THE SPOTTED FEATHERBACKS OF BATU GAJAH

This article was published in the March 2004 issue of Rod and Line fishing magazine.

Illegal immigrants have always been a problem in this country. If they are of the human kinds, they pose a very serious problem here. Our law enforcement and health authorities are been stretched to the limit of their capabilities trying to overcome them.

Those that are other than the human kinds also contribute a lot of troubles too. Most of these non-human illegal immigrants came into the country through the exotic animal and tropical fish trades. The problems they created to the environment and ecosystem will take a number of years to be felt.

At this very moment most of the hues and cries were over the indiscriminate release of unwanted pet tropical fishes into our waterways. The devastating erosion of the banks of our rivers and ponds by the sucker catfish has been proven beyond reasonable doubt. Recently, alarms were sounded regarding the peacock bass and the hybrid flower horn fish. Both these cichlids are predators and they do breed as though tomorrow is the end of the world (Heh, scientists, think of the opportunities and riches if you can extract the hormone responsible for making them horny).

While our concerns and attentions are directed at these fishes, the spotted leatherbacks are slowly but surely colonizing the ex-mining ponds around the Kinta Valley. Ponds that we used to catch kaluis, haruans and tilapias are now full of this graceful fish. Maybe being slow moving, the featherbacks do not threaten the ecosystem so much, but their diet does consist of small and tiny prawns. Thinks of the consequences, for when there is no small fish there is no big fish.

To catch fish we must ‘match the hatch’. Goh Tiong Boo was given the task of procuring the scissor tails (it is always the new fellows of the group that are been bullied). Kong, the one who was taking us to his secret spot, of course, was treated like a boss (One of the techniques to secure secret spots). My duty was to provide the car and be the driver lah.

Kong holding up his featherback.

Standing on the bank of the pond near Batu Gajah, Kong was telling us the few hotspots where the featherbacks like to hang around. Being quite early, those belidas have not come out to play yet. According to him, the moment the fish come up for air, the bait should be cast to the vicinity of the rise. If it is in feeding mood, the bait should be taken in a short while.

Our guide was the first to get a bite. In less than five minutes after he had cast out his bait, it was picked up by the belida. Holding up his rod, he struck the moment all his slack line had been taken up. We held our breath as the fish headed for the surface. When it exploded through the water, we ooh and aah in unison... That fish should be given a gold medal for gymnastics. The way it somersaulted and shook its head was truly spectacular. That day must be its unluckiest day for that fish failed to gain it freedom.

This was the way we rigged our baits for belidas.

I got impatient with the waiting and went lure fishing with my casting outfit. There was not a single strike even though quite a number of sinking and deep running crankbaits were tried. My method was to cast to the vicinity of the rise, allow the crankbait to sink before retrieving it. Maybe, the featherbacks were not that aggressive that day, as my efforts drew a naught. Changing to a floating Fat Rap, resulted in a tremendous strike. The rod was nearly yanked out of my hand when the lure was allowed to float up. That monster headed out, taking line with it. When it turned to my right trouble was staring at me straight in the face.

You see, my view was blocked by a tree jutting out from the bank of the pond. Stretching my hands, at the same time leaning my body out as much as I dared, I had a hard time controlling that monster. It headed into some submerged branches and stopped running. The fishing line transmitted all the jerking and shaking of its head in the water.

En. Isa, who was in a sampan nearby, came over to help. After handing my rod to him, I ran over to the other side of the tree and waited. My rod and lure minus the fish, was handed back to me. It must have dislodged the hook using the branches as leverage. We unanimously agreed that the monster could be a toman, for belidas do not fight that dirty. Thanking him for his help, we bade En. Isa farewell. Of course, only after he agreed to allow me to take a photograph of him and his jelawat.

Turning my attention back to ledgering for leatherback again, I eased my aging body into my fishing chair, and settled down to wait (My wife always complains that I am very impatient but yet can enjoy fishing).

When Goh’s rod, which was to my left suddenly started to jerk, we shouted to alert him. The trouble was he had gone to ‘buang sueh’ somewhere. When the rod was pulled out of its holder, there was no choice but for me to dive for it. As getting out of my fishing chair required some effort on my part, I lunged forward, sliding on my tummy (Try to imagine a walrus, no, no a penguin is more preferable, sliding on ice), down the bank.

My reward for a few hours of fishing. Featherback meat is very good for making fish balls.

Luckily I managed to grab his rod, but the fish had let go of the bait. Muttering under my breath all the #@!$ (Goh belongs to the other class of people where all the exclamation marks are non-existent in his vocabulary), helped to ease the pent up frustration.

Sometimes helping others has its rewards. It came in the form of a sudden movement of my line. Being agile and acrobatic did not help to save that belida for we had our photograph taken together. As Kong had some previous appointments later, we decided to call it a day.

Our usual method of fishing for the spotted belidas in ponds is by ledgering. As the ponds do not have current, the weights used need not be very big. After the running weight has hit bottom, we normally reel in some line, but still maintain some slack line for the belidas to pull. Strike when your line tightens. The fish will normally be gut hooked.

En.Isa was kind enough to pose for my camera. Here he is holding up his very presentable jelawat.

If catch and release is your way, then reel in the slack in your line. Strike as soon as your rod tip moves down and your fish will normally be hooked in the mouth.