We slowly drifted closer. We were all watching the bird circling the area where moments before we saw a splash. “Wait. Wait!” the captain called. “Get ready” came the next command (not that I needed that) I felt a shiver of anticipation go down my spine. I whiped my sweaty palm on my pants and double-checked that the bailer arm on the reel was open. “Wait” came the command again. We were scanning the water and watching the circling bird. Slowly we drifted closer.
We were about 30m from the circling bird, suddenly it dipped down and as the captain shouted “Now” I saw the shape!
Dark at first, then a brownish copper color, up it came! I made the cast and send out a live bait tied to a 4/0 Circle hook. Then as if someone flicked a switch the Sailfish all of a sudden “light” up. The huge sail flipped up and the most amazing blue and silver spots appeared on it. The baitfish panicked and I could feel the jerks on the line.
I watched the sailfish turn and suddenly the jerks stopped as the “sailie” took the bait! The bailer arm was still open and line started peeling of the reel. “Wait, Wait” came another command. This was the crucial stage, “let it swallow the bait” and more “Wait, waaaaaaiiiitttttt” commands followed.
Line started peeling of faster and faster! “Now!!” shouted the captain. I did not need a second invitation! I closed the bailer arm and the sound of the screaming drag broke the silence! The 20 pound braided line kept disappearing at an alarming rate and the drag on my Shimano Stradic 4000 was screaming! The fastest fish species in the ocean was heading away from us at a great speed. About a hundred and fifty meters behind us the water opened and a beautiful sailfish started its areal display! A sight you’ll never forget.
It is August in Kuala Rompin Malaysia, Sailfish Season, meanwhile back in the UAE there are guys complaining about the heat and the humidity and aimlessly walking around in shopping malls.
It is that frustrating and annoying time of year for us fisher folk in the Middle East!
HOT HOT EXTRA HOT with a side order of humidity on the menu! The fishing gear is gathering dust because it is just too hot or humid to fish. If you are a fly tier this is a good time to stock the fly box for next season.
This is also a great time to do maintenance and repairs on tackle, so you’ll be ready for the new season. Go through the lure box and get rid of the old rusty hooks and stock up for the season ahead. But that gets boring so why not get out and explore?
If you have plans to escape the heat, let me tell you more about a little spot of the Malaysian Coast called Kuala Rompin, great people, great food and oh yes the sailfish!
From the first moment you drive into the tiny village of Kuala Rompin you know you are in Sailfish country. A large signboard welcoming you to Kuala Rompin greets visitors with a huge picture of a very happy angler holding a sailfish. If this does not get the heart rate up, I would recommend a visit to your doctor.
Kuala Rompin is situated on the banks of the Rompin River on the South East coast of Malaysia about a 2 ½ hour drive from Singapore and around 5 ½ hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. This area of the South China Sea, become alive with Sailfish from August through to April. With October being the best month. The Rompin River serve as a great access to the ocean and make for a smooth ride and easy launch.
The thing I enjoy the most about Rompin is that it is of the beaten track, it is not next to a major Cities, and there are no five star hotels. Accommodation is cheap simple and clean and the food is great. Oh yes and the Sailfish
Life in Rompin is a relaxed affair and a typical morning starts with a lengthy breakfast and coffee next to the marina. Where discussions are about fish and fishing. You get introduced and welcomed to the family. Not a hurried affair. If you are the type who keeps checking your watch, you better leave it at home. I was given the assurance “Relax the sailfish will wait for you”
The local skippers are very good and the boats are perfect for up to 4 anglers. The preferred way to catch the “Sails” is with live bait on small circle hooks. Catch and release is practiced so not the circle hooks make release easy. But we did have some fish following light plastics; surface lures and flies as well. Later in the season (around October) the competition for food in crease and chances improve for catching Sailfish on artificial lures.
We visited Rompin last year toward the end of July beginning of August and landed 12 out of the 16 fish hooked in 4 days of fishing. The fishing was great fun, and we used light tackle only 20 pound braid and 4000 and 5000 size Shimano reels on Shimano Aero Cast Rods.
It was still early in the season so the fish were not huge but in great numbers. Evident when we had a triple hook up with sailfish all over the place! Pandemonium!
Take care however we did hook one fish estimated around the 40kg mark that we just could not get to the boat in time to prevent the sailfish bill cutting through the leader. The price you pay for fishing to light.
Evenings are spent either back at the restaurant next to the marina or in one of the great little local restaurants in town. The food is a mix of Malaysian and Chinese food and mostly fresh seafood. I was amazed to find baitfish we did not use during the day on the menu at night. (Delicious) So after that first night I always made sure we had good supply of extra bait. Just in case! Tough to be a baitfish, you are either eaten by sailfish or hungry angler.
The weather in Malaysia is always great and temperatures in the high twenties to low thirties with occasional rain showers.
So instead of aimlessly walking around malls and complaining about the heat and humidity why not get out and explore a new fishing destination, Kuala Rompin Malaysia. You will not be disappointed!
