Saltwater Luring at Sembawang With Lawrence

Lawrence invited me on this trip and I couldn't say no. We headed out in his portabote and it was my first time doing "offshore" luring. Below are the writeups from his report.

Rub-a-dub-dub
Three men in a tub...

Went fishing with 2 new friends this trip, and we had an overpowering scent following us all around. One called it aromatherapy, I think it smelled like cheap perfume used at an inappropriate time. Pheeew what an odorous pong!

Sai Seng (Hexanematichthys sagor)

Location: Woodlands.
Caught using Saruna 110F (Chartreuse back-pearl white). The catfish took this lure while it was twitched on a moderate retrieve very close to the shore, with a freshwater source splashing into the sea nearby. (With strong current and warm water conditions, I normally increase my retrieval speed as fish are more active).

Catch details:
Taken 2 hours after high tide on a spring tide. 02:45hrs, 7 June '08. Three days after new moon. Weather was warm, with a breeze blowing from land out to sea. Water was very warm and current was smooth flowing. Despite the runoff from the aromatherapy fire, baitfish was being attacked with abandon at this spot.


Giant Herring (Elops machnata)

A rare herring that took lures in the dark.

Location: Woodlands.
This juvenile was caught while drifting inshore. Fish were spooked when we came closer and a few herrings darted out. Fish was taken using a Berkley Storm Rubber Shad(White creamy black stripes). A couple of casts parallel towards the overhanging mangroves was enough to tempt it. Retrieval was erratic with pauses in between. Take was a nibble and a burst of speed in the opposite direction. I applied pressure and the fish gave in. It made a few headshakes and was forced to swim towards me. It was quickly landed and made no jumps when in water.

Catch details:
Taken 3 hrs after high tide on a spring tide. 03:04hrs, 7 June '08 Three days after new moon. Weather was warm, with a breeze blowing from land out to sea. Water was very warm and current was smooth flowing.

Epinephelus malabaricus (malabar grouper)

Location: Woodlands.
Caught using Berkley Storm Rubber Shad(black grey dark green with red belly) while drift fishing. We got nearer to the rocks and snag areas courtesy of a sangoat that pulled us nearer. Everyone was casting furiously parallel to the shoreline. On the first cast, i noticed this very rocky big stump and many surrounding smaller rocks. As water was just a feet or two, i could notice the rocks and casted out again. Water was flowing against me. On the second cast using dead slow retrieval, a cautious take was followed by a quick strike by me. It made a brief quick run which made everyone think it was a kim but eventually with some thumbing and forcing, guided the fish into safer waters. Strangely, now it didnt fight like kim. No jumps, no blazing runs but only short bursts. Fish was hooked on the upper lip with the bottom tiny owner trebles.

Catch details:
Taken 2 hours before low tide on a spring tide. 05:25hrs, 7 June '08 Three days after new moon. Weather was warm, with a breeze blowing from land out to sea. Water was very warm and current was fast flowing. There was a freshwater source splashing within earshot.

Alectis indicus (Threadfin Trevally)

Location: Sea mound off King George VI Dock.
Caught using Ima Ganpeki-look-alike Angler's Pal "Deflector" Jig (Chartreuse back-red belly). After numerous loss of Giant Herrings, (I know, my fault. I refused to change or remove the cheap treble that had opened, instead, I bend it back only to have it open at the next hit, sometimes all 3 prongs had opened! But at least, I need not perform the potentially risky act of unhooking an angry giant herring at the small bote), I decided to dispense with the treble completely, and deep jig for snappers. Immediately when the jig hit bottom, I felt the gentle tug, typical of a snapper. I lifted jig a foot up and off it went. The pulls were very strong for a snapper of that area, and without the typical head shakes of an old Ang Cho, I was left guessing until I see pearlescent colour. Hurray, Carangidae!

Catch details:
Taken 1 hour after low tide on a spring tide. 08:28hrs, 7 June '08 Three days after new moon. Weather was warm, but storm clouds were rolling in from the eastern sky. Water was very warm and current was smooth flowing, but polluted with the toxic runoff from the fire at the aromatherapy factory