TASEK BERA, PAHANG - 16 AUG 2014

TASEK BERA, PAHANG – 16 AUG 2014

Revisit Tasek Bera for some fresh water casting session. It all started when Izzudin called and asked to set Port Dickson jigging trip. I was not keen to visit Port Dickson and it is due to the bad weather over the west coast of Malaysia. Instead of going to Port Dickson, I suggested that we head to Tasek Bera since I have never been fresh water fishing with Izzudin. During this festive season, report from Tasek Bera suggest that Jungle Perch @ Sebarau has been caught on a steady rate. Not as frenzy as last year but there a signs that we can have a good chance in landing one today.

Called Ismail Ibrahim and Firdaus Ahmad to make all the necessary arrangement. Luckily I manage to get a boat on Saturday. We head to Bera at 4.00am in the morning and reach the location at 7.00am. The best thing about Bera is that we can organize a day trip as it is just 3 hrs drive from KL. Prior beginning our journey, we had our breakfast and coffee. Stocked our lunch and drinks for a 8 hours of fishing. This will be our first FW casting session together and we will experience hands on Close Quarter Battle haha.

Once we get to the Jetty, the first thing the comes to my mind was the water was way to murky and it does put a little bit of doubt in your mind. I have experience this situation in Royal Belum and surely it will dramatically reduce the effectiveness of lures. I put all the negative thoughts aside and focus in bringing the best report from Tasek Bera.

It must have been raining last night, the water was too murky 🙁

Our recommended guide Mr.Ismail Ibrahim preparing the boat

POWERED BY!!

As per requested by our guide, we are not able to show more photos of our pathway as it has to be protected from illegal activities. Tasek Bera has long been a place for illegal fishing activity using explosive and concoction of poison destroying a whole range of species. During our trip, the native people living along the river has told us someone has poison the river and it is a sad image seeing unwanted species being left to rot. The place is still well reserved and without proper monitoring, soon this place will be consumed by human greed.

Spoon, Rapala Shad Rap and Top Water lures are effective range of lures to catch either Toman or Sebarau. We have experienced multiple missed hits by Sebarau. A total of 6 hits we manage to hook 3 and land only 2. The structure underneath the water provide a safe heaven for them to seek refuge or to be used as a tool to cut the line. Our first hit was a small Sebarau on Spoon. After seeing the devastated effect of illegal fishing technique, this small baby Sebarau proves that there is still hope for this place and a hope for us to continue to push onward to land our first Jungle Perch of the year.

It took 4 hours to reach the final destination, the main river source from the mountains heading to Tasek Bera. We rested and have our lunch. Total tally of the day stays at 1. We continue on our journey by heading back to our jetty and continue our casting session along the way.

Baby Sebarau, feisty little fish 😀

Taken a AXZ Spoon, similar to the Abu Garcia Spoon

We release you so that you can grow and become a healthy Sebarau!

As we are midway drifting back towards our initial starting point, I cast a Rapala Shadrap Goldfish and it was taken by an unseen species. Initial strike was the hardest and strongest I’ve ever experienced. My reel struggle to stop the fish from swimming deep into underwater structure. I can sense that it stopped taking lines suggesting that it might have slipped away to freedom with the help of underwater structure. Keeping my faith that the fish is still cling on at the end of the line and I tighten the line to prevent any opportunity for the fish to escape.

To my surprise, the boatman jumped into the water to recover the fish. Soon the fish was taking line again as it tries to make the final escape, but today was destined to be my day haha. It surfaces, showcasing a silver body and it was huge. I couldn’t believe it that I finally landed my first Sebarau @ Jungle Perch in 2014. Soon a burst of laughter and joyous remarks breaks the silence of our surrounding and finally landed our Sebarau. It was 4.4lbs and 50cm in length. Such an amazing experience and a well deserved trophy indeed.

The most basic lure for Sebarau, Rapala Shadrap. I can’t stop smiling! hahaha. Thank you Mronoit12 for this amazing opportunity and experience!

Lucky that the standard triple hook still attached

50cm and an estimate weight of 4.4lbs

Towards the end of the day, a sudden frenzy of Sebarau chasing small baitfish catches our attention. Izzudin cast his spinner bait towards the frenzy pack but non were entice enough to take the spinner bait. I switched to Ima BTA80 and cast it towards the short burst of Sebarau frenzy. Soon another Sebarau took the bait and swiftly it seek refuge under heavy cover. This time the fish manage to escape. Frustrated and gutted because I’m not able to stop the fast swimming Sebarau. That last strike marks the end of our day trip in Tasek Bera. I am happy to renew my Sebarau record and the journey upstream and downstream was definitely will go down as one the best trip of the season. Mronoit12 fishing guide is recommended by Fishyology and you guys need to book a trip to this place.