Tree Whisperers at Serai di Lanjut – Rompin.
http://www.seraidilanjut.com.my/Home.html  Evergreen Casuarinas line the beach. The wind blows softly, moving in the treetops like invisible giant fingers gently ruffling a child's head of hair. Swaying in the breeze, branches and leaves brush each other, whispering secrets of the ancients. Much like the sound of running waters, lulling me to sleep on the porch of wooden chalets I've stayed at with my sons some 20 years back. They've grown from boys into men, but I'm the one who keeps coming back to soak in the serenity of this place. Anglers return because Rompin's where the fishes are biting. They keep coming back to fish another day while others come for the golf, the friendly people and the gentle pace of life. I've often wondered what drew me here, the mystique of its faraway location? The whispering of the trees?

Saturday 7.45am. Pantai Bernas Jetty next door is decorated with fluttering flags and colourful buntings. And jam packed with villagers, officials and fishing teams preparing to cast off. At 8.30am, RPBIC officials http://www.bharian.com.my/sisipan/billfish/rules.html and VIPs on a blue Naval Police Cruiser raise arms aloft together blasting air horns to cheer an armada of 33 boats rushing due east into the South China Sea. They'll head out some 15 nautical miles east to jig for bait-fish then cast for sailfish swarming these waters.

Go! Go! Go where the sea birds fly circling then swooping in to snatch fingerlings from the sea. And where ikan selar and achovies swim you can be sure there's Sailfish trailing and feeding on them from below. Karang (Reef) DO, Karang Cha, Karang Batu Mati, Karang Bubu, Karang Luas, Batu Berhala, Karang Rompin, Batu Saga and Tukun Tayar are fishing sites your skipper would have already plotted onto fish finding GPS. The Sailfish are on seasonal migration north from cold Australian waters to gorge on plentiful schools of bait fish off Rompin, a confirmed sanctuary for these denizens of the deep. Most likely they’ve been coming here for hundreds of years and only lately with sports fishermen roaming these waters have they been ‘discovered’ and Rompin recognized as billfish haven. The best fishing months are August to September with calm waters. 2nd best months are sunny days during in Dec-Jan in choppy seas.

RPBIC Anglers from Saturday's fishing often return with fishes like cobia, snapper and garoupa in the icebox. A quick shower to rinse off effects of salt and sun; and they’re off to their favorite restaurants. The day’s catch is cooked to perfection for the freshest seafood feast. Eating and drinking between tall tales about ones they've hooked or lost can continue into the wee hours. They rise with the sun and by 8am on Sunday morning, they're off fishing all day, returning only before 4pm to record the catch. 

The evening’s RPBIC Awards Dinner is preceded with photo slideshows of the anglers shot during the 2 day competition. A feast for the eyes follow with Pahang’s famed cultural dance performance ahead of the highly anticipated prize presentations celebrating this year's Champions. And the results...

Group Category:

First Prize (RM15,000): Xzonga-A from Malaysia - Dennis CS Lee 4; Wilson WS Tan 5; Steven MS Chong 6 = 15 Sailfish

Second Prize (RM7,000): Xzonga-B from Singapore - Ho Hee Fong 3; Clement HK Ng; Tan Hock Seng 3 = 11 Sailfish.

Third Prize (RM3,300): Hooked on C Adventures - Les Originales Singapore & Malaysia. Charles Lee 4; Daryl Jes Ch'ng 3; Tan Pair Seng 3 = 10 Sailfish

Four Consolation prizes (RM600 each): Team Mustad III; Batu Balik; Xzonga Thailand; Pelareef Hookers 2.

Individual Category:

First Prize (RM10,000): Lim Yue Lean from Kedah - 8 Sailfish

Second Prize (RM5,000): Patrick Ng Kam Ling from Singapore - 7 Sailfish

Third Prize (RM2,500): Andy Ro Chuen Han from Singapore - 6 Sailfish

Four consolations prizes (RM600 each): Cheah Han Shueng - Penang; Richard Foong; Lam Choon Ming; Byron R Gardiner - all from Singapore.

Catches: Day 1 - 72; Day 2 - 79 Total = 150 Sailfish + 1 Marlin. 

Strikes: Day 1 - 81; Day 2 - 79. Total = 160. strikes.

Teams: 33.  Countries 11: Australia, Canada; France ; Germany; Indonesia; Malaysia; Philippines; Singapore; South Africa; Thailand; United Kingdom.

FEEDBACK:

Philippines Sports Fishing - Team Alpha - 4 saifish. Team Beta - 2 Sailfish. Mr. Edmund Lim (71 years young and 2nd time at RPBIC) is pleased with the skipper's skills. English speaking Pemm Marshall was excellent translator. Happy because caught BIG squids, garoupa and Red Snappers for the dining table. Rates Tournament; 8/10. Sail Fish: 8/10.

Hooked on C Adventures  - Team Norton Fighta. Byron Gardiner: is pleased with maiden appearance winning 7^th place. Rates Tournament 8/10 Sail Fish: 10/10.

Story by Polo Singapore.

Fotos by Mike Oz & Foto Polo

 Byron’s blushes enroute to 1^st time win at RPBIC

Sleep came with difficulty, despite the healthy consumption of what we Australian’s call Liquid Gold. After 2 days of pre-fishing, and many weeks of anticipation, the Royal Pahang International Billfish Challenge 2008 was upon us and I for one could barely control my excitement.

The 3 teams from Hooked on C Adventures staying at Rompin River Chalets had engaged in friendly banter regarding the competition since arrival. After meeting up with many of the other teams at registration on Friday evening, we were more than keen to simply get out there and start fishing.

As a seasoned tournament angler in Australia, I can tell you that nothing comes close to the anticipation at the start of Day 1. This is the time when everyone has a chance. That is just how Team Norton Fighta’s David Freer, Ah Ping and myself felt as we picked up our Marshall Mr. Khoo. Skipper Ah Boon floored the throttles on the twin Honda 90’s and The Royal Pahang comp was underway.

First stop was the bait grounds inshore on the many FAD’s that dot the area. After mediocre results and having spent 2 days pre-fishing, David and I had a fair idea of what we wanted to do – head wide and catch bait on the Sailfish grounds. This had proved easy over the previous days and we were not disappointed with “selar” and “greasies” soon finding their way into the bait tank….but not for long. Within minutes, 3 live-baits suspended under balloons had been deployed. Each was pinned by an Owner Mutu light wire circle hook, on between 60-80lb trace. It was 9.30am and the wait had begun.

As 10am approached, the monotony of bait catching was broken by a screaming ratchet. I quickly disengaged the clicker and thumbed the spool as the fish took line at a steady pace. “Patience..” I told myself over and over as I waited to ensure the fish had turned with the bait and a good hook up would be assured. As the pace of the line departing the spool increased, I made the decision to set the hook and eased the drag up to strike. The line became tight as the hook caught in the corner of the fish’s jaw and 50m behind the boat a Sailfish took to the air in a majestic trademark leap. Fish On!!

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as the fish made a series of spectacular jumps in an attempt to throw the hook. Despite the excitement, experience told me to take it easy and keep a tight line during the early stages of the fight. Inattention at this stage has cost many a good fish for even experienced anglers and I was adamant that this Sailfish would be tagged as our first of the comp.

After a spirited fight that reminded me just why I love these remarkable sportsfish, Ah Ping took a wrap on the leader and gently coaxed the fish to boatside before taking hold of the bill and she was ours. A quick photo-shoot per comp rules, followed by a tag in the shoulder, and our first fish of the day was released in good condition and powered away with a steady tail beat.

It was then congratulations all round with much hand shaking and a few high 5’s, followed by the customary icy cold can of Liquid Gold. We were on the board and running high on confidence.

As we settled back into our drift and further livebaits were deployed, I relived the fight with my team and crew and commented that “where there is one, there is usually another”. Eager eyes watched the drifting balloons to our stern anticipating the next strike and it was not long before we were rewarded with another screaming reel.

Ah Ping was the fortunate angler this time….or so I thought. Before I knew it, he had thrust the rod into my hands and suggested we compete for the Individual Prize, with me as the angler. As a Sailfish danced a waltz across the ocean, fishing line in tow, my mind processed the situation and I found myself protesting the decision. Ah Ping had basically put me in the position of having to play and capture each fish that we hooked over the duration of the tournament, leaving both David and himself effectively in the role of spectator. Now was not the time to argue, I decided, as the Sailfish continued an amazing series of jumps behind us, taking over 30m of line in the process.

This fish proved to be a touch smaller than the first and it wasn’t long before Ah Ping was once again taking the trace in hand and leading the fish in. The customary photos and tag shot were completed with minimal fuss and another magnificent Sailfish was returned to fight another day.

After setting up for another drift, Team Norton Fighta weighed up the decision to fish for Individual honors and I finally reluctantly consented that it might be our only chance at a prize. Day 1 ended with 3 fish caught and released and another 2 fish dropped.

The long trip back to the jetty had us all thinking about how the other teams fared and what tomorrow would bring.

Day 2 dawned, and if anything the anticipation was even greater. The fishing “grapevine” suggested that we might be in with a real chance if things went our way today and I was confident that we would put in a good show.

After a brief stop at the jetty for Marshall Khoo to rejoin us, we powered out through the river mouth and set off for the Sailfish grounds with a similar game plan to yesterday. Upon arrival it took only minutes to secure a selection of fresh baits that were hastily rigged and set out under balloons.

Once again we did not have to wait long for the tell-tale screaming reel, but failed to secure a hook-up. Minutes later a similar run followed by a hook up that was obviously not a billfish, but did manage to take the line around a fish trap buoy. After disentangling the line we found the fish miraculously still attached and Ah Ping secured a beautiful trevally of about 4kg. Makan!!” We exclaimed in unison as the fish was quickly bled and placed on ice.

Back to the task at hand though, as this was after all a billfish tournament, and again live-baits were soon drifting astern…….zzzzzzzzz another strike and all looked good for our first Sailfish of the morning when again the fish missed the hook (or I missed the fish). This scenario would play out over 10 times during the day. Screaming drag, free-spool for anything up to a minute, and an attempt to set the hook, only to have the dreaded sensation of the line coming tight before slipping out of the fish’s mouth.

Despite finding many schools of feeding Sails during the course of the day, we only managed to successfully tag and release 2 fish, from a total of more than 12 strikes. We were devastated and this fact was compounded when, with 10mins of fishing time remaining, Team Hooked on C Adventures “Les Originales” arrived astern and proceeded to hook 3 Sails within 100m of our boat. I am not one to believe in luck whilst fishing, feeling that you make your own, but this display had me thinking again. That said, having fished with Kai Chai (Tan Pair Seng) previously, he is at one with the ocean and these sensational fish and it was no surprise that he pulled them from under our noses.

On the return journey, we contemplated what had gone wrong. Hitting 3 fishes from 5 strikes on Day 1, we dropped down to an atrocious 2 from 12 on Day 2.  Despite our disappointment we cheered ourselves with the good times we spent together and new friendships we made during this tournament.

Later that evening I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we placed 7^th in the Individual Category. The team and I were thrilled at this news, but the best was yet to come. Team Hooked on C Adventures “Les Originales” had come from behind to take 3^rd Place in the Team event.

In summary, the Royal Pahang Billfish International Challenge 2008 was thoroughly enjoyable in every respect. The great friendship and banter between the teams and crew, the sensational fishing and the professional way it is all put together by Organisers and Sponsors left me with no doubt I will return again next year. It is simply too good to miss!

Sincere thanks to Daryl Jes Ch’ng and Charles Lee for arranging logistics and accommodation. Thanks also to skipper Ah Boon and teammates from Hooked on C Adventures. Lastly a big thank you to my generous team mates, David and Ah Ping. Can’t wait to do it again next year fellas! Cheers!

Story by Byron Gardiner.