Before we all started with our latest Saltwater fishing adventure, we at Fishyology.com would like to wish to all our Malaysian readers Happy Malaysia Day 2016! You guys have been so supportive to this blog and we will always strive to deliver the best stories of our adventure to you guys. Thumbs Up!!
Rewind 4 months ago, we get our first inquiry from Mr Jonathan. Who wanted to try out Kuala Rompin Sailfish Fishing. This is also going to be a gift for for his Chief Technical Officer who will retires from the company by the end of this year. At first Jonathan were suggesting that we started out the Tour from Tioman, Island. Which is possible but they just couldn’t maximize fishing hours over 2 days. After countless emails and suggestions, finally we are all set and depart our tour from Kuala Rompin, Pahang. Asrazi will be my wingman for the weekend and we pick them up on Malaysia Day and head straight to Rompin!
It is going to be a huge weekend for us to make sure that this trip is going to be a memorable one for Bob and Jonathan. We reach Rompin around 4.00pm and they check-in at Lanjut Beach resort. We though we could find a hotel near town, but unfortunately they were all full. We head to the jetty and luckily we found one chalet and decided to stay there.
It was a busy weekend, usual scene when you are at the middle of the most peak season of Sailfish fishing in Malaysia. We had our dinner at James restaurant just at the side of the jetty. Scott, Andrew, Bill and Jodi was also in Rompin that weekend. Finally manage to catch up with Andrew after soooo long.. haha. This is the first time we were together in Rompin. They give a good introductory on how’s fishing like in Rompin. A little teaser I would say to get the Adrenalin going lol. Instantaneous we all feel like home, and enjoy the company of our friends.
Patrick from LXF Fishing were also there, they have been working on a Tagging program which will kick start soon. Fishyology have been very keen in getting the ball rolling and you guys watch this space in upcoming few month.
DAY 1 – 17 SEP 2016
We departed off from the jetty around 8.30am. TX will be our captain today and we head straight to Karang Luas. We stopped at one of the “Unjam” for live bait before we enter the battlefield. Almost all the boats are in Karang Luas as there is a huge concentration of Sailfish in the area. We drifted some live bait to get the ball rolling. One thing I did notice that the current and wind is not moving like usual. It is hard to get a clean drift without the two line touching one another. We lost 2 in the morning, and the third one we finally get it firmly hooked. Bob was in a fight of his life.
Bob is an avid angler back in the UK. Fishing most of the weekend with his 80 or 90 year old dad. Fishing for Carp most of time and some experience in Salmon and Trout fishing. The average catch would be less than 10lb, and today he is about to break his personal best on his first ever sea fishing trip. I was bit worried, fighting a Sailfish can be tough and it will squeeze every single energy from his muscle.
Bob is doing fine, and clearly up for the challenge to take this one home and score our first sail of the day :). It was gorgeous looking fish as it draws closer to the boat. Rie lift it up on the deck and its time for Bob to took a picture with his trophy catch!
One thing we did notice that there are tons of bait fish over Karang Luas, especially Kembung! Almost every drop of the trusty Sabiki would haul in some kembung or mackerel. Which is one of the most favorite bait fish for The Pacific Sailfish. Jonathan is up next. Line is spilling from the our Avet coffee grinder. The fish jumps right after feeling the hook, the next thing to do is to retrieve it as fast as possible and sets in the hook. Jonathan quickly haul it back to the boat with ease. It was a Juvenile size Sailfish but its a start to our 2 day fishing.
Fishing has been good over the past few days, and it seems it slowed down a bit today. Catch 2 and lost 2 so far and we still have another 2-3 hours to go. I guessing there are a lot of bait around which makes it even harder to lure them on hitting our bait with hook haha. We did encounter several group, the method to lure the fish in with a popper while live baiting doesn’t work as the fish were easily spooked. As soon as Asrazi top water plug hit the water, it swims away.
After an hour waited for another bait, my Penn were spilling line and we had our chance to catch another one. I lift the rod up, set the hook properly and pass the rod back to Bob. Meters away from us is another boat who happens to be fighting another fish. Last thing we want to happen is that both lines tangled one another. I caught up and tangled a bit. We close in, get tangel out and luckily we are able to land Bob second Sailfish.
That was it for Day 1, we caught 3 out 5. We did manage to stop at Karang Luas, Unjam. To fish for some squid for dinner. I get the chance to showcase how squid can be caught with a Squid Jig. Asrazi was on fire with multiple catches, Jonathan finally in the end got a chance to land one, but the squid snag the lure at the Unjam line. As soon as we fill the bucket, we head back to the jetty and called it day.
We had a big dinner that night. Scott and the geng joined us for dinner. Andrew and Jonathan made a wager haha on how the fishing would end up today. It was great to have a big dinner with friends and enjoy the company. Not forgetting the awesome taste of fresh squid from the sea. Deep fried with light batter. A perfect way to end the day.
Day 2
Final day, it it got off slightly late, a quick breakfast at James and straight to the sea. Repeat the same routine, collect some bait fish before we head to Karang Luas. In a nut shell, it was a tough day for us. It was all too quite, we don’t see any surface activity and it all depends on luck. We did get a take on mid day but the fish was smart enough to ditch the hook. I was getting worried at times that we might skunked today. All boat around us has been pulling up fish and it was pretty strange.
The rigging is probably different or even the usage of lighter line or smaller hooks or even bait might be different. The time was 4.30pm and still we did not catch a single fish. Boats are already starting to return back to the jetty and some of us still around. We notice a flock of birds surfacing an area. We dash to the spot and this could well be our last bait drift. As we hit the spot, 3 of us lined up and release the bait. At that time I was praying that at least one us will get it soon. God hears my prayers and it was my bait that has been taken away by a sailfish. I let some line out and boom! hooked it and it fought ferociously.
The fish fought gallantly and this one gives Jonathan a hard time. It didn’t gave up easily and this gives a worthy experience when fighting a sailfish. It jumps several time, showcasing their elegant jumps off the water and blistering speed peeling meters and meters of line easily. It was fight that will ensure Jonathan hooked for life :). Finally after more than 15 minutes, the fish gave up and I billed it and pull it in for a photo op. One last of the day and we wrap up our Sailfish Tour with Jonathan and Bob.
That was it, we wrap up the day with only one Pacific Sailfish. We had a simple dinner before we drove back to Sama-Sama Hotel and drop Jonathan and Bob. It was a special two day for us to be able to give a pleasant experience for our guest and it was a perfect weekend to spend time with our old and new friends.
In this trip, I will remember a beautiful quote from Jonathan that he said to us when we are on our way back to Lanjut Resort after finishing day 1. I may not be able to remember it word by word or sound 100% accurate but we get the meaning.
Life is never about owning something, but it is about creating memories and friends that we will remember for the rest of our lives.. – Jonathan Kemp, CEO of AEV
