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P.S.C. Fishing From Tropical Bert's
Saturday The 3rd March 2007
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Saturday the 3rd March 2007: Down we went to Sattahip on Saturday morning full of hope, as not only had the Sea looked really calm in Pattaya, but the happy fishermen who went out on Thursday caught a large Cobia and three Queen Fish to fill their pans.
The trip on this day included Carl, from Hawaii but a student in Bangkok, and Gina his girl friend who helps with children with special needs. Carl being the 'Expert' had his own tackle with him. They proved to be fine company for a 'Grumpy Old Man'.
Arriving at Sattahip I was most surprised to find it quite windy, and as we motored out to the fishing grounds, the water was not only choppy, but as we went across the swells it really rocked the boat. Once we arrived at the fishing grounds the Captain found great difficulty placing the boat in just the position he wanted, funny really. Still the lines went out and we waited for the fish to bite.
One of the differences about this day was that our ever present, 'Chris The Fish' didn't
make it, so what now?. Well the lines went out, and it was noticeable the boats near us were not catching fish, and slowly most moved away, not to catch fish elsewhere, whilst we persevered despite nothing much happening.
The thing about Cobias is that if they are there you can usually catch a few, as with Queen Fish, but on this day they were obviously on holiday, or so it seemed. We were getting bites, but the squid was disappearing, and the runs producing little but excitement.
Then one reel started to scream, and the scribe jumped to the rod and got the belt on. The line was ripped off the reel and the fish dove directly under the boat. This was obviously not a Cobia, but what was it ?, as it was also obvious it was none of the regular contenders. This was a really powerful fish that ripped line off as if with ease, and fortunately I played it correctly until my arms became quite weary.
Every time we got it close it seemed to go under the boat, and quite a bit of maneuvering was needed to get it out from under, and coming in straight. Finally it got close enough for us to remove the lead, and we realised it was a Shovel Nose Ray, certainly one of the best fighting fish around. Landed, the fish proved to be 16kg, but what a fighter.
Tired out I retired to the safety of the deckchairs, to rest my tired eyes, while the rest fished on. Indeed we had at least two runs with Carl on the line, but came up with the bait gone. Sometime the fish does not take all the bait, but will not let go until it rips it off.
With time coming to a end I went over to Carl to see how he was getting on as he had brought his own Penn Reel to fish with, and he said he had had it rewound with new 50lb line, at the shop but was not satisfied as the machine kept stopping and it was not rewound correctly. It is relatively easy to wind line on a heavy reel, you put a piece of lead on the end of the line and as the boat motors, let all the line out and wind it in under tension. This we decided to do on the way back.
Yes you guessed correctly, as we talked the rod bent almost double as line screamed off the reel and the fish went under the boat nearly taking him with it. The Captain acted quickly noticing something wrong, and took the rod and chased Carl into the seat at the rear and gave him the rod back, then the Captain tried to loosen the line from the reel as it was jamming. This was another big Shovel Nose, and with the line jamming it simply snapped the 50lb line. Anything else, a Cobia or Queen Fish, we could have got it in.
Chastened, we started back, and the line was let out and rewound correctly. Morale, brakes, lights and steering before you drive your car. T.T.F.N.
Want to go fishing, Phone Bua on 0 819 495 070
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Fine Shovel Nose
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