Pulau Jarak January 10th-12th 2009

Yes, the first offshore trip for the year of 2009! I've been laying low since the Makassar trip in end October and I think any other hardcore fisherman would understand how the itch level is like being grounded for 2 months.

Lets cut the pathetic story short and get to the point. Although my previous catch results at Pulau Jarak was average most of the time, but I couldn't think of a place to fish while waiting for east coast season to start. When I was on the trip in September to Pulau Jarak, I've managed to secure a booking in January, 2 weeks before Chinese New Year to try to buy my luck at hitting a good catch for Chinese New year dinner.

4 hardcore jiggernauts and 3 newbie jiggers was on this trip. Darren, Marcus, Jason, Khoon, Kevin, Boon Cheng and myself were enduring a rough sea on the first day, a calmy current on the second day and a crazy strong current on the last day. We were very skeptical whether we were able to reach Pulau Jarak on the morning we board as the wind was blowing strong and chilly but our captain said its harmless and it would die down by noon. Let the pictures roll.

GT Chaser logo infront of the cabin

First blood of the trip, 4kg`ish Spanish Mackerel

Rod: Tenryu Jigzam PE3-5

Reel: Shimano Stella 8000FA

Jig: Bassday Quicker 250gm

Darren hits a 2kg`ish Sagai

Rod: Evergreen Poseidon Slow Jerker Pe3

Reel: Shimano Ocea Jigger 1500NR

Jig; Bassday Quicker 180gm

Marcus getting the 1st big hookup in his jigging careerUp comes a 8kg Spanish Mackerel weighed on Boga

Rod: Evergreen Poseidon Slow Jerker PE3

Reel: Shimano Ocea Jigger 1500P

Jig: Evergreen Javeline JetJigging at sunset time, the biting hourGT by Darren

Rod: Evergreen Poseidon Slow Jerker Pe3
Reel: Shimano Ocea Jigger 1500NR
Jig; Sevenseas Hooker 160gm Boon Cheng's share of Giant Trevally

Marcus holding on dearly to his rod for his first GT on jig A very happy owner of a good size GT Last call of the day from the bottom, Golden Snapper landed by Jason on IMA RO 120gm People say `The early bird catches the worm`. It sure did for being the first person to pop in the morning to land a 10kg Giant Trevally Later in the morning, another sizeable GTRod: Poseidon Spin Jerker PE4

Reel: Shimano Stella 08 SW8000PG

Jig: Fisherman Andaman

GT King's 80% taxed Golden SnapperKevin also with his first Trevally on jig, IMA RO 120gmDarren a.k.a GT King hits another GT

Rod: Poseidon Spin Jerker PE4
Reel: Shimano Stella 08 SW8000PG
Jig: Evergreen Caprice

Kevin hitting his 2nd trevally an hour afterA Golden Snapper landed by ME !

Rod: Tenryu Jigzam PE3-5
Reel: Shimano Stella 8000FA
Jig: Sevenseas Revolver 200gm Double hookup of Golden Snapper with Boon Cheng 8kg`ish Blacktip shark taken my jig on the sea bed meant for the Golden Snappers :( Landed with Sevenseas Revolver 200gm. Noticing a school of boiling skipjacks just meters beside the boat, Darren casted a small jig and landed one of them Marcus with his 3rd Giant Trevally ..this guy really have all the beginners luck he needs Baby grouper on Evergreen Spin Jerker Pe2.5, Shimano Stella 5000FA and Sevenseas Revolver 150gm I caught a ribbonfish in Malaysian waters !!! on Sevenseas Revolver 150gm All hell breaks loose when 7 anglers get too bored. 2 angchors on bait :P

On the last day, we woke up beside White Rock Island, one of the islands of Pulau Sembilan archipelago. Sadly the current for the day was too strong for us to do anything be it jigging, casting or bottom. Letting 100gram jigs down into 90 feet of waters resulted flying the jig like a kite, watching them drift far far ahead.

Darren's cencaru landed on his Sabel Dance Pe1 and customed Abu reel

Boon Cheng landed a baby QueenfishLast fish landed on the trip using Inchiku jigs