Fishing: A Ray of Hope

Fishing : A Ray of Hope

Fishing has always been a stress releaser for those angler. It is not about the fish but it about the fighting quality. My friend was the happiess man after win fighting the spotted ray. The trip was in July 2010. Hopefully in 2011, the fishing trip will be more fruitful.

What a relieve, we through he is going to faint.

Fishing in April

Opening seasons for our team started a bit late than usual. This year we started our fishing trip in April. The boat we used is the 'Blue Lagoon'. This is the first time I used this boat which i grade in term of facilities and the location of the fishing is B+. We disembak from the jetty at Muara Tebas at 1.30 pm after everyone have gathered.

During the journey, i have tie a few more fishing hook using special leader as this time our targetted fish is the spanish markarel or tenggiri as the local call it.

The happy anglers with their catch. 3 boxes full of fishes.

The fishes that we caught during the fishing trip.

The freshness of the fish are indicated through the eyes of the fish.

One of the most expensive catch is the Garupa. The cost of the fish is Rm 50.00 per kilo but it can get more than RM 500.00 per kilo in Hong Kong.

The Garupa fish caught that morning was stim for dinner. FRESH and nice.

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: View from the air

It was a long awaited vacation. I was tired out after continuously travelling and conducting the Localised Nature Guide course. The course was a certification course by Ministry of Tourism for the public who wants to be license as Nature Tourist guide.

As we board the aeroplane and leaving Kuching. I was happy to go on a vacation. A much needed rest. As the plane approach Kota Kinabalu International Airport, we were welcome by the wonderful sight of green and the welcoming blue sea.

A view of development of KK from the air. We love KK and hope to have a property in Sabah for vacation.

The Yayasan Sabah building; the round metalic building.

A welcoming blue sea. One of our vacation site will be at Sapi and Manukan Island, we are going snorkeling and enjoying the beautiful beach and sea. Wish that i can go fishing in Sabah. Hopefully, some Sabahan will invite me to go fishing.

I love nature and Sabah have one of the best place that satisfied my adventure needs... from oceon to the mountain. But this trip, we were unable to go up Mount Kinabalu. Next trip will be Mount Kinabalu and the surrounding. The last time i went up mount Kinabalu was more than 10 years ago. The view, sight, smell and sweat still fresh in my mind.

Rambungan: A small village by the sea

Rambungan situated about 1 hour from Kuching City which go through Matang Wildlife Center.
It have a potential as a tourism destination especially it is situated by the sea side and a nice scenery over looking the river mouth. The jetty is about 300 meter into the river mouth and it is a spot for fishing.

I took this picture on the way to Rambungan just to show how the condition of the haze caused by open burning.


A view of the mangrove where it is the nursery for marine life. Without this beautiful mangrove forest we will not have fish, prawn or crab.


The 300 meter long jetty into the river mouth. The sea water is crystal clear. Some anglers casting their line. What do they catch? Travelly, snapper, 'Kembung', stingray and more.


The mangrove forest.


The Rambungan ferry, ferrying cars and lorries across the Rambungan river.

Took this picture by the ferry point. The kid is having a good time fishing.

FISHING AT SEA 1/2009

First Fishing Trip of 2009

It the much awaited fishing trip since last year. I guess most anglers if too long did not go out fishing will miss the action of fighting a fish at the end of the fishing line. So 10 of us when out using the very comfortable boat with kitchen, toilet and bunk bed with air conditioning...heaven. We depart from Muara Tebas, Kuching, Sarawak to about 3 hours out to the sea.

The boat that we used to go out fishing as in the picture below . The first spot we went is about 10 meter deep and then we move to a deeper water about 20 meter. We have try a couple of fishing spots. The last spot are 40 meter deep.


Fishing is also about having a good time with friends, see how happy this few friends of us. The fishing rod line up on the side of the boat.


I always love this time of the day...sunset. Magic hour, for those photographer and videographer. It also magic hour for the anglers as this is the time most fishes will take your bait.

A friend of our, fighting a fish. We basically fishing throughout the night till morning.


Kip's caught a red snapper. I guess it about 3 - 4 kg. He used bottom fishing using fresh squid which he caught. Unlucky for us because we did not catch any squid thus no big red snapper for us.
David's got another snapper.
Another...fish by David... local malay call it ikan parang or ikan timah.
Chow Ming's caught a snapper. Bigger fish i guess. Still lots of fish caught during the night fishing maybe next article will publish it here.Morning came.. still stand at guard for any fish that are willing to take a bite.

At last, a garupa took the bait... this time it Bob's whose line was taken by the garupa. Bob is not the guy below with red shirt holding the fish.

That Bob below with his son. He is training his son to be the next generation of angler. According to him, when he get too old, his son will be able to provide him with fresh fish.
A beautiful sunrise at 6.25 am... serene, beautiful and peaceful. I love this time of day. Quiet and give us the opportunity to reflect and thanks the Almighty of giving us all this.

BBQ Ikan Keli (Cat fish) at Padawan stream

Picnic with a wonderful lunch, beer and good friends

A much needed weekend rest was spend going for picnic with friends at Benuk stream. We start our journey after a hearty breakfast going to a friend house. To my surprise, my friend have a fish farm, mainly rearing cat fish or keli in the local language using the canvas system. how wonderful it is generating money using minimum space by rearing ikan keli using this system.

We tour the farm and to my surprise they also conduct training for those interested and give a very professional and good advice on cat fish rearing. After looking at their ikan keli, I pursuade my friend to contribute some of his cat fishs for BBQ and cook it using the traditional style of bamboo cooking or 'pansuh'.

Here some of the Ikan keli in the canvas pond. It seem that when i was at the farm, a few people came and purchase the ikan keli for their meals or for rearing.


The ikan keli fry about 1 inch long for sale to the public. They do conduct course on ikan keli breeding method for those who are interested.


The canvas system of rearing the ikan keli.

After the tour, all of us when to the crystal clear river stream for BBQ and their kids was having a wonderful time. Seem like ages my friend's kid playing/swimming in the river or catching river snail. Kids... all about fun.


My friend's daughter start to swim before we even ready the tent for the picnic.
BBQ ikan keli, lamp chop and pansuh ikan keli with 'tempoyak' (traditional preserve durian) for lunch. Yummmy... i guess my stomach was bigger after lunch.


BBQ ikan keli...only bone left after lunch. The ikan keli are sweet and tender after BBQ.


Friends having a good time, fishing for river fish. Unfortunately caught none.


Having a good swim at the river. We will venture up river just to experience the wonderful stream in the near future. Just wait for it.

Artificial Lure for Fishing

The time is now, the days are clear and sunny. Fishing will be on our monthly agenda.

The time has comes for all anglers to be happy as the monsoon season are over in Sarawak. Hence, a fishing trip is being plan for on 28 March 2009. The boat has been booked for us. we will be departing from Muara Tebas, a small fishing village at Bako, Kuching. Hopefully will be a good outing which doesn't really on the catching of fishes but more toward the enjoyment at sea.

I always feel that after the fishing trip, i am always refresh and ready to takes on the world again.

Here is some of the artificial lures that I am thinking of using it during the fishing trip.



The trolling lure that i use. Have caught a few fishing using this lure. Most people call it as 'Malboro' because of the red head of the lure which resemble the red package of the Malboro cigarette.

The surface popper that attract surface predator fish.

This is a unique lure for fishing squid or 'sotong' in Malay.

Another favourite trolling lure that i have use.

Hopefully, we will catch some big snapper by using bottom fishing method or jig. Jigging is another method that we always use in certain location. Hopefully, I can capture those wonderfull moment when an angler fishing it fish that hook on its line. A wonderfull sunset... watch out for the coming post of the fishing trip.

Sarikei : Sebangkoi Country Resort

Sebangkoi, a place to unwind and relax.

If you do drive using the highway either from Kuching to Miri. You will surely pass through Sebangkoi Country Resort which is approximately 30 minutes from Sarikei Town on the way to Kuching. We were conducting a Localised Nature Guide course to 14 potential to be license tourist guide.

Sebangkoi still have it clear water stream, flora and recreational area for visitors and yet have all the facilities needed by the visitors such as BBQ pit, pathway and it clean and clear which for parent can still monitor their kids running around.

The along the journey by road, there are beautiful scenery to look at. You can stop to takes beautiful scenery pictures. The highway between Sibu and Sarikei with a view. If you drive, just roll down your car window for the cool air going through your hair. If you are bald even better, cool head…J.

You can stop by at Jakar, a small town from Sarikei to Sebangkoi to have big prawn noodle. If you know certain Iban longhouse then you can find some hidden treasure such as beautifully weave basket from fine strips of bamboo (this handicraft have been exported to Japan). Which longhouse? Celestine Kias Longhouse about 10 minutes from Jakar town.

The corner to Sebangkoi resort and recreational park. The road is lined up beautifully with trees and also palm trees.

Sebangkoi Resort with its two hornbill welcoming you. The resort also have a canteen, hostel with 10 double deck bed that cost RM 18 per pax per night, VVIP room that cost about RM 250 which is a bargain as the room consisted of 3 smaller room and a private bathroom. It also have a huge function room for various activities.

In the recreational park, visitors can dip in it cool stream, BBQ at it allocated BBQ pit. Please take care of cleanliness. Or just hike along the beautiful path that are surrounded by flora (species in the family of Dipterocarpacea, Moraceae, Aracaceae, Anacardiaceae, etc) and you can experience the cicadas singing a nice melody in the forest… for most of us it a beautiful music.

After a long hike the cool and clear water are tempting. Through out my stay at Sebangkoi Resort, a lot of the local people especially from Sarikei Town went there for a quick dip with friends.

Nice fern that grown on the tree. The local name for it, is ‘paku tanduk rusa’. Direct translation mean ‘deer horn fern’.

Fishing Dream 2009

Dreaming of Angling 2009

It has been months since I went out to the sea for fishing. My though of the boat riding the wave and the wind blowing my hair and face and no worries of work and just pure relaxation. The hope of all anglers that the big fish will hook on their line and the envy of other anglers watching you fighting the 'forever' fighting fish. I use a small reel and 25 – 30 lbs main line and 50 lbs tracer line for fishing. Which always got an forever unruly looks from my friends. and will get friendly advice of using bigger poundage fishing line. It all about anglers showing their skill in reeling in the big fish. It all about the trill and skill during reeling in the fish and not the fish alone. A lot of people doesn’t understand that.

Thus, during the weekend I took out my rods and reels. Look at it, toy with it and start planning for the fishing trip for the year 2009. The monsoon season is nearly over, fishing season start… WOW that the event to look forward. It will be in March or as early as the end of February.

Some of my equipment use for the fishing.

The ever lucky Abu Garcia Big Game 7000cl reel that I have used since 2004. Have caught Travelly, Baracuda, Garupa, sea Bass, red snapper and more with this reel.

The fishing finder that I used for river fishing from smartcast wireless fishfinder RF 10 which I bought from USA in 2005. The portable fish finder have helped me to determine the contour and river bottom. It have save me time from fishing a fishless river.

The much needed sun glass for the fishing trip but I have used it for all the adventure that I have done using this sun glass.

The one equipment that I am always using when I am on the go. It is a GPS from Garmin (GPSmap 76 CSx) a colour screen and it is sensitive enough to receive the satellites signal even thought it is cloudy or under tree canopy or under roof. It help me to find my way and to plot new road that have not been updated yet.