TIOMAN EXPEDITION

One of the thing that i am looking forward to as part of my fishing adventures is when i get to go sea fishing with fellow anglers once or twice a year in Malaysian waters. Malaysia has a lot of islands in the East coast and West coast of the Peninsular not to mention in Sabah and Sarawak. Due to the logistical nightmare to go fishing in East Malaysian waters off Sabah and Sarawak, my sea fishing concentrate mostly on the both sides of the Peninsular as they are more accessible and cheaper.

This time we were off to Tioman Island waters toward the Island of Aur. Tioman Island located about an hour boat ride from the town of Mersing, Pahang is a mystical island popular with tourists for relaxing, diving and fishing. The journey started from Kuala Lumpur by highway to the town of Mersing which is about five hours drive. From Mersing all of us departed on two speedboats early in the morning fishing the waters off Tioman Island until evening when we had to stay on the island overnight to recharge our batteries for the next day fishing towards the Aur Island. Target species were Tenggiri(Barred Spanish Mackerel),Snappers, Groupers, Cobia, Bayan(Parrotfish) and Layaran(Sailfish). Baits used were live prawns, Apollo for catching live baits like Selar and Kembung. Methods were bottom fishing,live bait drifting freeline and with balloons when targeting the Sailfish and trolling for Barred Spanish Mackerel(Tenggiri) with deep diver Rapala.

FIRST DAY PHOTOS:

Loading the fishing gears into the back of a pick-up truck

Never go fishing without having breakfast first

The jetty where the two boats were on standby

Loading the gears into the boats

Powerful boat with two 150hp engines

Couldnt wipe the smile off my face!

Off we went

The speed the boats were moving was awesome!

The fishing started at one of the Unjang( Man-made fish home by tying coconut leaves to an achor)

Looks like the next boat drew the first blood! A good size Bayan fish(Parrot fish)

 

Ha ha..now it is my turn!

How about that hah? My second Bayan...yeehaw!

Bayan - a beautifully colored coral species, tasty too!

A bro sitting next to me with his first table size Grouper

Feeding frenzy..a Red Snapper

How about that dude!

A really good size Red Snapper

Azlan, the trip leader with his first Grouper

My turn with a good size Fingermark Snapper

Another bro with his Yellowtail Snapper

Ha ha..action was slow in the next boat

Tioman Marina

Carrying our catch through the Marina

Not easy to get a ride on this island, the police were nice enough to give us a ride

Cleaning our catch for dinner

Unbelievable! These guys really knew how to cook! Fresh sweet and sour fish

No spoons, so styrofoam pieces were used instead he he..

When you were hungry everything tasted good!

 SECOND DAY PHOTOS:

Yours truly in front of the Marina

Waiting for everybody to get onboard

Bye bye Tioman, till the next trip

My Shimano Torium 14 multiplier reel on standby

Trolling for Barred Spanish Mackerel using Rapala deep diver lure but no takers

Rock outcrop off the Tioman Island

Flathead attack!!

We must have been over sandy area because the Flatheads were huge!!

Nice catch bro

I got a Flathead too!!

Returning to the jetty

Here was the hard part, carrying everything up the jetty from the boats

Giving a good hose of fresh water to wash all the salt away

Having drinks and discussing the day's action before going back

I was satisfied eventhough did not catch any Mackerel or Sailfish. There is always the next time right?

THIRD DAY PHOTOS:

Dividing equally the catches among the group members

Flatheads, i thought only in Australia they grew this big!

Groupers

Leatherskin Jacks

Kerisi or Vermilion Snappers

Red Snappers and Fingermark Snapper

The star of the catches Bayan fish aka Parrotfish

 All in all it was quite a fun trip and did not cost so much. The disappointment was we did not catch any big ones like the Barred Spanish Mackerel(Tenggiri) and Sailfish(Ikan Layaran) but there will always be another day when the lady luck is on our side. Sometimes it is not only the action that makes the trip fun but your companion anglers too with their jokes and antics. I would love to go again with them on another trip another place anytime.

Till next time, happy fishing.