Bruiser Grouper, tasty grouper, and some clean up after.

We recently got news that there's a recent development of some pond operators opening up options for catch and release (instead of the usual baiting, catch and weight in to be paid by the kilo) with the promise of well stocked bigger barramundis and groupers in the range of 2kgs and above.

Great news and fun for us to fill in between bigger offshore trips. The day started early and gloomy but that didn't stop us from landing barramundis after barramundis. Sad thing about this pond is that the fish aren't in the best condition as there were very little aerial displays and the fights were rather weak for barramundis 2kgs and above. Nonetheless, it did scratch a bit of the itch for tight lines, twitchy loaded rod, and safe to say everyone had some fun in the sun later in the day.

My biggest barra of the day after several mishap and line cuts while retrieving the fish with a lip grip. Photo courtesy of Tackle Source.

Buddy of mine landed another barra using Zipbait's Tiny Khamsin SR.

And another using DUO's MOAB 85F.

Not long after, we got bored chasing after the elusive aerial displays from these shy & weak barramundis and a friend spotted something which he suspects to be the not so humble abode of a grouper. Within minutes, a few of us were huddled around the area tossing in jigs, soft plastics, bait, and on several occasions instantaneously taken on the drop. Premature excitement ensues with opened hooks, lost jigs, lure, and snapped lines egged us further as I decide to use a madai jig with assist hooks instead.

Upon several jig drops sweeping the area gave me a shock as it was taken on the drop and actually felt like a snag. I immediately gave it a second tug and to my surprise, I was given a firm response tug. Then comes the frantic tug of war trying to lift the grouper out of its hole. It was a bruiser grouper but was no match for my Majorcraft Skyroad spinning rod.

Bruiser Grouper tips the scale at 3.8kg, I decide to pay for this bruiser for dinner. Photo courtesy of Tackle Source.

Bruiser grouper turns tasty grouper. Half the fish here takes up half the lazy susan.

Complete catch report can be found here courtesy of Tackle Source.

Fun for a day also meant that it's time for my reel's regular checks and service prior to my off shore trip 2 weeks after.

Bruiser grouper was no match for these tough gears still in excellent condition.

Same goes to the worm gear and floating shaft without signs of wear. Just the usual grease coat top up is enough.

Make sure to apply generous amount of grease on these bruiser beaters.

These are just the few critical ceramic bearings that takes most of the bruising. Seals removed, grease flushed, soaked in cleaning solvents, and elevated with wire mesh to keep it away from dirty sediments in a glass jar.

In goes the jar into an ultrasonic cleaner to thoroughly clean these ceramic bearings.

Oiled balls and grease rubbed body back into the reel.

These babies just need some tender loving speedy oil.

Speed oil for this fella too before plugging it back into the reel.

A well kept and also the proud feeling of a nicely pimped up reel gives me confidence in the field that I've eliminated another factor for failure to land fish. Till next time, Jarak, here I come!