Just another ordinary week with daily routine, while feeling bored at office, suddenly come to my mind that coming Friday will be a public holiday. As what i remember, Pak Ali, which i just get to know him few days ago do mention to me that he plan to go Bintulu for Mackerel fish hunting. Pak Ali's friends told him one of the friend manage to land 14 Mackerels which make me keep swallow my saliva. I have dreams for long time to hook up Mackerels.
Thursday morning i received a message from Pak Ali that he will heading to Bintulu on the night. what do i waiting for??? Settle things at office and heading home early, took some cash and went to Tackle shop to get a rod to match with my Daiwa Exceler 4000. Due to limited budget, i get myself Eupro Hammer ii Pe3-6 and some accessories. 7pm, Pak Ali reached my place and we start our journey to Bintulu, which will take us so many hours. We take turn to drive, and thank God for his blessing we manage to reach Bintulu safely around 4am. Pump some petrols, get some ice, then we head to the place. Due to low tide, have to wait for some times to get the boat on to the water. While waiting, i try my luck at the small river by casting using Rapala Husky Jerk. When i about to give up, i received a strong strike, which only last for one second, the 30lbs mono leader broken off without giving me any chances to fight back. Luckily my husky jerk emerged and i manage to save it. How i wish i can land the fish which i suspected to be a Barracuda, due to some scratches on the lure.
Enough talking with the casting, is time to hunt for Mackerel. Using 4 stroke 100hp engine, we head to area with 1++ meter to get some live baits, enough with the bullets, is show time then. Well, due to slow water current, Mackerel become less aggressive. i manage to get one strike but the Owner hook didn't hook up the fish for me, half of the live bait been stolen by mackerel. while waiting for Mackerel, we also do some bottom fishing, to get some fish for dinner tonight. With Abu Garcia Conolon Pe1-2 and sixstar one my hand, i manage to land a Blue Spotted Stingray scaled about 1 kg.
Lazy to take squid from the ice box, i took the half live bait that bite by Mackerel just now as bait, which brought me the fish of the day, a nice Cobia scaled about 3kg. Really enjoy fighting this Cobia that took me about 10 minutes to land it. Conclusion on the first day fishing trip, no mackerel been landed, but we will be back on the next day, so do keep up the good work!
Blue Spotted Stingray
Cobia, become finger licking good Umai as our dinner!
Our second day fishing trip begin with a small Mackerel fish landed by me, even though is small, but still i was happy because finally i get the target fish. Another two strike by friends but Mackerel win the show. Due to slow water current, i change my Mackerel set to bottom set which enable me to landed a beautiful fish, believe to be a Snapper fish, Lutjanus apodus。Another strike manage to pull my 80lbs leader into coral and win by the fish.
Such a beautiful fish, Gold-spotted Sweetlips fish.
Fish of the day 2.
Happy with the catches.
Conclusion for this fishing trip, we didn't go far to sea, only took us within one hour i think to reach the spot, yet we manage to do some trolling on the way. For sure i will return for bigger Mackerel and i wish to be back very soon!
