Yan Revisit - March 14

While having beer with Derrick last week, he asked me how it sounds like for a trip to Yan on March 14 2009, to finish our unaccomplished mission. I looked at my activity schedule and tell myself then, there is no reason for me to say no.

March 14 then was fix, and both of us gonna join the group from North for Yan revisit.

I am not exception from the global economic hit; my small business has not been easy since mid last year. Like I normally told many others including myself, if one soak himself in stress thinking or been bothered by problems, it is better she/he do something that they love doing, and get out from the square for short period. Yup ... with that thoughts, March 14 seems like a good date.

I received sms from fishing buddy Mahadzir telling me there has been update of mackerel biting in Yan waters, particularly on shipwreck area. That was some 2 weeks old news, but I think the friendly ever fishing group from North will keep us updated.

As much I am looking forward to have that trip take place right when I open my eyes tomorrow morning, I will keep the progress updated here.

Continue on March 17 2009

I travelled to North of peninsular on Friday evening, rushing, as I had a long quotation clarification and negotiation with vendors. I reached Derrick's place at 4 30pm and we shoot off to Sungai Petani (SP) at 5pm.

We reach SP at 8 45pm, meet up with Derrick buddy, Kelvin, and had our dinner followed by overnight in quarter where Kelvin is working.

The second day we leave the quarters as early as 4 50am. By the time we reached Sungai Yan, the sky was still dark and we load our gears and bags onto the boat.

Loading of gears and ice box on boat.

It was around 5 45am when we move out from the river mouth, and I steal a short sleep during that time.

We started jigging at the unjam around 6 30am, and yield no bite till approximately 9am. The boatmen decided to check their fish trap and we were rewarded with squid and "chicken fish" at the second trap. Roslan, the organizer, cook instant noodle with the squid as our lunch, it was simply yummy...

Photo of 1 of the 2 "chicken fish" from fish trap (local name"bubu").

Kelvin with his "kerisi", caught on bottom fishing.

The only mackerel we caught in the whole trip, by Roslan. This fish took dead bait fish (kembong), rigged with 3 hooks on it with 20lb wire leader. At the second half of the day, the boatman took us to an unjam and the bites at this unjam was obviously better. I remember there were about 3 or 4 takes on drifted and casted dead bait fish, but in total only one mackerel was landed.

As the target fish for both Derrick and yours truly who travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Yan is mackerel, obviously the catch of 1 mackerel through out the whole trip was unable to make us happy. On our journey back from North to KL, we were talking more on the great fishing companionship, the dinner we had, but not the bad catch. We did, however, concluded that Yan shall be temporally sealed for our attempt, as the entry barrier for KLers to hunt for Yan's Mackerel is considerable high; both time and cost wise.

The mackerel in Yan waters is highly migratory, with quantity that is reducing sharply and nobody is able to tell which Unjam these teethies going to move to in next week and how long they going to stay there, making each trip of KLers to Yan is more like a bet. This is topped with the fact that each unjam in Yan waters is sort of privately own, if a boatman knows the teethies are at an unjam that not belonged to him, then the anglers on his boat will not able to check that out.

A highly attractive waters for mackerel hunter nevertheless, I will return to Yan waters perhaps later this year. Fishing season in east coast going to start soon, and I predict I am going to pretty occupied with trips there.

As for the northern fishing buddies that I have met this trip; Roslan, Kelvin and Ah Boy, I have to say they are great fishing companion; always sharing information, rigs and offer themselves for the group activities. Would be just great if I can still fish with them in my Yan revisit.

~ End ~