GIANT GROUPER OF LS FISHING POND

Giant Grouper of LS Fishing Pond, 30 June 2018

It was with some excitement that I set off for LS Fishing pond one Saturday afternoon, getting among the local traffic, cats, dogs, motorbikes….well you get the picture!

I first heard of LS fishing pond when perusing the internet for places to fish in Malaysia and came across Fishyology. Well, after looking through the web page I was hooked, excuse the pun. I really wanted to visit LS and hit the big fish in the VIP pond for starters.

After a somewhat hectic and usual type of journey for a Saturday late afternoon in Malaysia, I arrived at the pond. It is a well presented establishment and the staff were exceptionally friendly. After discussing the type of experience I wanted and monies paid, I picked up my rod and reel and followed the guide. I set up the rod and reel while the guide sorted out the end tackle section from their range of pre-set kit. My rod was bought in Malaysia and is a general all rounder with a 40lb rating…….plenty I thought. The reel was a good old fashioned multiplyer which I had brought from the UK to cover any salt water fishing I may be doing. Again I am thinking that it will do the trick.

All set up and feeling pretty excited, the dead bait is fixed to the hook and the first cast is in. I see swirls and shadows dancing everywhere and think that it wont be long before the first hit happens.

Bang! The float dives under in less than 10 minutes and heads off towards one of the out let pipes. This fish clearly knows what it is doing…….

I try to hit the brakes with the reel a little but the fish is too strong for it. Digging my thumbs into the spool of line is the only way to reduce the run but is too quick and before I know it the fish has snapped off and disappeared!

I set up again, and feel a little nervous now, knowing the rod and reel are going to be tough to handle with these big fish. The rig is back in and after another 5 minutes the float shoots off again. A little more prepared this time, I manage to steer the fish away from the out let pipe and get it running into the centre of the pond…bingo. I play it a lot better allowing it to take the line under my control before bringing it back in and repeating. 10 minutes later I land a 20+ KG fish, albeit with very sore thumbs.

I am back fishing again in no time after the obligatory photo shoot and again with in 5 minutes the float is off. Quicker on the trigger, I manage to steer the fish from the out let pipe and into the center. It’s a bigger fish than before and the fight is on. It is much bigger and I am struggling to keep control of it with the totally inadequate rod and reel I have. After getting it close enough to almost stroke, it shoots off again. The line is paying out too fast and as I look down at the reel see the worst thing possible; a jam with the line where it has been pulled tight and locked under its self. The inevitable happens and for the second time the line snaps.

I set up for a third time and again within 5 mins I’m in to another. I have full control of the rod and reel and its not long before the second fish is landed. A baby this time, but it still gave a good fight.

I start fishing for my 3^rd fish and there seems to be a lull in activity, a calm before the storm maybe? A After 15 minutes of casting and presenting the bait the float is off like a rocket. The reel is going mad and my poor thumbs are feeling the pressure. This is a big fish! I have by now got used to the method I need to apply to play the fish on this light rod and reel. The fish is strong and the game begins……..reel him in then out it goes again. The rod is really under strain and its bending that much, the reel is almost popping off from its mount. I try to keep calm but the fish is tiring me out rather than the other way around.

20 minutes later I have things under control and the fish is slowly coming around to the fact that’s is going into the basket and getting hauled onto the side. It breaks the surface a couple of times and this is where I see what a monster its is. Finally its in the basket and I look on in amazement at the size of the fish in front of me.