Pasir Ris Sungei Api Api catch report 5 - Catfishing the bigger they are they harder they fall

Yet again we are back for more action!
it had rained earlier in the day and its cold out here but nevertheless still fishing.
So there's a study about how the rain and cold temperature as well as the atmospheric pressure influences fish behaviour especially catfish behaviour and I guess we had the opportunity to experience that!

our gear was basically 3 rods and 1 handline.
bait is as per normal,dead fresh prawns and rigs are all apollo with size 2/0 hooks.

 here's us preparing our gear and hooking up the bait. we were aiming for barramundi again but instead,got a whole different experience.

 today,we had all decided to cast just below the bridge since everyone had already taken up a spot and casted further out so it only made sense not to compete with the rest.there were about 7 more people on the bridge with us that night.Api Api is always packed with people for some reason even on a weekday so if you plan to fish here,do come earlier in the evening to reserve a spot for yourself.

First hookup of the night was by Nic.Not on his rod but on his handline which fell off the railing and string was being taken slightly out.at first we all thought that it was probably the wind that blew the plastic light spool off but later realised that there was something heavy pulling back.it made a loud splash in the water and caught the attention of everyone present at that moment. after bringing it up,we noticed that even though it was a big black eeltail catfish,it was a rather thin one so without a second thought...released!

soon after Nic's rod began to bent consistently and the bell sounded. it felt heavy and started to trash around the water! it could have potentially been a Barramundi/Kim Bak Lor but when it began to surface,it was easily identified as another big eeltail catfish with the long whiskers again!
DID YOU KNOW?
whiskers also known as barbels are essential to catfish for sensing for food and act as an extension for touch.
each barbels have sensory buds that helps the catfish 'feel' and 'smell'.

this one was slightly smaller than the first but nevertheless still a good size. none of us really liked the taste of catfish so we released it to fight another day. here's bryan with the second catch of the night.

heres a close up view of the catfish.It started to growl for awhile.

soon we realised that the catfish was gut hooked and so we began to attempt to remove the hook as safely as possible.it refused to open its mouth long enough for us to do a safe procedure so we had to hold it open with pilers.

we tried but to no avail.So we cut off the line and left the hook in to dissolve in it's stomach acid.

DID YOU KNOW?
fishes seem to have a build in mechanism that will help them survive after being gut hooked. the bigger the fish the better.The stomach fluids contain acid that will dissolve the hook within a matter of days.the hooks will dissolve but the outline will still be there.

this is a safer procedure than trying to rip out the hook which could potentially puncture the fish's vital organs and will cause more damage than good.

soon it was getting late so we decided to pack up and leave for the night.no Barramundi but still a good night!