Dear friends
Due to personal reasons, I will not be writing in this blog anymore. Part of the reason being certain major changes that had taken place in my life will cause me to have much much fewer chances to go fishing.
I want to thank all of you who have supported me all along by reading and commenting on my posts. I had actually abandoned this blog, only to find out recently that readers have left comments regarding my whereabouts. If you really want to read more nonsense from me, you can go to 'A small fish in the ocean' in the future.
Hasta la vista!
Miaows
The MFF Blog
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Old Fish
After a month long hiatus, there's no more excuse to postpone the next post... no matter how busy or how down I feel. My dear readers, if you were patiently checking once in a while for new posts, I am really really grateful. *Blows kisses* I sincerely hope I do deserve your support.
Well, I've not been to any fishing trips at all during the past month... so I shall talk about an old fish today. An old fish? Yes, this fish was actually caught during our late december 09 trip to Hotboys Kelong.
Barracuda during curing process.
Instead of eating it fresh, we decided to get it salted. Not just any salted fish, mind you! It is what we call 梅香咸鱼. Unlike normal salted fish which is very dry, the method of making 梅香咸鱼 allows it to retain more moisture - resulting in more fragrant flesh. This is what a cross-section of the salted barracuda looks like.
The flesh of the fish retains its moisture and firmness.
If you had seen whole barracudas or queenfish hanging outside in the sun at the kelongs, you probably were looking at the making of 梅香咸鱼. I believe all four kelongs at Sibu sells them? (Not sure though...)
Simply frying a slice of this in hot oil gives you a very crispy and fragrant, yet not too salty piece of salted fish that goes very well with rice or porridge. Ok, I shan't say more... I'm drooling already!
Well, I've not been to any fishing trips at all during the past month... so I shall talk about an old fish today. An old fish? Yes, this fish was actually caught during our late december 09 trip to Hotboys Kelong.
Barracuda during curing process.
Instead of eating it fresh, we decided to get it salted. Not just any salted fish, mind you! It is what we call 梅香咸鱼. Unlike normal salted fish which is very dry, the method of making 梅香咸鱼 allows it to retain more moisture - resulting in more fragrant flesh. This is what a cross-section of the salted barracuda looks like.
The flesh of the fish retains its moisture and firmness.
If you had seen whole barracudas or queenfish hanging outside in the sun at the kelongs, you probably were looking at the making of 梅香咸鱼. I believe all four kelongs at Sibu sells them? (Not sure though...)
Simply frying a slice of this in hot oil gives you a very crispy and fragrant, yet not too salty piece of salted fish that goes very well with rice or porridge. Ok, I shan't say more... I'm drooling already!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Year of the Tiger
Today's the eve of the lunar new year and tomorrow will be a brand new year (and hopefully a brand new beginning for me!). Here's wishing all readers a joyful and prosperous year that is also abundant with fish! Happy Year of the Tiger!
My new handphone accessory!
My new handphone accessory!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Free lunch?
Was told just yesterday that the food I was talking about in the previous post, was free! Well, if it was really all free then I have to admit I was rather harsh in my comments. I must say that their generousity is applaudable, even though the quality leaves a lot to be desired... Kekeke...
Think if I do join them for another trip, I shall be so thick-skinned as to get the food money from them, go grocery shopping and then do the cooking on the boat. 他们出钱，我出力嘛！
Think if I do join them for another trip, I shall be so thick-skinned as to get the food money from them, go grocery shopping and then do the cooking on the boat. 他们出钱，我出力嘛！
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
St John's Island Trip
Notice that I did not name this post as a CR, this is because we caught nothing. Yup, a big fat zero for both of us (not counting the baitfish and sotong caught for bait)! Sianz...
There were a total of 9 anglers on this trip and we spent 36 hours out at sea - moving from spot to spot around St John's Island and all the way to Raffles Lighthouse. The potential was there but maybe we had used up our fishing luck at the kelong and should have waited for it to be 'recharged' before going on another fishing trip so soon? Haha...
Anyway, it could also be due to the food on board that affected my mood. Now, I'm totally ok with the dishes concocted by any boat's cook or deckie - which is usually something like fried vegetables with a chicken curry for lunch. So when I was told that the organiser would be doing the cooking, I obviously expected the same standard right? However, saving some money is not a good reason for me to eat plain porridge with assorted canned (sodium and preservatives overload) food!!
Plain porridge with: canned chye sim + chye poh + canned mock meat with peanuts + canned fried fish with black beans + preserved beancurd
Sorry peeps, call me fussy or whatever you want but I'm never going on boat trips again with this organiser. Unless I'm the one doing the cooking... Hehehe....
There were a total of 9 anglers on this trip and we spent 36 hours out at sea - moving from spot to spot around St John's Island and all the way to Raffles Lighthouse. The potential was there but maybe we had used up our fishing luck at the kelong and should have waited for it to be 'recharged' before going on another fishing trip so soon? Haha...
Anyway, it could also be due to the food on board that affected my mood. Now, I'm totally ok with the dishes concocted by any boat's cook or deckie - which is usually something like fried vegetables with a chicken curry for lunch. So when I was told that the organiser would be doing the cooking, I obviously expected the same standard right? However, saving some money is not a good reason for me to eat plain porridge with assorted canned (sodium and preservatives overload) food!!
Plain porridge with: canned chye sim + chye poh + canned mock meat with peanuts + canned fried fish with black beans + preserved beancurd
Sorry peeps, call me fussy or whatever you want but I'm never going on boat trips again with this organiser. Unless I'm the one doing the cooking... Hehehe....
Friday, February 5, 2010
Hokkaido Bento
The bi-annual Hokkaido Fair is here again at Isetan Scotts. If you want to get the steamed King crab bun and the assorted dried squid I talked about last June, go now!
You may also be tempted to buy this when you are there...
Hokkaido Seafood Bento
There were quite a few different combinations (and this one was the most expensive at $35 each), but the sheer variety of seafood in this bento made it irresistible! Seven types of seafood plus 3 types of pickles on vinegared rice... Yums.... :p
You may also be tempted to buy this when you are there...
Hokkaido Seafood Bento
There were quite a few different combinations (and this one was the most expensive at $35 each), but the sheer variety of seafood in this bento made it irresistible! Seven types of seafood plus 3 types of pickles on vinegared rice... Yums.... :p
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
CR Hotboys - 29/1 to 31/1
As mentioned in my previous post, this visit to Hotboys kelong was a very last minute trip; it was so last minute that we did not check our 'kelong stock' and had to survive without a couple of important things (Eg. We brought only 1 set of size 4 tamban hooks) ! However, this was a very special trip as it was ZY's first trip to a kelong (Not counting the 2 times he went while in his mummy's tummy) ! Kekeke...
The action started very soon after our arrival... Look! There’s a fish on the floor!
2.3kg queenfish caught using live tamban
Actually the only bait available was live tamban and thankfully they were there in huge numbers. It’s very difficult to get selars recently so we just had to make do with big fat tambans. Sotong was also scarce - maybe it’s because of the full moon - but whatever the reason, we only managed to catch 6 sotongs for the whole trip. It was not for a lack of trying though!
During nightfall, the schools of small fish swimming around were constantly being scared away by barracudas which kept surfacing once in a while, so we decided to teach them a lesson. I was fishing in front while WT was fishing at the back. Guess what, we both managed to get a hook up - at the very same time!
The kelong staff, who were watching TV, saw me fighting a fish and quickly came over. 明仔 expertly gaffed my barracuda and went back to his supper. I left the fish lying on the floor and went to the back to tell WT about my catch, only to see him fighting a barracuda too! I rushed back to ask the kelong staff for help, only to see them run towards the front instead of the back. I then realised why - my fish had managed to jump back into the sea!
明仔 passed me my rod that he had grabbed in time and gaffed the fish up... again. By then, WT had lost his fish! His dad, who was beside him, found a long net (not only was the pole long, the net itself was very long too!) and tried to net the barracuda. But... the barracuda swam into the net and right out again as there was a hole! WT couldn’t pull the fish out because the angle was wrong, and when the fish decided to make another dash, the line rubbed against the net and snapped! So he had nothing to show for his trouble...
6.2kg barracuda caught with live tamban
Just before daybreak on the next day, a kaci and a small grouper was caught. The grouper was steamed for lunch specially for ZY. Yummy!
2kg kaci caught using fresh sotong
It is nice to get some variety once in a while - like these Kerisi instead of Leng Chiam!
The second day, during dinner time, a tengirri took our bait! The rod grappled with the fish for don't know how long before WT arrived on the scene and continued the fight. We were all slowly eating and didn't even hear him yelling for us to help gaff the fish! Luckily, the attentive kelong staff heard him and quickly went to his rescue. ;p
This fish is bigger than me! AHHH!!!
8kg tengirri caught using live tamban
All in all, it was a enjoyable and fruitful trip indeed!
The action started very soon after our arrival... Look! There’s a fish on the floor!
2.3kg queenfish caught using live tamban
Actually the only bait available was live tamban and thankfully they were there in huge numbers. It’s very difficult to get selars recently so we just had to make do with big fat tambans. Sotong was also scarce - maybe it’s because of the full moon - but whatever the reason, we only managed to catch 6 sotongs for the whole trip. It was not for a lack of trying though!
During nightfall, the schools of small fish swimming around were constantly being scared away by barracudas which kept surfacing once in a while, so we decided to teach them a lesson. I was fishing in front while WT was fishing at the back. Guess what, we both managed to get a hook up - at the very same time!
The kelong staff, who were watching TV, saw me fighting a fish and quickly came over. 明仔 expertly gaffed my barracuda and went back to his supper. I left the fish lying on the floor and went to the back to tell WT about my catch, only to see him fighting a barracuda too! I rushed back to ask the kelong staff for help, only to see them run towards the front instead of the back. I then realised why - my fish had managed to jump back into the sea!
明仔 passed me my rod that he had grabbed in time and gaffed the fish up... again. By then, WT had lost his fish! His dad, who was beside him, found a long net (not only was the pole long, the net itself was very long too!) and tried to net the barracuda. But... the barracuda swam into the net and right out again as there was a hole! WT couldn’t pull the fish out because the angle was wrong, and when the fish decided to make another dash, the line rubbed against the net and snapped! So he had nothing to show for his trouble...
6.2kg barracuda caught with live tamban
Just before daybreak on the next day, a kaci and a small grouper was caught. The grouper was steamed for lunch specially for ZY. Yummy!
2kg kaci caught using fresh sotong
It is nice to get some variety once in a while - like these Kerisi instead of Leng Chiam!
The second day, during dinner time, a tengirri took our bait! The rod grappled with the fish for don't know how long before WT arrived on the scene and continued the fight. We were all slowly eating and didn't even hear him yelling for us to help gaff the fish! Luckily, the attentive kelong staff heard him and quickly went to his rescue. ;p
This fish is bigger than me! AHHH!!!
8kg tengirri caught using live tambanAll in all, it was a enjoyable and fruitful trip indeed!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Kelong fever
Despite all that I've said in the previous post... we are going to Sibu kelong tomorrow! Kekeke... Hope there will be a good CR to share in 3 day's time! :)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Disappearing act
First I must apologise for having disappeared so long from my last post till now, then I'm going to give my excuse - I was admitted to hospital on the 15th for a laparoscopic myomectomy. So what? You may ask. Well, I wouldn't have bothered telling you this if not for the fact that my doctor gave me 32 days MC... Gasp!
Before everyone start grinning and slapping me on the back saying how lucky I am, let me tell you that I am virtually 'bedridden' for the first week, not allowed to do anything that is stressful for the second, and highly unlikely to be anywhere near a body of water in which you can find fish for the entire month. Sob....
No fishing till Chinese New Year? Boohoo! :(
Before everyone start grinning and slapping me on the back saying how lucky I am, let me tell you that I am virtually 'bedridden' for the first week, not allowed to do anything that is stressful for the second, and highly unlikely to be anywhere near a body of water in which you can find fish for the entire month. Sob....
No fishing till Chinese New Year? Boohoo! :(
Monday, January 11, 2010
Kayak fever
Decided to give kayak fishing a try. When my friend who owns a double seater kayak and asked me along, I accepted his invitation straight away. Actually I was tempted by the idea of harvesting fresh mussels from the sea structures. I tried those fresh mussels a couple of times before and they were fabulous! But that was many years back whereby I could still swim to the middle of the sea to harvest them. But now, those reachable areas are all barren already.
Due to some hiccups, it was around 8am plus when we reached the spot. We only had a few hours of fishing before the sun became unbearable. I was in charge of harvesting the mussels while my friend was fishing for bait fish. He would hook up a bait fish and park his other rod while continue his bait fish hunting. It was not long before his bait fish was taken by a queenfish. Subsequently, the bait fish was taken at an average of about 5-10 minutes, all suspected to be queenies. The bite rate was quite frenzied!
But due to our clumsiness on the kayak with limited space, the hook sets were not proper most of the time. There were about 6-7 takes altogether but we only managed to land 2 before police coast guards came to disturb us and we decided to call it a day. I tried luring for them on the surface but seemed like they prefer to loiter around at the bottom.
It was quite a fruitful trip considering that it was my first kayak fishing trip and without a fish finder. The battery that I bought for the fish finder was a faulty one, sianz... Next time, we will definitely return with a working fish finder and hopefully have more to show.
Due to some hiccups, it was around 8am plus when we reached the spot. We only had a few hours of fishing before the sun became unbearable. I was in charge of harvesting the mussels while my friend was fishing for bait fish. He would hook up a bait fish and park his other rod while continue his bait fish hunting. It was not long before his bait fish was taken by a queenfish. Subsequently, the bait fish was taken at an average of about 5-10 minutes, all suspected to be queenies. The bite rate was quite frenzied!
But due to our clumsiness on the kayak with limited space, the hook sets were not proper most of the time. There were about 6-7 takes altogether but we only managed to land 2 before police coast guards came to disturb us and we decided to call it a day. I tried luring for them on the surface but seemed like they prefer to loiter around at the bottom.
It was quite a fruitful trip considering that it was my first kayak fishing trip and without a fish finder. The battery that I bought for the fish finder was a faulty one, sianz... Next time, we will definitely return with a working fish finder and hopefully have more to show.
Total catch for the day
- Special report by QWT
Sunday, January 10, 2010
More Bluefin Tuna...
Yikes! It has actually been a week since the last post! Forgive me, readers. Last week was the first week of school, and it's not easy to get back into the rhythm of a working schedule after resting for about one month. :p
And yes, the lure of fresh tuna sashimi was too much to resist... We went over to Isetan Scotts again! Kekeke...
This time, I paid more attention to the prices of the different cuts of tuna sashimi:
Akami $190/kg
Chutoro $408/kg
Ootoro $480/kg
Isn't the price difference amazing? If you want melt-in-your-mouth tuna sashimi, skip the chutoro and go straight for the ootoro! This was what we bought...
Negitoro and a tray of sashimi including all 3 cuts.
It was definitely worth it!
And yes, the lure of fresh tuna sashimi was too much to resist... We went over to Isetan Scotts again! Kekeke...
This time, I paid more attention to the prices of the different cuts of tuna sashimi:
Akami $190/kg
Chutoro $408/kg
Ootoro $480/kg
Isn't the price difference amazing? If you want melt-in-your-mouth tuna sashimi, skip the chutoro and go straight for the ootoro! This was what we bought...
Negitoro and a tray of sashimi including all 3 cuts.
It was definitely worth it!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Blue fin tuna sashimi anyone?
I was shopping at Isetan Scotts and again had a chance to see a whole bluefin tuna, which was waiting to be sliced up by a Japanese chef. Even though I wasn't the one who caught it, having a taste of it would satisfy me as well!
This fish cost $195/kg
According to the staff, the one that was carved up yesterday was even bigger at 50 over kg!
Vital statistics...
Those who want to see how a chef divide an entire fish into different cuts and portions can make their way down to the supermarket at the basement of Isetan at Scotts Road. You have 3 more chances to see this - Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday (5th, 9th and 10th Jan) at 2pm sharp. If you do find yourself there, you have to try the sushi or sashimi made from these fish. Oishi!!
This fish cost $195/kg
According to the staff, the one that was carved up yesterday was even bigger at 50 over kg!
Vital statistics...
Those who want to see how a chef divide an entire fish into different cuts and portions can make their way down to the supermarket at the basement of Isetan at Scotts Road. You have 3 more chances to see this - Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday (5th, 9th and 10th Jan) at 2pm sharp. If you do find yourself there, you have to try the sushi or sashimi made from these fish. Oishi!!
A registry for recreational anglers?
According to the Tampa Bay Online, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) of America has started a National Saltwater Angler Registry beginning this year. The reason behind is of course for the government to be able to keep track of the number and species of fish caught.
"By registering, recreational anglers will make their catch count," said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA's Fisheries Service. "The National Saltwater Angler Registry is an important tool that will enable us to better estimate the health of marine fisheries so that we're able to preserve the pastime of recreational saltwater fishing for generations to come."
This will work, assuming that all regulations and restrictions like bag limits are strictly adhered to. In addition, anglers must willingly register and conscientiously report their catch every time.
Hmm... Having witnessed people 'dabao-ing' their catches from reservoirs in Singapore and wishing that there are stringent checks by the relevant authorities, do you think this will work in America?
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