kayak fishing 15/9/14 (snappers late into the night)

We're back with another session of ghetto kayak fishing!
it has been awhile since we last posted because of the recent wet weather conditions and also since its the holidays.most of us have been travelling!

for those of you who indicated to us about the bad air quality just to clarify, recently there have been reports of the haze back in singapore hitting a PSI of over 100 but it seems fine to us here in the east.makes sense, since the winds at the coastal areas are stronger so naturally the skies would be clearer!

today we took out the Advance Elements Lagoon 1 and the Intex sofa boat(as requested by Bryan)!
really miss fishing and most of all miss the higher catch rates!we're not as pro in surfcasting yet and none of us owns a rod longer than 9ft so nope no chance of doing that.

today was a rather sunny day but it wasn't as hot and humid(most probably due to the haze) so we headed to changi to get live prawns(est 200g) which would be sufficient to last us for 4 hours out at sea.we're using our running ball sinker rig in hopes to get grouper, big marine catfish or snappers.
50lb mono line leader with size 1# circle hooks. we're using the same rod and reel setup as stated in other catch reports(go read don't be lazy)

things to note,there aren't as many small bait stealers out there in deeper waters so live prawns in really for only table size fishes,cuttlefish or greedy marine catfish.

 and we're off!
 On the way as we paddled, Bryan kept nagging and saying how it would have been better to go fishing at Pasir Ris Farmway 3 catch and release pond and how there's no more wild fish in singapore(slowly draining his savings and becoming a pay pond uncle).you know what noobs usually are....
upon arriving at the blue barrels we attached ourselves onto the chains with carabiners and began fishing!half an hour in and there was a tug on the noob's line.it was his all time fave friend here to visit dear old professor Bryan again!FAT MORAY EEL! and this time it totally messed up his line forcing him to change to a new rig hahahahahas what a way to start the evening...GG the lies follow us wherever we go:(

an hour in and there were still no bites(live prawns definitely go big or go home) so I left the blue barrels and headed into more deeper waters pass the barrels.I've heard many kayak fishermen telling me that,that area usually has nothing and true enough there weren't any bites.Sian 2 hours in still no hits.Since there weren't any bite I decided to place my rod down to settle some messy stuff on the boat that was when the rod began to twitch repeatedly.initial thoughts was that it was probably small fishes feeding on the poor prawn but as I reeled up,there was a sudden weak burst shaking the tip of the rod even more.

 this was kind of expected since the water was getting colder it was getting late.after this,I caught 3 more of these small fellas and released them to grow to the monsters they're capable of becoming!
do take caution when handling marine catfish because it can really hurt if you get stung by them and trust me I had my fair share of catfish stings. But in the event that you do that hit, squeeze the blood out of the wound and rinse with freshwater.it doesnt cure of removes the toxins completely but at least it'll remove some and it's a temporary relief until you can head back to shore to seek proper medical attention. A good pair of gloves can be a good investment to prevent such problems.

time check: 7pm in the evening and we're reeling in more catfish.it was getting dark so I paddled back to where Bryan and told him to head nearer to shore where the street lights were more visable and the coast as nearer!

we saw a few birds flying around a certain spot in the first layer of blue barrels and decided to settle there for the night. still no fish but at least the sunset was beautiful!accompanied with the cooling breeze and soothing waves?perfect lepak session.

We've been seeing many kayak catch reports on snappers being caught in the evening at Pasir Ris kelong areas so we thought of staying later into the night this time round to prove the theory that snappers really do feed at night.

the sky darkened really fast from 7-7:30pm!suddenly a fish on the line!it took out some line but had a rather strange fighting style in which it had repeated short burst but no prolong line stripping.

definitely a new experience!first thoughts was that it could be a small catfish but a circular shiny fish surfaced and woooooots!snapper time!

first snapper up weighing at 600g market size and it was our first on a kayak!

this was a golden fingermark snapper and it sure was a nice fish as compared to those you catch at the pay pond.shinier scales as well as undamaged tail and fins!hoorah!

jelly Bryan began to nag again "oh no fish la no fish told you we should have gone to pay for fishing,so lame wasting our time here dont even know why we bother to come out,its a fishless sea"

PROVEN WRONG!

his rod began to bend hard and it took out line!the fighting style was similar to what i had experience so I told him "it's confirm snapper" and true enough,1kg snapper surfaced!woah!satisfied with the catches we headed back to shore!

always needing to compete the first words that came out was "eh which one is mine ah?oh yeah the bigger one".

such as ass hahahahas

 

happy fishermen posing with our legit catches!

it was already 8pm when we headed back to shore and 9pm when we reached home.

tired but satisfied,we agreed to cook the fish tmr for lunch!

too lazy to prepare anything complex,we decided to settle with simple cooking; pan frying with mixed herbs and poaching with campbell minestrone soup.

started off by filleting the snappers and seasoning them with salt and black pepper.

pan frying with a grill pan and with olive oil so it wont kill the taste.

poaching in campbell minestrone soup at 90 degrees for 10 minutes.

I guess there you have it,fast and simple meal

until next time!

cheers!

-Abel

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KayaKing new Equipment and Advise

Hi all!so we've taken  bold step to do some kayak fishing!We've managed to get some inflatable ones because most of us live in HDB flats.

Here we'll review the different kayaks as well as inform you on what you should not do when using an inflatable kayak.
note that this is based on an individual's opinion and does not necessarily reflect upon those whom are better at this kind of fishing.

 so the first kayak in review is the Advance Element Air Fusion. this is in fact the flagship model for Advance element inflatable kayaks. built with very sturdy material enforced with metal rods as you can see,this kayak comes with a separate rudder.

the Air Fusion Kayak is smooth in the water and cuts through the current like a blade due to its balanced buoyancy and thick PVC exterior.This kayak was build for speed most definitely and can get you to places far.
whats the downside to such a "perfect" inflatable kayak?first of, setting up and keeping it is a hassle and takes a long time at least half an hour if a single person sets it up himself.Next is the weight.weighing at almost 30LB this kayak is not one that would be easily transported on a bus or train but if you have a car thats perfectly fine.

If you're one to choose convenience over performance than this kayak is not advisable.However if you wouldnt mind spending time setting it up to have a good trip out,meaning that performance is placed above convenience than this is definitely the right choice for you.

currently this kayak is going for $1000-$1200 retail which was what the owner invested.
you can get it for a secondhand price(if you're able to locate it online), it'll set you back around $600-$700 the bare minimum.




Second kayak in review would be the Lagoon 1. this kayak is like a couch at sea.very buoyant and comes with an inflatable seat making it a very comfortable ride. the ride is smooth and moves quite well against the current out at sea and only requires 10 mins of set up and packing.it has a double valve system as well so in the event that one layer punctures,you will still stay afloat.

downside to this?the speed.this kayak is very buoyant and doesn't do so well when paddling against the strong current.although it is possible to maneuver but it takes extra effort to paddle and move forward. once we were out at sea and it started raining so naturally,strong waves are formed by the strong winds and every 2 paddles I make,I was set back by 1 by the current. so before deciding to set out with this kayak, do consider the weather.
but in terms of weight?it is about 20LB in weight as is considered quite light.

 Lots of space in the kayak as you can see and the external material is enforced with a cloth like material to ensure that puncturing this kayak is not easy. the thick PVC layer also helps to protect against any sharp or rugged objects that it may collide with.(Rocks, clams,fish spikes etc.)

 If you were to invest in a more convenient foot air pump, it'll set you back for an additional $32.
retail, this would go for $500-$600 for a first hand in Singapore from active sports.com .
However i got this at a steal at only $230 which included a free foot pump,free lifevest and a new set of more professional paddles(Drift Pro).




last but not least is the Sevylor QuickPak K1.Currently out of production by the company and heavily in demand by consumers as a cheap and convenient kayak. this kayak folds up into a backpack and weights only 11LB! but whats the catch?the material of course. despite being made with a strong PVC material,it is relatively thin and punctures quite easily(even in storage).when using this kayak, do take caution when landing as fish as you'll never know when a fish might decide to toss and flip,creating a huge hole in the kayak. But of course like many non seaworthy kayaks, this kayak has definitely been tested out by ambitious fisherman due to its low cost and the fact that it is easy to clean.also another thing to consider is the speed out at sea.just like the lagoon 1,it isn't built for speed.

for a first hand, it will cost probably around $200-300 and for a secondhand about $150-200.



Advise and tip for kayak fishing:
1)always have a patch kit or the very least, strong PVC tape.you'll never know when you'll need it and if you're out in deeper waters the more you should be concern for safety as the shore will be quite a distance. sharp objects and even your fishing hooks may penetrate the material and cause a puncture.

2)always have a air pump with you or at least with a friend when kayaking. the hot weather and the possibility of puncturing your kayak means that you have to inflate your kayak well to maneuver back to shore. it's definitely bulky and space consuming but you'll be thankful if anything happens out at sea.

3)always have a life vest on.this is the most obvious and basic instruction.cant swim?it'll be a terrible mistake.even if you can swim you cant swim forever to stay afloat and the fact that the sea has current makes it even harder to move and stay afloat without a vest.

4)know the weaknesses in your kayak.Be it the material of the kayak that is easily punctured or the area in which it is safest to land a big fish. many a times people new to this don't realise that if a big fish comes along and you are not prepared,your kayak could easily flip sideways into the water and capsize instantaneously.

5) always be prepared for a situations.bring a pliers, a pair of scissors, a knife or  a pen knife. you'll never know what you'll encounter out there that may place you in harms way.a few problems we had were with gill nets.the build in dagger boards and rudders and even our fishing rod line often get caught in gill nets thus making it difficult to get free of these hap hazards. always be prepared to make important decisions to ensure that you will not run into dangerous situations.

6)head back when the weather looks bad.even if there are very few dark clouds looming above you, it is always safe to take precaution out there.stay near to shore when you suspect bad weather or if you're far out from shore,do head back promptly. there are many things that will pose a danger out there.Firstly lightning, impossible?not really especially if you have a fishing rod and the fact that you may be the tallest object out there. also the current is another factor.strong currents,wind and rain can capsize your boat or push in enough seawater to flood your boat making it heavier.

7) Try your best to travel with your friend.though it is easier to travel alone at times but having a friend with you, will benefit greatly. not just to hold a conversation during the boring times but also to look out for you in the ocean.the sea shows no mercy and will not aid you in times or trouble but a friend can and will.

that's all the info you can give you for now!do stay tune for the posts on our trips out!

cheers and peace out
-Abel

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KayaKims

by: Abel Yeo

after fishing for several years it was time to take the next logical step and try out kayak fishing to gain a new skill and to increase our catch rate!

to start off,we've invested in inflatable kayaks because they are the most sensible thing to get for someone who lives in a HDB flat.

the kayaks featured here are both from "Advanced Elements" series; Air Fusion and Lagoon 1.

why the sudden interest?because beach casting is generally a LIE!

to start off we've ventured to Pasir Ris waters to scout for good fishing locations. we've only been landing reasonable fishes but nothing big or exclusive yet as we're only using dead prawn meat for now.each time testing out the type of fishes that are caught in particular areas. Of course we'll be starting to micro jig and madai jig as soon as we familiarize ourselves with managing a kayak while fishing.

do take a look at our recent catches.

the most common fish caught offshore pasir ris is of course marine catfishes and eeltail catfishes!Pasir ris is never short of these even when plenty are being hooked up and kept,there seems to be a sustainable amount of them regardless.these catfish put up a pretty decent fight and struggle!it's always easy to identify a catfish on the line as they tend to "wobble" and swim from side to side.they tend to grow up to at least 1kg or more so if they are too small do release them as they don't exactly have the biggest fillets after filleting them.

 These fishes are more common just under the blue barrels where the're is structure,there is definitely these small fishes which tend to lurk around just bellow.the striped perch and tripod fish arent commonly caught if you cast from the beach so thats a new species that we've only uncovered in Pasir Ris.

Toadfish are very common all over Singapore. however the bigger ones tend to be found in deeper waters.they dont put up a fight and are generally lazy fish that just looks plain ugly. if you're considering to try them do note that they have a slightly muddy flavour as they are afterall bottom feeders. Dont be fooled by their appearances,they are extremely hardy fish and can survive out of water for a very long time so dont try sticking your fingers into their mouths even after you've brought them home,else you would be caught between their serrated teeth with extreme biting force.

Stingrays are definitely a prized catch however one must understand that they have the potential to grow much bigger.This is something many irresponsible anglers tend to forget and therefore they keep juvenile ones reducing the population of these poor creatures.stingrays often put up a good fight despite their size and tend  to suck to the bottom if you're not quick enough to reel them up. of course common sense tells you to keep away from their stings at it inflicts a painful sting when you get stabbed by the barb.But in the event that you do get stung by mistake do not panick as it is non venomous or toxic as many believe.

Breams are always a good catch and most that can swallow size 1 or 2 hooks are usually of reasonable size. they, like many "silver" and "scaley" fish tend to swim down when being hooked so do loosen your drag after you cast to ensure that a surprise strike will not catch you off guard.

Swamp eels and Moray eels are common in Pasir Ris. though they are quite an irritating thing to catch, they do put up a good struggle and swim down when hooked. However it is difficult to remove the hook when an eels takes the bait.The eel is most of the time gut hooked or it'll produce a gel like substance that will set on your rigs that produce a rather fowl smell. Most of the time, rigs cannot be saved unless the eel doesnt coil round the rig or it has not swallowed the bait completely.

other random photos of where we ventured to

thats all we've documented for 2 days out at sea and stay tuned for more action and catches!who knows?maybe videos the next round? Why are we called fishing kims?keep an eye out for an upcoming post that contains all of our KIM bak Lor catches (or also known as barramundi)

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