25th June 2010: Overnight Mission - 'Killed' By MANO

Expectations were high with some encouraging CRs this year at Mano Wreck.
Hence, the team were super motivated and prepared well to bring home the Gao Tuns.
Finally a chance to use the medium action gears borrowed from my army buddy.

Cpt: Anand
Crew: Anand's wife, Rajan, Robin, Andrew and myself
AO: MANO, off Changi and Tekong
Bait: Frozen kelong sotongs and some octopus


Decide to try with some octopus after chatting with the ever-friendly and humorous Bernard at prawn shop.


Set off at 430pm and we reached Mano at about 7pm. Took us some time as North Star was cruising at max. against the currents.


Crazy was there first and I guessed they took the 'prime spot'. Cpt Anand had to circle around a few times to find the 2nd best spot to nail the gaos. To make things worse, the strong currents killed Andrew and myself whom were the anchor party. I think we did anchoring exercise at least 4 times with each time pulling up 50-70m of rope. Bloody shag, man. But 'good' arm and back 'workouts' for me.


Waiting was the game
Crazy stole all the actions with them pulling up 4 good size fishes and I'm quite sure those were not gaos. North Star was quiet... We waited and waited...'enjoying' the constant 'rock n roll' songs played by the currents and waves...
Rajan was the only lucky man who got a ribbon fish (Sai Dou) while rest of us with no single decent bite...only small fishes which keep wasting our sotong bullets...


The only consolation was the NDP rehearsal fireworks view from the sea.
Else, I came back with 'broken' fingers, back and mentally drained.


'Turning point'
We gave up at about 3pm. Retrieved anchor and head back to Changi area.
The chart display somehow was mis-configured with all the navigation marks not shown, andit was pretty funny to see 3 men at the steering with me holding a torch light to beam the front gound, Anand driving and Andrew keeping a look out for floating objects and lighted beacons/buoys.


Finally reached Changi within 1.5 hrs and that's where we found the 'pulls'.


Total catches:
1 ribbon, 3 catfishes, 1 unknown, 4 ACKs
Zero photos this time as I was too tired to take any...


Not fated with night fishing
2nd time night fishing with zero. I guessed I should just focus on day trips.

18 June 2011: Nice cooling weather but too 'cold' for me

A short CR.

Day started brightly with super excellent weather conditions, windy and shady for outboard fishing.

Capt: Anand
Crew: 7 others
AO: Tekong and Ubin
CR: so-so only. The highlights were an ACK and Parrot
Misses: a few

There were a few zero fighters including myself and I guessed luck ran out. Not even a decent bite with my lucky Bassterra...

 Nice bend and fight, but the bugger was smart enough to dash for the rocks. Wasted.

 Plan was to bring back the 2 gaos for my marine tank. But they did not survived the trip.

 Nice size ACK and Parrot