Where do you normally fish at?

[gills]

"I'm an obsessed angler"

Where do you normally fish at? freshwater for me.

[LoneRider]

I usually do freshwater. Usual places are Pandan and Jurong Lake.. Other places are Taman Jurong paypond and Marina area..

[gills]

I usually do freshwater. Usual places are Pandan and Jurong Lake.. Other places are Taman Jurong paypond and Marina area..

wah so happy to know you. but the places you go to are very alien to me. haha. don't travel that much for fishing.

[fisherw]

My son used to be interested but the lack of success has dulled his interest. Is there anywhere where the fishes bite? No need for fight just the thrill of getting a fish. Better if with artificial lures.

[gills]

haha. i'm looking for such a place myself too. sad to say la. i'm fishing at bedok reservoir but breaking the rules by using bread. it'll be great if someone can tell me where are the places that the fishes bite on lures.

[barmby]

Not long. Last year.. there used to be an area that is flooded in Marina South..And words spread.. Anglers start fishing there cos there are fishes like local tomans. How true?

[lyh]

For toman you can try Kranji reservoir. My most number of catch there was 20+ but all are table sized not those big ones and gave most away to the Banglas cos I thought they need to replenish themselves .

If you want just the feel of fish biting then Bedok jetty is the place. Get that $1 or $2 hook and you are ready for some action. If you can fishes on all 8 hooks then there will be some "fight"

[gills]

oh ya. bedok jetty. but that marina south place i not very familiar, heard of it before. about kranji reservoir, well that 20+ is my record too. in bout 30 mins? haha. didn't use lures. all not big ones. the big mamas can be seen popping their heads out of water to laugh at me, but they will never take my offerings. how sad.

[GaspingGurami]

I fish S. Serangoon, S. Punggol, Lower Seletar, SAF Yacht Club, RSYC, S. Pandan around the Retan Laut.

[gills]

wow!you fish quite extensively.can pinpoint the places like how to get there?might want to explore them during the june hols.thanks in advance.

[budak]

I have a question which I could members who are avid fishermen could help discuss: why do some anglers use live bait (I have seen them bringing bags of live platies/mollies) to fish? Is this to target fishes like toman/peacock bass? Are there alternatives?

In some countries (US, Australia), live bait (from minnows to worms) is quite closely regulated to prevent the spread of diseases to native animals or the possible escape of non-native bait animals. Is this being taken care of in Singapore?

[LoneRider]

Lots of fish will strike at mollies or platies used as bait. My general rule to fishing is best bait is live, second is fresh bait. As anyone who has kept piscivores will know, some fish will only eat live prey. I guess using live bait triggers their feeding response better. An alternative would be the use of lures that mimics baitfish. Lures however not only triggers feeding but also aggression of target fish. This is especially true for the snakehead and peacock bass who are fiercely territorial and guard their brood jealously. I'm slowly switching to lures but its not easy with limited stocks and place to fish in Singapore.

The use of livebait is unregulated in Singapore. Lets put it this way, there's not a waterway in Singapore that is free from alien species. The lack of a governing body over fish and wildlife also makes things complicated. Depending on where you fish you have the AVA, NParks, PUB and NEA looking over your shoulder. There are also no regulations on catch or size limit. I've always felt licensing coupled with restocking is the way to go. Look at Australia for a good example. The problem in our waters is not diseases, its the alien species released by irresponsible aquarists.

I'd rather hook up a decent sebarau or snakehead than a toman any day as they're native. However, beggars can't be choosers. The odd toman, peacock bass and clown knife will have to do I guess. With Vesak day coming, I expect to hook up more fishes, turtles and frogs from far flung countries.

[budak]

Hi LoneRider,

Thanks for your detailed sharing. I tend to agree that the issue of aliens in the reservoirs proper is already moot. It's good that you are one angler who knows his natives though.

I am not sure about what's going to happen exactly with the touted opening up of the reservoirs, but am I right to say that only designated parts of MacRitchie, Lower and Upper Seletar are permited angling spots?

There are actually a few places still where native (and very rare and vulnerable) fishes and other aquatic wildlife survive. Finding a way to preserve the integrity of these habitats without erecting a fence/wall is the challenge though.

[LoneRider]

You'll be surprised how much anglers know about their targets.. Quite a few reservoirs have been opened for angling. To add to your list bedok reservoir and jurong lake has also opened some spots for anglers. As usual, most of these spots, especially macrithie are dead spots with no fish. Obviously whoever was in charge felt it doesn't matter where they allow anglers to fish, as long as a spot has been given to them they'll just have to make do with it. Lack of planning or sincerity i feel. I guess an old sport like fishing isn't as appealing as allowing dragonboats and water skiing onto our lakes and rivers. Which is why a lot of anglers are willing to bash through secondary forest to get to their quarry (risking life, limb and a fine). I believe most of the newer anglers have sworn off live bait and practice catch and release religiously as do I. However,if its non native, toman, knife fish and especially peacock bass I'll catch and kill (eat or given away). Some may frown at this, but I say good riddance. We don't need these "foreign talents" in our waters. Our local species deserve a chance. The alien species should remain in our tanks..Some may not be so invasive I guess like the common guppy but when was the last time someone caught a tiger barb locally. I remember once they were abundant.. I guess nothing lasts forever. Especially in Singapore..

[michael lai]

Hi LoneRider,

Thanks for your detailed sharing. I tend to agree that the issue of aliens in the reservoirs proper is already moot. It's good that you are one angler who knows his natives though.

I am not sure about what's going to happen exactly with the touted opening up of the reservoirs, but am I right to say that only designated parts of MacRitchie, Lower and Upper Seletar are permited angling spots?

There are actually a few places still where native (and very rare and vulnerable) fishes and other aquatic wildlife survive. Finding a way to preserve the integrity of these habitats without erecting a fence/wall is the challenge though.

Basically nothing much is going to change when the reservoirs is open for fishing. There was a time when I could get 10kg plus tomans easily, as it is most of the reservoirs are already over fish but it is the damage to the surroundings that we should be worried about.
Trust me when I say no place is safe, it is only for a fact that those places that you mentioned do not have 'good sport' that they are "spared". I feel to answer your last challenge would be education.
To all my brethrens out there who are anglers, there are abundant saltwater sport out there in singapore coastal waters. You just have to study and understand your 'prey', your area and the tidal flow influence. It was only last december when I caught a 10kg Barramundi on lure, I'm still getting the 3-4 kgs on average trips. Pound for pound, any saltwater fish would beat a freshwater fish anytime.

[LoneRider]

Now.. This interests me, mind sharing if it was shore fishing of offshore? Mind sharing the spot? Last I caught a barramundi on lure was 4years back at Sungai Pandan during the rising tide. Juvenile though.. less than 500g. PM if inconvenient to say here.

[XnSdVd]

For toman you can try Kranji reservoir. My most number of catch there was 20+ but all are table sized not those big ones and gave most away to the Banglas cos I thought they need to replenish themselves .

http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/freshwater-fishes.htm
I don't suppose the toman you caught were C.micropeltes? Or were they natives? I'd hate to think some banglas inadvertently consumed a rare C.gachua

[LoneRider]

http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/freshwater-fishes.htm
I don't suppose the toman you caught were C.micropeltes? Or were they natives? I'd hate to think some banglas inadvertently consumed a rare C.gachua

Tomans are C. micropeltes.. Usually if anglers says snakeheads they'd be referring to C. Striata (hope I spelled that correctly).

[michael lai]

Now.. This interests me, mind sharing if it was shore fishing of offshore? Mind sharing the spot? Last I caught a barramundi on lure was 4years back at Sungai Pandan during the rising tide. Juvenile though.. less than 500g. PM if inconvenient to say here.

I only do shore casting in Singapore. I cannot divulge the location as I hope it can last another few years although I doubt it. I can tell you this though, the breeding season for barramundi starts November to January around singapore. You will hit double digit fish, try changi at december, the mating run hits there then. My brethrens please adopt conservation measures, release fish under 1 kg and any fish above 3kg. Barramundi above 3kg is sexually matured and will change sex to female to begin breeding. Fish under 1kg has no meat.
PS: My personal favorite are Yozuris, mid water and purple colour which I have had great sucess. Deep divers for mangrove jack and groupers.( Rapala ).

[michael lai]

http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/freshwater-fishes.htm
I don't suppose the toman you caught were C.micropeltes? Or were they natives? I'd hate to think some banglas inadvertently consumed a rare C.gachua

Shannon, you can rest assured most of the C.gachua here are safe. Access to them is at least a 3 hour hike with a 2 1/2 hour bash through secondary forest in between with no visible or recognisable trail. I have come across a patch of shallow river bank about 20-30metres in length with about 50 holes where they are breeding. Most of the fish is adult size about 2 feet in length.