Jigging for Yellowtail Kingfish in Tairua, New Zealand

This time i'll bring u guys to the land of hobbits or more known as kiwi country. From KL we flew to Auckland, New Zealand and drove about 3 hours to Tairua. The town of Tairua is on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula in the North Island of New Zealand. 

Jason Harris our local fishing guide from Strike Zone fishing charter have been arranging all of our accommodation and transportation there in Tairua.

Water was a bit choppy all the time when we were fishing off the coast of Tairua but the fishing amazingly great.  Recommended fast jigs weight within 250g up to 400g. Water depth within 15m up to 250m. Main target fish will be the Yellowtail Kingfish. Size caught during our were range between 7kg up to 25kg which apparently still below the local record which was about 40kg.

This was my 1st trip ever to New Zealand, I love fishing and the weather there. Below are some of the pics of Yellowtail Kingfish that I caught.

Over 20kg and personal best Yellowtail Kingfish caught using 260g jig

Over 10kg Yellowtail Kingfish

Look at the size that I caught just near to the Tairua shore

This over 20kg Yellowtail Kingfish easily cut into half by Shark

Mangrove Jacks paradise in Kuching, Sarawak

Mangrove jacks @ MJ will be always be my main target species while lure casting in the estuary rivers of Kuching, Sarawak. Why? Yes, its all because of its strength and fierceness when it takes your lures. I guess i did talk about this on my previous blogs. 

This time i just want to share my experienced while lure casting in Sematan river. Another personal record was set there in Sematan last year 2017. My best solo boat-based casting trip with 31 fish successfully landed. 21 mangrove jacks, 8 groupers(estuary cod) & couple of fingermark snapper. 

Even on trio boat-based trip soon after, 3 of us managed to land 42 fish. 32 mangrove jacks, 7 groupers and 3 fingermark snappers. 

Below are some pics from the trips.

Bumblebee @ Queensland grouper of Kuching, Sarawak estuary river

Bumblebee is referring to a juvenile Queensland grouper due to its dark grey & yellow body colors combination. The adult size of its will be in darker color with almost all the yellow color disappeared.

Some of the locals also calls it a "hybrid grouper". Surprisingly last 2017 i managed to land a whopper size which weighted slightly over 20kg. After a 15 minutes fight or probably more, i have safely landed the beast on the boat. And that time i was using a 15lbs braided main line, 30lbs fluoro leader and 6-15lbs EA custom rod only. I would say it was my personal best catch for the year 2017 due to it difficulties level.

Below are some pics from last year bumblebees collection:

Cross striped Hampala @ Sebarau belang melintang from the north borneo, Sabah

Cross striped Hampala & documented as Hampala Sabana (correct me if im wrong) is a native species of Sabah, Malaysia. During my trip to Sabah for the hunt of this native species i’m surprised with its characteristic and tactics on how its stalk each of its preys. Hampala sabana more attracted to a topwater lures such as pencils or poppers but i managed to catch a couple of its using minnows. I got none on spoon or inline spinners.

Hampala sabana normally takes topwater lures that near to the rocky banks. Those hampalas that size that over a kg really giving me a fight to remember.

Casting for Mangrove jacks @ MJ in Sarawak, Island of Borneo

It cant be expressed by words. You have to experience it urself. I guess this time i will share some of the experienced while casting in Batang Rambungan to be exact Sg. Budak. We are normally getting a boat from a village name Jaya Bakti which is located around 40 minutes drive from Kuching City.

Using deep diver lures will be the best choice by far especially when the tides are right. Sometimes soft plastics will works but chances to hook up is less than using a hard lure due to the hooks. I guess most of you guys know better about casting, how to cast...retrieve speed..target area and so on. Mangrove jack i would says is the top on my list for estuary target species due to its strength and super aggressive. 2017 was good fishing year for me with couples of new personal records. 

For the records, i caught over 100 mangrove jacks for the year 2017 and its only around Kuching. What type of lure and sp that i am frequently use to hunt for Mangrove jack?

Hard lures - Revoltz Gangstar 75mm & Ofmer Xdeep 75mm 

Soft plastic - Zerek Live Shrimp 89mm

Just let me share some of the pictures.

Casting/Fishing for Sapan @ Kelah @ Mahseer in Berau, East Kalimantan, Island of Borneo

The trip was planned like a year ago together with Bang Majidi, Vincent and Kandau. Main target species was supposed to be Black Bass but we ended up fishing at the river "KNOWN" to be no Black Bass.

Without any clue what is wrong with the plan or to be precise with the so-called "Pro Guide Fishing" that our quest for Black Bass now change to Sapan. There goes our plan!!!!!

Lets make long story short... Lets fish for Sapan then. Not only the long story became short, the fishing hours also can be short. Anyway, fishing is still fishing no matter what species were there as long as i am going fishing. Old saying, picture is worth a thousand words.

Level of difficulties while going upper river Kelay

Rocky river mountain

Locally known as Sapan. Malaysian called it Kelah and some called it Mahseer @Empurau.

Nice size Sapan @ Kelah

Unknown species - just called it Selling.

Smaller Sapan more aggressive and sometimes it took lure just by your boat sides.

Hampala do share habitat with Sapan here in Kelay river

Sapan @ Kelah @ mahseer - Thanks for the hospitality!

Short video while reeling the Sapan fish in!

Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau Dua Belang @ Dungan, Murum Dam, Sarawak, Island of Borneo

It was supposed to be a starts of dry season in Sarawak in June but the weather was unpredictable for 2016. Thats mean bad for freshwater fishing for us here. Our main target river was badly affected by rain and murky.

We have to change our plan and indeed fishing at lower part of the Murum Dam thats mean other nearby rivers channel. Overall catches was beyond bad .... Yes!!! it was awesome!!!

1st Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau of the trip

2nd Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau

Again Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau 

Double hook up me & Vincent

Dom with his Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau

Smiling face of Donny with his Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau

Vincent with his Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau

Donny with his Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau

Again Donny with his Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau

Yet another Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau by Dom

Vincent getting boring with Hampala 

Luv the thrill

CNR for better fishing 

More and more Hampala Bimaculata @ Sebarau for myself