PULAU JARAK, PERAK

Finally, we have reached the final chapter of our Jarak Island Expedition 2016. The last piece of memoir of our 3 day journey. Day 1 turns out to be an average result but picks up the pace in day 2. We scored good size GT’s and quite a number too. We pick up back where we are about to stop for our dinner in day 2. After a hard day in the office, finally we get our chance to take our shower and had our last dinner of the expedition. Chicken curry, tasted so good that night, probably our energy level were at 0% haha and top that with dried fish fried with dried chili. Oh man, it’s a perfect combination.

Ah Ho maneuver the boat at where we fished last night, we scored a decent amount of Goldies and hoping that we can do it again. As we were enjoying our dinner under star filled sky, I notice that there are loads of floating logs, garbage and plastics out nowhere. Not a great sight to see but I notice something else, a pop and splashing sound on the surface. A scouted the area and there are a lot of flying fish frenzy on the surface.

One fish captures my attention; I barely saw it flew gracefully on the surface, once it landed on the water, BOOM! Another fish hammered it! Wow!! What was that? Fadzly told me that, it might have been a Big Eye Trevally. Once that word came out, I know it’s going to be another interesting night. 🙂 Ijat had his rod ready, along with fluorescent metal jig, that’s a good indication that Big Eye Trevally is indeed around the area. Things have picked up on the surface, splashes sound of pray and hunter filled the dark night. I rigged my UL light, using a small metal jig, I cast it far out and retrieve it fast but it was not tempting enough for the Big Eye Trevally to have a go at it.

Abg Mie with his first fish of the day! Big Eye Trevally, fallen for micro luminous jig!

I decided to switch the attention to just bottom fishing. I knew some guy would eventually catch them. I got my bottom rod rigged up and drop the bait. Current were ok, not that strong and wait for a predator to take the bait. While we were waiting, Finally Abg Mie was to one to draw first blood at night. It was a nice Big Eye Trevally! This is the first time I saw it and it is slightly longer body profile then the normal GT and of course bigger eyes. That makes them deadly when at night.

It is tempting to start fishing for Big Eye again, not long, Ijat scored another Big Eye Trevally and a 5cm surface lure. Ijat told us that this time “they” want poppers. At that point of time, I am completely disgusted with myself for not bringing my lure box with me to this trip. Small surface lure could have been effective in capturing this nocturnal fish. Opened up my tackle box and I saw an orange popper which is about 6-7cm long. This could work, but I don’t have any treble hook that fits a small size popper. We are only prepared with 12cm size poppers for this trip haha, I have no choice but to use only single hook. It’s not the correct way of doing it but, don’t have any choice.

I got it rigged up as soon as possible and cast it out as far as I can into the darkness. I worked it slowly, to imitate an injured fish, skimming the surface. It got the attention of one Big Eye Trevally and Boom! I see splashes on the water but no luck this time. It didn’t take it properly but at least I know it worked. A couple of times, the menacing Big Eye Trevally went after it but, I guess the single hook is ineffective when used on a top water lure.

I slowed the pace even further to give some time for the Big Eye Trevally to properly aim at my popper. After several misses, Bang! Finally a proper take and hooked it straightaway. Daiko ULS series is the ultimate light tackle you can buy in the market. Even a small Big Eye Trevally takes some time to land it. It fights like a GT, sharp and fast dive to the depth, in it’s attempt to be free from my single hook. Finally I landed it! My first of it’s kind, such an awesome experience.

Frenzy continues on that night, Fadzly was mighty with 3 Cupak on his Rapala Skitter Pop! I decided to stop fishing for it and focus 100% on bottom fishing. Salihin took over but fail to land even one. Azrul caught one on luminous jig, the smallest Cupak of the night lol. Chris and Scott were out cold after a long day and heavy drinking haha. I just couldn’t wake them up as they were just too tired to continue on.

Second trevally family of the day, caught a GT earlier and this time a Big Eye Trevally!

Fadzly and his Big Eye Trevally, or locally we call it “Cupak”. Such a pro, he landed 3 that night 🙂

Cupak were still hammering baitfish in the darkness of Pulau Jarak. I put it aside and hoping to dig more gold for night 2. It was not long when Izzuddin rod bell triggers a massive take at the end of the line. This is! Gold! but it all went to dust when a silvery figure emerge from the depth. A Giant Trevally! Soon after that, my rod went off and pulled I it up quickly. I could feel an uncommon shake at the end of the line. Usually the golden snapper would just dive to the depth to escape. It made several dashes to bottom, as it surface it was another GT!

It must have been a school of GT underneath the boat as Izzuddin scored another one minutes later. We were looking for them earlier the day but it was not until late evening when they were hooked on to our jig. Now with 3 in a row, that’s not too bad :). I decided to switch to live fish for bait as the mantis prawn are becoming GT’s target. Hopefully I can get something different. As the bait reach the bottom, something took it immediately haha. I was just about to was my hand and the reel set off again. Azrul was there to hooked, and landed yet another GT haha.

Azrul with his night GT, taken a live fish as bait haha.

Enjoying the moment. Another GT for my pose 🙂