day and just sat out the rest of the trip.I rebaited, sent down my rig again, same depth, same bait.... After reaching for my ciggies and lighting one up, I felt the faintest of twitches, just to check I dropped the tip and cranked again and wohoooo came up tight again... This fish fought a lot harder and I reckoned a 4-5 kg MJ was in the reckoning, a few minutes later, yup it was another MJ and it was in the 4kg range, but the second of my twin hooks had caught him just under his outer gill cover, dang those Gamakatsus are sharp.... It also leads me to a personal little theory about fish inspecting your bait before they hit it, especially in low current conditions.. Mr MJ must have been sniffing around my bait and maybe even mouthed it a little or bumped my leader when he was doing that to convey that oh so faint twitch, then when I dropped my rod tip, the bait would have fluttered down slightly and he would have charged in to get nailed as I cranked back up.... well its just a theory. Anyway feeling pretty happy at this time, 2 MJs in less than 10 minutes is pretty good, I rebaited yet again and sent down my rig, all the while being serenaded by the usual comments of the crew about them ending up just watching "videos"..... The next customer came turned up in less than 3 minutes, this time no more twitch, just a violent tug, so I cranked and then lifted to what felt like another MJ but turned out to be a 4kg version of one of the species of red snapper that we have here...very nice. After this, took a break to let the others have a go, and to get some munchies... the next few hours saw a few more MJs boated along with assorted snapper. We also cleaned, gutted and cut up one of the fish to be cooked using our little stove and had it as soup with our Nasi Beriyani dinner... you just can't beat a wild fish cooked five minutes after its been caught... deeeeeliiiiiicious... Throughout the rest of the night, we had a nice 2 hour thunderstorm, the boat shifted with the changing wind, everyone of snagged up as the boat shifted over the wreck. Then I got nailed by something that just would not stop..... I have some idea about what it might be, but whatever it was it was BIG and MEAN, the strike was very violent, and I went straight to full drag on my SST-12 which is 34 pounds (I am running a modified 4/0 drag cam), but after gaining 5 cranks on him, he just powered straight down, full drag, burnt thumbs and me being treated to the "interesting" sight of my new T6455XH bent past the stripper guide.... took him 3 seconds to bury me in the wreck.... YEAH now THATS what I'm talking about when I build XH all roller standup rods for bottom bashing... Yikes, this Catch Report is tool long already, to cut a long story short this trip was actually a shortened one since one of my kakis and I both had to be back home by 10am... so early the next morning at around 6 am we motored a bt further offshore to try for more big snapper and kerisi bali using Apollo rigs and we caught some decent versions of both about ten or eleven all together.... by then the commercial coldbox was full... sorry there aren't that many pics, we got back a little late and I was on the run.... Regards, DFM |
|      |
|
28-11-2005, 10:58 AM
| #2 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore
Posts: 739
Rep Power: 5 | Saimee ............. you very cruel lar!!!! What a fantastic mouth watering haul of prime bottom species!!!!! |
|
| |
|
28-11-2005, 11:11 AM
| #3 |
| Administrator  Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,000,055
My Mood:  Rep Power: 10 | Good Catches DF! Last weekend went to Kelong and all we go was Selar and few squids. Cheers, Edy |
| |
|
28-11-2005, 01:03 PM
| #4 |
| Moderator  Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pasir Ris
Posts: 712
Rep Power: 4 | Nice one DFM. So do i need to use full rolllers when i'm up there next year.  ...have to spend $$$ again.Cheers! physlo |
|
| |
|
28-11-2005, 02:02 PM
| #5 |
| Super Moderator  Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Eastern Sider
Posts: 2,028
My Mood:  Rep Power: 7 | Think you better buy a winch bro... 34lbs of drag and DFM got busted off   Might have been a big (and probably lost) YellowFin Tuna  |
|
| |
|
28-11-2005, 02:41 PM
| #6 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore
Posts: 739
Rep Power: 5 | Re: Grandish Finale II Quote:
| |
|
| |
|
29-11-2005, 10:00 AM
| #7 |
| Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brunei
Posts: 759
My Mood: Rep Power: 4 | Mak, Edros, Mikey.... Yeah, Mak is on the money as usual with the guessing.... my 1st candidate would have been an XXXL grouper in the 80lb and above class. My bait was a bit too high off the bottom for Mr Prata.... but the boys also told me that they have caught MJs over 15kgs in their fish traps in that area, so it could actually have been the mama of all MJs.... the violence of the strike was also not characteristically grouper. As for the rollers.... wellll, its a personal preference dude, just that although I love Sic guides (and will probably build that EX-CTS55XH with Sic guides), and aside from the advantages I mentioned before, I reckon that over the long run with extreme drag pressures, the rollers will reduce wear on my braid and I do need to reduce it 'cos god knows those damned fish keep reducing the diameter of line on my spool everytime they take the whole rig into the wreck...  This year has seen the highest loss rate for ranggongs (over 20) and sinkers (lost count), so its a good thing my crew and I stocked up on 200kg of lead and I think I have about 20m of SS ranggong wire in my store..... I think I will also have to break out the Braid Standup Harness again... But probably not till next year. Looks like fishing for me is over for the year and I am going to do the bg gear service over the next couple of weekends. I might even try to do a sort of gear service post with pics and convert it to pdf format if I feel really bored...Regards, Saimee |
|
| |
|
29-11-2005, 05:30 PM
| #8 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore
Posts: 739
Rep Power: 5 | Quote:
>15kg MJ!!!!!! Man ......... wouldn't that be a an experience not to be soon forgotten to catch one of those on rod & line!!!!!Best regards, Makaira | |
|
| |
|
29-11-2005, 07:46 PM
| #9 |
| Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Eastern Sider
Posts: 2,028
My Mood: Rep Power: 7 | Man... all this talk about bottom bashing really make me wish those damn Seeker blanks arrive sooner  Think I'm going to beg steal borrow an overhead rod and go prata hunting soon. |
|
| |
|
29-11-2005, 08:57 PM
| #10 |
| Moderator  Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore
Posts: 718
My Mood:  Rep Power: 5 | Yo Mikey U can use my 760M and go bash for the pratas U want...... Juz remember to reserved a big slice of prata for me if U got one.... Cheers Jason
__________________   |
|
| |
|
29-11-2005, 09:12 PM
| #11 |
| Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brunei
Posts: 759
My Mood: Rep Power: 4 | Yeah Mak, A 15kg MJ would have been good and a solid PB for me, I think the biggest my boys have caught on handline was around 13kg...... The bigs one are around one of my crews about a month ago caught two whole coldboxes of MJs, the smallest went something like 7kg..... biggest over 10kgs..... I missed out on those trips  , was too busy fixing up the boat .Mikey, That T6455XH was really good actually, it reached the limit of what I could pull very progressively and I didn't feel like I was going to be yanked overboard suddenly even with the shock of the strike and run. One of the reasons I am getting the Seekers is because their composites are supposed to have a more "Glass" feel, without the glass weight, but of course I won't know till they're wrapped and on a fish.... Can't wait for next year. Jason's GF760M is a nice rod too, I basically convinced (forced) a friend of mine to stop buying expensive Japanese jigging rods for bottom bashing (especially after breaking 2 in a row) and got him to get a 760M wrapped.... he hasn't looked back since..... and he's just asked Ben to make another one... He uses all Sic guides.... Hmmmmm..... Mak do you have any of the new Seeker Extremes in your quite considerable arsenal?. Saimee |
|
| |
|
29-11-2005, 09:33 PM
| #12 |
| Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Eastern Sider
Posts: 2,028
My Mood: Rep Power: 7 | Yo Saimee, Makaira is a die hard Calstar fan... so you can guess how many Seekers he has :P Jason, thanks for the offer man... really touched but a bit afraid to use other ppl's customs sticks... will wait for my Seeker Extreme Blue S Glass prata special |
|
| |
|
29-11-2005, 09:40 PM
| #13 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore
Posts: 739
Rep Power: 5 | Quote:
I don't have heavy duty Seekers in my arsenal; only the earlier composite/hybrids -- the CJB series. Great rods. IMHO, I find Seeker blanks are best fished to the lower end of their rating as opposed to Calstars which I would be very comfortable fishing 50# line & the requisite drag setting for their 30-80's. They also seem to go "softer" relatively faster than Calstars. Opinions differ of course  One thing I can say about Seeker though, their finishing is better than Calstar. At least that is true for the blanks we get here in Singapore. Best regards, Makaira | |
|
| |
|
29-11-2005, 11:21 PM
| #14 |
| Moderator  Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: JB, Malaysia
Posts: 180
Rep Power: 4 | DFM, Nice catches ya and "HAPPY" to know that 34lb drag can't stop that bugger. Why, it means there got something "HUGE" down there Yes, sometime we don't know what bugger will bite on our bait. Maybe you need to get one Avet T-RX, 100lb drag for "them". Tell you guys that last weekend I caught "2" tilapia only on a commercial paid pond... |
|
| |
|
29-11-2005, 11:24 PM
| #15 |
| Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore
Posts: 718
My Mood: Rep Power: 5 | Yo Tan Fishing is like this loh......Some times have ,Some times don..... At least U get to fish while I am still struck with tons of work and down with flu ..... CHeers Jason
__________________ |
|
| |
|
30-11-2005, 01:12 AM
| #16 | |
| Administrator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,000,055
My Mood: Rep Power: 10 | Quote:
Dont work already ... come to BBQ this Sunday!!!! -e | |
|
| |
|
30-11-2005, 06:36 AM
| #17 | |
| Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Eastern Sider
Posts: 2,028
My Mood: Rep Power: 7 | Quote:
lately my friends have been eating so many duck eggs here their chlorestrol level also shoot up... and your "Jiu Hoo" pond price is in $Ringgit$ mind you Consider yourself lucky.  | |
|
| |
|
30-11-2005, 02:38 PM
| #18 |
| Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Batam Island
Posts: 10
My Mood: Rep Power: 0 | Salam Saimee, Still produce the stuff and always make me drool whenever I read your report. The only place I think can have the same catch will be somewhere near NATUNA. .... that again will be too far. Anyway, I still have to explore the water here and if I finally be able to produce the equivelent you'll be invited. Take care. Cheers. Regards, az ____________________________________ Live life as it is............................. Adapt to the situation and not against it........ |
|
| |
|
30-11-2005, 03:05 PM
| #19 |
| Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brunei
Posts: 759
My Mood: Rep Power: 4 | Azman, Thank you for the offer, you know what to do if you are in my area. Saimee. |
|
| |
|
30-11-2005, 03:10 PM
| #20 | |
| Member  Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redhill, Singapore
Posts: 27
Rep Power: 0  | Quote:
   Saimee can I tag along with azman to visit u? Cheers Terence | |
|
| |
|
01-12-2005, 11:26 AM
| #21 |
| Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brunei
Posts: 759
My Mood: Rep Power: 4 | Terence, As long as you guys don't mind being pounded in the boat running 40mph in 3-4ft seas, frozen  in said 40mph windchill factor, being drenched in the rain  , fried in the sun  , no  facilities... no worries dude... No turning back, no complaints..... Hardcore all the way dude....Regards, Saimee |
|
| |
|
01-12-2005, 01:10 PM
| #22 | |
| Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redhill, Singapore
Posts: 27
Rep Power: 0 | Quote:
I have been in the above situation ever, and though it is tough to bear through, but for the sake of mighty fishing joy, I guess everything is worth it. Now waiting for Azman call... Bro Azman, where r u???? Cheers Terence | |
|
| |
|
01-12-2005, 01:23 PM
| #23 |
| Administrator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,000,055
My Mood: Rep Power: 10 | If you guys need a mobile coffee/tea boy from please let me know I make good coffee/tea especially on fishing boat. -e |
|
| |
|
01-12-2005, 02:55 PM
| #24 | <