Kelah - King of Freshwater Fish

Kelah is a fish from the genus Tor. The general name of 'mahseer' (Indian for 'big head') is popularly used. In the nothern parts of India, mahseer is also called 'kurriah' or 'kukhiah' ,whilst our kejor (tengas) is called 'kajra'.

There is high possibility that the anme of kelah is derived from these terms. After all, the Hindu civilisation was the earliest to entrench itself in the Malay Peninsula.

Scientific name	Tor tambroides; Tor tambra
English name	Malaysian Red Mahseer; Thai Red Mahseer; Greater Brook Carp
Local names	Kelah (Peninsular Malaysia), Empurau/Semah (Sarawak), Pelian (Sabah)
Salient features	Large strong head, thick lips with median lobe lower lip. Body cylindrical with slight compression; large scales. Colour ranges from pale to bright red. Fins range from pink to red to blue. Large forked tail and rudder-like anal fin.
Distribution	Indian, Myanmar, Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra.
Habitat	Medium to large rivers with rocky, sandy and leafy bottom. Prefers highly oxygenated water and dark environment.
Habits	Stations itself in prime lies where its needs of security, shelter and food it readily served. May forage in shallow areas or close to rapids when it is assured of security. A very shy fish.
Diet	Jungle fruits, insects, crustaceans. When mature, it may forage on small baitfish.

 Deep in our pristine jungle rivers swim a fish so majestic, so beautiful and so elusive, it has become a holy grail for Malaysian and international anglers. The kelah invariably represents the ultimate challenge for these sportsmen. To locate this fish is already a triumph. Then comes the challenge of enticing it to take a bait, lure or fly. Finally, the angler has to contend with its extreme strength and tenacity before it can be brought to the sandy river bank, to be lovingly photographed and released, none the worse for wear. In fact, many a time it’s the angler who is exhausted, albeit elated!

The kelah is one of Malaysia’s precious ecological heritage; a fish that is unique to the region. It is of very high economic value too. Anglers and eco-tourists are willing to pay significant sums of money to meet this fish! The kelah is essentially a carp, placed in the order of Cypriniformes, although it is loosely related to the European barbel (Barbus barbus).. It’s closer relatives are the mahseer species of India (Tor spp.) and several other countries in Asia. You could say that kelah is amember of Asia’s prime sport fishes.

Kelah can be found in the mighty rivers of our country: Sg Pahang and its tributaries (Tembeling, Jelai, Tanum, Tahan, Keniam, Sat etc), S. Perak and its tributaries (Kejar, Chiong, Singor, Temengor), Sg. Muda and its tributaries (Teliang, Gawi), the rivers feeding Lake Kenyir (Petuang, Cacing, Terenggan, Tembat), Sg. Kelantan and its tributaries (Galas, nenggiri, Lebir, Aring, Pertang), The Endau-Rompin rivers (Endau, Kincin, Kemapan, Jasin, Mas, Lemakuh), and the Batang Rajang and Sg Kinabatangan systems. In fact, almost all the major rivers in the country – with the exception of Perlis – used to have stocks of this beautiful fish.

However, factors like polluiton, river degradation due to silting, the straightening of rivers and deforestation have combined to destroy the habitat of this fish. Further aggravating the problem is the unscrupulous fishing activities like illegal netting, bombing, poisoning and electro-fishing that have severely decimated the stocks of kelah.

If you were to be a kelah today, these are the probable scenarios you would have to face in your now-shortened life:

•	Your home of deep, dark pool laced with rocks and sunken timber would now be covered with a thick layer of silt, since the clearing of vast tracts of forest would have resulted run-off due to rains.
•	Your spawned eggs would not hatch. The eggs would be smothered by the silt, depriving them of the much-needed oxygen.
•	You face on a daily basis a plethora of nets and humans with bombs, poisons, harpoons, and electrodes in their quest for a nice supper or a fast buck.
•	You choke on the chemicals from remote factories and run-offs from agricultural activities.
•	Your river gets straightened, the river becomes too fast and too shallow for you to survive. It’s like living on a walkalator.

With these scenarios, the kelah and other prime fishes like the temoleh, kelesa, kerai and tengas are doomed and heading for extinction. Ethical anglers were the first group to realise this issue. As fishermen, they are in a unique position to be able to see first hand what is happening in our rivers. Many have started the self-imposed practice of ‘catch-and-release’, preferring to go home with a cherished photo rather than a dead fish. Now, a group of concerned citizens have got together to help the authorities and the angling fraternity to conserve this precious fish. Eventually, it is hoped that it will be for the good of all – the eco-tourism industry, the recreational fishing groups, the country, and most importantly, the fish!

 

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TEKNIK MANCING IKAN KERAPU

Teknik Mancing Ikan Kerapu sebenarnya tidak susah untuk dipelajari. Paling penting kita menyediakan alat pancing yang memadahi saja.
Ikan kerapu sering disebut Grouper oleh orang bule ini merupakan salah satu jenis konsumsi dan sangat digemari oleh banyak orang karena rasanya lezat dan struktur dagingnya sangat lembut. Sehingga banyak sekali para pemancing menjadikan target sasaran utama untuk melampiaskan hasrat mancing merka.

Cara jitu mancing ikan kerapu akan saya jelaskan pada artikel saya ini. Teknik memancingnya hampir sama dengan teknik mancing ikan kakap merah. Hanya tinggal penerapan di lapangan saja dimana tiap-tiap angler mempunyai fariasi berbeda-beda walaupun garis besarnya hampir sama.

Cara dan teknik mancing ikan kerapu sebagai berikut:

Untuk syarat pertama memancing kerapu adalah menentukan spot mancing yang benar.

Kerapu biasanya tinggal di bebatuan karang atau rumpon-rumpon buatan manusia. Selain itu dia juga suka tinggal di tempat tertutup karena bersifat pendiam dan jarang sekali berburu mangsa kecuali benar-benar dalam keadaan lapar atau sedang ingin mempertahankan daerah teritorinya dengan cara menyerang musuhnya. Intinya jangan berharap kita mancing dengan target kerapu tapi kita mancingnya dilaut berstruktur dasarnya berupa hamparan pasir. Bisa juga di dasar laut berpasir mendapatkan kerapu, tapi kemungkinannya sangat kecil dibanding kita memancing di spot berupa karang, rumpon atau tonggak-tonggak. Khususnya daerah Jawa Tengah di Kepulauan Karimunjawa masih banyak sekali hamparan karang luas. Jadi sangat mudah sekali untuk memancing kerapu di Karimunjawa.

Umpan mancing ikan kerapu

Dalam membahas umpan mancing kerapu sebenarnya juga tidak susah. Ikan ini merupakan ikan rakus. Dia akan memakan apa saja di depannya yang menurut dia pantas dan layak untuk dimakan.
Irisan cumi, irisan tongkol dan irisan ikan apapun pasti dimakan kalau dia memang benar-benar lapar. Asalkan baunya amis pasti menggugah selera makannya. Untuk umpan live bait kita bisa menggunakan udang hidup, selar hidup, jenaha kecil, banyar dan masih banyak lagi umpan live bait kesukaannya.

Untuk lure dengan targat mancing kerapu, kita bisa menggunakan minnow berlidah panjang karena minnow dengan lidah panjang akan menyelam lebih dalam dan pasti bisa mendekati sarang atau rumah kerapu. Biasanya mancing kerapu dengan cara teknik casting bisa dilakukan secara landbase di pinggir laut dimana di sekirtnya terdapat batu-batuan atau karang. Berikut beberapa contoh minnow untuk mancing target kerapu:

Banyak kejadian aneh yang sering terjadi seperti mancing dengan teknik trolling tapi mndapatkan strike kerapu. Hal ini bisa terjadi jika umpan trolling memiliki lidah panjang dan didukung dengan spot trolling yang tidak terlalu dalam. Terkadang juga ketika kita menggunakan pancing kotrek untuk mencari target ikan-ikan kecil justru dapat hasil ikan kerapu. Hal ini terjadi jika umpan kotrekan atau brandil kita terlalu rendah hingga mendekati dasar laut.
Bisa juga kita mancing ikan kerapu dengan menggunakan metal jig atau bisa juga menggunakan inchiku yang kita mainkan di sekitar sarangnya.

Fighting dengan ikan kerapu

Untuk mancing ikan dengan target ikan kerapu monster atau yang berukuran sangat besar kita dianjurkan untuk menggunakan umpan live bait yang berukuran lebih besar dari yang semestinya. Kalau kita sudah mengetahui jika spot yang kita tuju merupakan spot yang bagus dan dihuni ikan kerapu berukuran monster, langsung saja gunakan umpan live bait seperti contoh dengan ikan jenaha yang berukuran antara 1/4kg-1/2kg dengan cara dikaitkan ke mata pancing dan dikasih pemberat sesuai dengan arus laut yang terjadi ketika itu. Jika arus air bawah laut dalam keadaan mati, kita tidak perlu menambahkan pemberat supaya umpan live bait bisa menghasilkan action yang maksimal. Tapi jika arus bawah laut terlalu deras kita bisa menambahkan pemberat yang agak besar supaya umpan live bait tidak hanyut terbawa arus karena ikan besar pasti hanya menunggu mangsa di depan sarangnya. Kalau umpan kita tidak tepat di depan matanya, dia tidak akan memakannya. Terkadang umpan sudah di depan matanya tetapi ikan tersebut tidak mau menyambar umpan kita.

Ikan kerapu memiliki tenaga yang sangat kuat ketika terjadi awal strike. Karena struktur tubuhnya yang agak bulat sehingga sangat terasa berat sekali ketika kita mendapatkan perlawanan ikan kerapu saat terjadi strike. Pada detik-detik pertama strike ikan kerapu, itu sangat menentukan apakah kita bisa menyelesaikan perlawanan itu atau tidak. Jika umpan kita dimakan ikan kerapu kemudian dia menggeret umpan masuk ke dalam sarang atau rumahnya maka sangat sulit bagi kita untuk dapat mengeluarkan ikan kerapu dari sarangnya. Ikan kerapu memiliki ekor yang sangat kuat, sehingga ketika kita fight gengan ikan kerapu yang sudah membawa masuk umpan kita ke dalam sarangnya, dia akan pegangan sangat kuat ke sarangnya dengan menggunakan ekornya dengan cara membengkokkan ekornya.

Untuk mengatasi hal itu perlu adanya kesabaran dari seorang angler. Bisa juga dengan cara ditunggu sampai ikan kerapu keluar lagi dari sarangnya. Bisa juga menunggu sampai ikan kerapu itu lemas dan melepaskan genggaman dari sarangnya. Biasanya seorang pemancing pemula langsung main hajar padahal posisi ikan kerapu sudah masuk ke dalam sarangnya. Hasilnya line akan banyak bergesekan dengan karang atau benda lain yang bersifat tajam yang akan mengakibatkan senar atau line putus. Pupus sudah harapan kita mendapatkan hasil ikan kerapu.

Ikan kerapu merupakan ikan yang sangat mudah terkena dekompresi. Jika kita fight dengan ikan kerapu kemudian kita hajar tanpa ampun, pasti dia akan mengalami dekompresi yang mengakibatkan lidahnya menjulur keluar dan matanya juga melotot keluar yang mengakibatkan dia tidak berdaya tanpa ada perlawanan sama sekali yang bisa mengakibatkan kematian bagi ikan kerapu. Hal ini terjadi ketika kita memancing di laut yang cukup dalam karena ada perbedaan tekanan air di setiap jarak kedalaman air laut.

Demikian telah saya jelaskan sedikit informasi menganai teknik ampuh dan jitu memancing ikan kerapu. Semoga info ini bisa bermanfaat bagi para mancing mania di Indonesia pada khususnya dan mancing mania di seluruh dunia pada umumnya.

Salam strike mania.........

 

 

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Memancing Belut

Asyiknya Memancing Belut di sawah

Pada suatu hari, kami melihat ditengah – tengah sawah ada beberapa orang yang lagi asyik menunduk – nunduk di pematangnya. Sambil sepintas lalu kami melihat orang tersebut menusuk – nusuk lubang kecil di pematang dengan jarinya. Rupanya ia sedang memancing belut. Jadi ingat saat – saat muda dulu.

ikan belut

Meski bentuk belut seperti ular, namun ia masih sekerabat dengan ikan. Belut dalam bahasa latin disebut monopterus albus. Belut termasuk ikan yang tinggal di perairan tawar, meski hidup di air, ia memiliki kelebihan dapat mampu bertahan dengan kondisi oksigen yang rendah sekalipun. Sama dengan ikan lele, ikan gabus. Belut termasuk dalam jenis ikan karnivora, ia adalah predator sejati. Makanannya adalah udang, moluska, dan ikan – ikan yang kecil, cacing.
Memancing belut merupakan keasyikan yang lain daripada memancing ikan biasa. Karena memancing belut hanya membutuhkan alat – alat sederhana. Kami biasanya membuat pancing belut dari tali tamper yang kecil, supaya kuat kemudian mata kailnya kami buat dari kawat baja, contohnya dari kawat isi ban mobil bekas. Kawat ini terkenal lentur dan kuat serta tak mudah bengkok. Pancing yang kami buat sendiri kami runcingkan ujungnya dengan kikir, tali tampar kami ikatkan di pancing dan kami kencangkan dengan tali nilon. Dengan senjata pancing seperti ini, belut sebesar apapun akan mudah ditarik, bandingkan dengan membuat mata pancingnya dari kemiti, tentu jauh lebih kokoh.
Perburuan siap dimulai, biasanya memancing belut memakai umpan cacing tanah, selain terkenal awet dan tidak mudah hancur saat digigit ikan, cacing tanah mudah sekali dicari. Di sampah – sampah, di bawah pohon pisang, cirinya adalah dia selalu menumpuk tanah urukan rumahnya di luar. Jadi dengan mudah ditangkap dan digunakan sebagai umpan.

Memancing belut memang butuh kejelian, harus mengenal mana lubang yang ada isinya dan mana yang kosong. Kalau di lubang sasaran airnya naik turun, artinya ada penghuninya di sana, tapi jangan salah, kadang – kadang bisa juga isinya ketam, atau yuyu. Setelah anda masukkan pancingnya anda tidak akan membutuhkan waktu lama untuk mengetahui pancing anda dimakan atau tidak. Kalau pancing anda langsung ditarik dengan kuat mundur…berarti belutnya besar, tapi jika pancing anda diputar – putar di dalam berarti belutnya kecil. Langkah selanjutnya langsung aja ditarik pancingnya, toh mata pancing anda sangat kuat….selamat memancing


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Saltwater fish In Malaysia

Saltwater fish

Apart from the main target species many other exciting species can be fished around the same areas. These include Cobia, Grouper, Snapper, Queenfish, Jacks and Sharks. With over 700 recorded species of fish in Malaysian waters, surprises very often pop up.

 

Marlin

Long powerful slightly compressed body rising rapidly to the top of the head. The upper jaw is elongated to form a long, slender lance or spear. There are 2 dorsal fins, the first is long and initially high, the second smaller and composed of six or seven rays. There are also two anal fins while the pectoral fins are stiff and cannot be folded against the body. Colouration is typically blue-black on the back becoming silver white on the flanks below the lateral line. SIZE Although known to exceed 700 kg in other parts of the world, the Black Marlin in Malaysia usually ranges between 50 kg and 150 kg.

  

 

 

 

Sailfish

Long and slender body with elongated upper jaw forming a lance or spear. No mistaking the massive sail-like first dorsal fin of cobalt blue with black spots. Colouration disappears if out of water for more than a couple of minutes.SIZE 20 to 60 kg.

 

 

Yellow Fin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)Typical tuna with huge, uniform, elongated body. Long crescent shaped bright yellow second dorsal and anal fin. Golden yellow finlets with black tips run from second dorsal fin and anal fin to tail. Metallic dark blue in colour on the back to silvery white flanks and belly. SIZE Specimens exceeding 100 kg have been taken in Malaysian waters. Common sizes average 20-40 kg.

 

Wahoo

Very long slender body slightly compressed on the flanks. Long head terminates in a pointed snout with a movable jaw. The mouth is full of sharp pointed teeth. The first dorsal is long and can be folded into a groove on the back. The second dorsal fin and the anal fin are small and followed by finlets to the tail. The back is a brilliant metallic blue colour with bright blue vertical bands running to the silver flanks and belly. SIZE In excess of 50kg, more common around 15-20 kg.

 

 

Barracuda

Long cylindrical body will long pointed snout and a mouth full of canine teeth. First dorsal fin has 5 spines and the second 10 soft rays. Irregular dark blotches are common on the lower flanks. Colouration varies from greyish to greenish brown on the back to silvery flanks and belly. Two distinct types are found in Malaysian waters; one a yellow tipped tail, the other a black tipped tail. SIZE Specimens of over 40kg have been taken in Malaysian waters. However, 5- 15 kg is a common range.

 

 

Mackerel

OTHER NAMES Tenggiri, Tanguigue, Giant Mackerel
Elongated body slightly compressed on the flanks. Pointed snout with large mouth and big strong teeth. Two dorsal fins close together, the first are long and low, the second short and taller. Dorsal and anal fins followed by 8-10 finlets. Back dark blue in colour with lower flanks and belly being silvery. Flanks also have irregular vertical wavy stripes. SIZE Up to 25 kg in Malaysian waters.

 

 

 

Grouper

The Serranidae is large and important family of fish, consisting of more than 375 species. These are mostly temperate and tropical marine fish, ranging size from less than 30 cm (12 in) to about 3.7 m (12 ft), and are found near rocks, reef, wrecks, and piers in coastal waters. The larger members of the family are robust, sharp-toothed, basslike fish, which live near the bottom and feed on fish, crustaceans, and shell fish. They tend to be solitary rather than schooling, except at spawning time, and the individuals of many species change sex as they grow: they mature and breed as females, and become males when grow older and larger.

 

Dorado

Wrasse belongs to the Labridae family, which has more than 400 members distributed widely in coastal tropical and temperate waters. A typical wrasse has thick lips and strong teeth, which it uses to crush shellfish, and swims by flapping its pectoral fins rather than using its tail. Wrasse range in size from small species about 10 cm (4 in) long up to 2.3 m (7 ft 6 in) giant maori wrasse of Indo-Pacific waters. The dolphinfish a.k.a dorado is one of the two members of the Coryphaenidae family.

 

Snapper

Most of the 230 or so species of snapper that make up the Lutjanidae family are found in tropical seas, but a few also occur in warm-temperate waters. They are predatory fish, with sharp, conical teeth, including one or two canine teeth on either side of the front of each jaw. These canine teeth help to distinguish the snappers from the groupers, many species of which are similar in overall appearance. Large numbers of snapper are taken in shallow coastal waters and over reefs by anglers and spearfishers, and some species are fished for commercially.

 

 

Cobia

The cobia, the only member of the Rachycentridae family, is a prized gamefish. It is also fished for commercially for its fine flesh but not here in Malaysia, which is often sold smoke. 

 

 

Snook & Barramundi

Snook and barramundi belong to the Centropomidae family, which contains about 30 species. Some of the Centropomidae are exclusively marine, others are marine but move into brackish water and even into rivers; some live in rivers and spawn in brackish estuaries, while a few are found only in freshwater.

 

 

 

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Kayakking & Swimming Adventure - Langkawi

 

 

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Kayakking & Swimming Adventure ~ valid till 31st Dec 2013
(rates based on per person per package)

For the more energetic among us we can head to Kubang Badak River for some Kayaking. Depending on the tidal conditions we will either begin at the coast and end up river or begin upriver and end down at the coast.

This river is a coastal river and we paddle along the mangrove forest a unique group of trees that thrive between the land and sea. Our guide will talk about its ecology and its many benefits to man and wildlife. There will be opportunities to see kingfishers, sea eagles, kites, plovers, herons, fiddler crabs and mud skippers. We will pass the local fishing station where the local fishermen gather to go to sea or return after a day out.

This first part of this trip would last about 2 1/2 hours and thereafter a short 15 minutes drive and an easy trek of 500 meters takes us to a quite and secluded jungle stream. And while a picnic lunch is being prepared, you might want to take a dip in its cool and rejuvenating waters or just surrender to the meditative sounds of its swirling waters, a perfect ending to our active day

Date	Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
Time	10.00am and return at 2.30pm
Duration	4 hours approximately
Attire	Hat, t-shirt, shorts, swimwear, sun protection, towel, sandals or sport shoes, towel and a change of clothes
Cost	RM 220 per adult / RM 140 per child under 12 years old
Numbers	Minimum 3 persons maximum 8 persons
Fitness Level	Above average

Rate above inclusive of :

* Transfer from and to the hotel * kayaks and equipments * guide * set lunch * drinking water

Please Note:

* Clients 12 years of age or more shall be charged adult fare and those aged 5 to 11 shall be charged child fare * The client shall pay the expenses incurred when he or she asks for their personal purposes such as shopping, etc.

**Please Note that there will be a credit card charge on payment made. Conditions apply

 

Terms & Conditions:

Cancellation of tour

In any of the following cases the ground operator may cancel the tour;

~ In the event of poor weather conditions, or other circumstances beyond operator's control, and when safe and smooth tour operation according to the itinerary specified has become impossible.
~ When the client demands things that are beyond the reasonable scope of the details in the itinerary

Liability of Ground Operator and Exemptions

The Ground operator and journeymalaysia.com (Dolphin Diaries Travel Sdn Bhd) shall not be liable to pay compensation at all time. Guests join the activity (s) at their own risk.

Tour Description

Destination Langkawi Island, rainforest - mangrove forest - ricefields Minimum no. of Persons 3 Place of Departure for trip any hotel on Langkawi Island Trip Availability Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. October month not advised - unpredictable downpours

Langkawi & Surrounding Day Tours ~ Kedah

| Day Tours Ex-Langkawi Island | Specialised Day Tours ex-Langkawi Island | Yacht/Boat Trips | Boat charter ex-Langkawi Island |

 

 

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