Jigging Adventure with Captain Ali - November 26, 2023

 

Embarking on a highly anticipated jigging trip with Captain Ali and a group of fellow anglers promised excitement and the thrill of the unknown. As we prepared for our adventure, the weather took an unexpected turn with rain and high winds forecasted. The winds in Dubai were visibly strong, setting the stage for a challenging yet thrilling day on the water. Adding to the intrigue, cloud seeding activities added an air of mystery to the already dynamic conditions.

Two days of uncertain weather culminated in a strategic decision by Captain Ali to start the trip at 6 AM. With the coast guard monitoring conditions closely, the call to begin our expedition was granted at 6 AM as expected and we set off.

Our day commenced at 7:30 AM with high hopes, but the first two hours yielded no bites. Undeterred, we shifted to our second spot, a drift between 180-200 meters deep. This decision proved to be the turning point of the day.

Throughout the day, our persistence paid off. One angler skillfully hooked a Longtail Tuna, while an impressive 17.5-kilogram Amberjack was reeled in by another. The bounty continued with various anglers securing belt fish, although my own encounter with a particularly feisty one resulted in the loss of around 200 meters of line.

In the midst of our fishing endeavors, a dramatic incident unfolded. A fellow angler accidentally dropped his rod with the reel into the deep waters. As we watched the sinking rod with disbelief, a collective effort ensued to retrieve it. In an unexpected twist of fate, as I jigged at the bottom, my line entangled with something unusual. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the lost rod and reel, submerged nearly 200 meters below the surface. Our successful recovery became the highlight of the day, a stroke of luck amidst the challenges of the deep sea.

Despite the intermittent successes, the elusive nature of the sea kept me without a single nibble on my line for the entire day. Even after changing jigs and adjusting rod setups, the sea remained mysterious and unrevealing. The experience, coupled with the fact that it was a full moon day, left me pondering the intricate dance between lunar phases and fishing outcomes.

As the boat returned to the harbor, the memories of the day lingered, a testament to the unpredictable yet exhilarating nature of deep-sea jigging. While my personal catch eluded me, the camaraderie, unexpected twists, and the thrill of the depths left an indelible mark on this unforgettable jigging excursion.

"Casting Dreams: A Thrilling Inshore Fishing Expedition at Jebel Ali, Dubai"

Dubai, with its glittering skyline, is also a haven for fishing enthusiasts seeking the thrill of the catch amidst the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf. This narrative unfolds during an inshore fishing expedition at Jebel Ali, a day shared with fellow anglers under the guidance of Captain Michael from Zaya Fishing. The journey promises not just the joy of angling but the discovery of the diverse marine life that graces the waters off the Dubai coast.

The day commenced with a promising weather forecast – a slight breeze that hinted at an ideal day for casting. Captain Michael set the tone, assuring the crew that the sea was teeming with active fish. The plan was clear – a day filled with casting for the eager anglers, each hoping for a personal fishing triumph.

Equipped with a brand-new Daiwa Outrage 76-2 casting rod paired with a Shimano Stradic 3000 reel, the protagonist prepared to face the challenge. A Rapala suspension lure, secured with a metal wire to thwart any ambitious kingfish, dangled from the line. Additionally, a Shimano Grappler light jigging rod with an Ocea Jigger 1000 F custom reel stood ready for a change in tactics.

The first spot revealed a spectacle of frenzy on the water's surface. The cast was met with immediate success as a queen fish took the bait. The excitement built, but a delayed gaff retrieval resulted in the queen fish slipping away. Despite the initial setback, the angler found solace in the joy of the strike, setting the tone for the adventure ahead.

Transitioning to jigging, the group reeled in various species, with a small Barracuda making my way into the mix. An Orange Spotted Trevally (OST) became a live bait, leading to the capture of a colossal grouper. My persistence paid off as me too secured a grouper on the jig, using a Tungsten Jigpara 40 grams by Major Craft.

The day took an exhilarating turn when Captain Michael noticed frenzies at a distance, signaling the presence of kingfish. After a couple of false alarms with queen fish, the real monarch of the sea, the kingfish, emerged. I got the thrill of catching a kingfish on top water after a two-year hiatus. . When I strike the second king the leader got cut. This was in spite of having titanium wire. I quickly rigged a new lure. This was also Rapala sinking one. I continued to get 3 more kings. 

Amidst the frenzy, two sizable queen fish engaged in a spirited battle, adding a delightful challenge to the day. The Captain signalled end of trip and I was reflecting on the satisfaction derived from an action-packed day on the Dubai waters

My recent exploits in Dubai waters leave them eager for more. With visions of yellowfin tuna trips in Oman dancing in my mind, the prospect of future expeditions in this vibrant fishing hub becomes an exciting promise, ensuring that the thrill of the catch continues to cast its spell.

Jigging trip to Khorfakkan with Capt. Ali 29 Oct 2023

 

                                                                        

This was a planned trip. We were six anglers as usual. The trip was after the cyclone. Two days after heavy rain. It was full moon as well. The captain called two days before and confirmed the trip. The weather was perfect as we expected for jigging. Water was crystal clear. We could see the jigs swimming its was for may meters deep. Well, I was believing most of this will work in our favor.  The captain again called on Saturday and said the fishing was not so great. So, he had a plan to keep us in less depth in the morning hours and gradually go into deep waters.

When we reached our first location, I dropped a sea floor control rector 270 grams. On the second lift something large took my jig. I screamed “fish on” and the next moment did not feel anything. I lost the jig. When I reeled the PE braid was cut. My heart sunk. Probably it is due previous damage, I think. We did three drifts there and moved to many other locations. The captain mentioned that although radar shows fish, they are not active. I changed jigs to seafloor control Slow legend, arc and Abyss. Also, I switched to Deepliner spy, VB, CX-B. After many location changes one angler got a long tail tuna hooked on the tail. He got a Trevally as well. Now everyone wanted to know what jigs he was using. He was proud to talk about those Indonesian jigs probably bought in Malaysia. I managed to get two smaller gropers.

We kept jigging and it was time to pack up. It was hard luck. Many say that full moon is not the day for fishing. Some called me personally after the trip to emphasize the fact that full moon is not productive for jigging. I have mixed results on full moon days. Should I restrict my bookings to new moon.?

Hope I will find answers one day!!

Difference of Shimano Ocea Jigger 1000, 2000 and 4000 series

 

Shimano Ocea jigger series is my favorite overhead reel. I started using Ocea jigger `F custom 2000NRHG. F stands for fall lever and NR stands for right hand. HG stands for high gear ratio.

The other gear ratio are power (PG) and extra high gear (XG). 

When do I use them? When I fish in Dubai and Abu Dhabi the water depth is around 20 to 35 meters. The line capacity of 200 meters is more than sufficient. So, I use the 1000 reel. It provides 7 KG drag. I spool it with 1.5 PE. With the depth being low the impacts from big fish ( if we hook one!!) could be very high. So, I am afraid to go any lower than 1.5 PE. I know some experienced anglers are using .6 PE on an ultralight setup.

When we fish at Fujairah or Khorfakkan the water depth in jigging areas from 100 meters up to 220 meters. Up to 120-150 meters and 300 Ocea jigger 2000 is perfect to use. Anything higher than 130 meters and above 300 grams jig I start using Ocea jigger 4000.  Ocea jigger 2000 has 10 kgs drag. I have spooled them 1.5 and 2 PE sunline ULT. It can hold 600 meters 2 PE. Whilst the 4000 series can hold over 1200 meter if spooled with 2 PE or less. I have used good amount of back to keep the spool larger for easy retrieval.

Please let me know if you have any questions !

Jigging Trip with Capt. Ali 14 Oct 2023 at Khorfakkan

Due to work I had to pull out from the fishing trip on 8th October. On Tuesday a Chinese friend invited for a trip with Capt. Ali. I immediately accepted the offer. It is way too long to wait for the next planned trip on 29th Oct. 

Usually, I take the motion sickness medicine when I leave my home usually around 3 am. Last few trips I have started feeling nausea around 11 am. During summer the waves have been high and the boats rocking. The medicine apparently is effective for 6 hours only. So, I had the medicine 30 minutes before the trip. When the boat ride started, I took a comfortable space and had a nap until we arrived at the first location. The Sun was just coming out. 

The depth was 105 meters. I felt the waves were slightly higher than expected. It was windy as well. I was expecting the boat drift to be higher than normal so dropped a 320 grams seafloor control Arc. I was using evergreen Poseidon slow pitch jerker 603-6 with Shimano oceajigger 4000HG spooled with sunline ULT PE 1.5. I jigged up to 20 meters and dropped back. When I was lifting through 2 meters, I felt the jig was taken. As I tried to set the hook the fish was not there. I was just slow pitch jigging and again the fish stroked.  It was a good strike and the fish started taking few meters line. All were shouting AJ! they usually fight hard in the beginning trying to run into the rocks. As this one stopped taking line too quickly, I thought it may not be an amberjack. Well, I was reeling, and the fish was too soon near but below the boat. We could not see the color. But when the fish finally appeared it was Red Red. Yes! The Red snapper. This was my first original red snapper. I have got Pinjalo snapper many times. But deep red color on the scale was amazing!!

While I was fighting the red snapper a fellow angler got a strike and he pulled a magnificent Diamond Trevally. It was the biggest diamond trevally I have seen.

After few drifts of no strike, we moved. At around 9 am the wind reduced, and the current was close to zero. I was dropping 200 grams and 270 grams changing jigs as many times possible. I was desperate to get some strike. At around 12 pm I got a strike. Mid way I saw the head shaking and guessed it was a long tail tuna. When close to the boat I lost the fish. an hour later I got another strike but a small one. This was around 200 meter deep and pulled a belt fish. Thanked it for not taking my jig. I

We continued to change location with no luck, finally we reached the submarine. Three drifts and no activity. We reached shore by 4 pm. 

With the red snapper in my bag thanked the ocean for the great day!