Kayak Sailfishing @ Rompin

By Jonathan Chang, Johor Baru, Malaysia

The author and his sailfish

August 21st 2010, ROMPIN.    My kayak fishing buddy, Howard, and I had planned this trip a couple of weeks in advance. Our target was the sailfish at Rompin on the eastcoast of Johor state, Malaysia.

I had bought the Malibu Stealth-12 from Eco-Sports in May this year and had only gone out kayak fishing twice. I was itching to go and test the Stealth-12 in the warm waters of Rompin, dubbed the billfishing capital of Southeast Asia. 

I often wondered (after watching many extreme fishing shows) about how it would be like to ‘ride’ a sail on a kayak. Well, after last weekend (on the 21st August to be exact), both Howard and me had our wishes came true. 

We left the Rompin jetty around 8am after a quick breakfast on a speedboat piloted by Sky Chong. When we arrived at our first stop, there were at least 13 other boats anchored and busy jigging for live baits (locally known as tambans). After our baitwell was almost full, we set out to target the Sails. 

On board our "Mothership"

First stop, jigging for tamban or baitfish

We soon arrived at our location and immediately drifted some live tambans. I got onto my kayak and paddled out 30 metres from our speedboat and did some drifting and light trolling while paddling around the area. The waves was about a half metre high and the Stealth-12 handled it beautifully. It ‘cuts’ through the waves with ease. 

Awhile later I could see some sails almost 10 feet away from my kayak and casted towards it, and then, I had a hook-on. We used circle hooks, so I just let the Sail literally ’sail’ away while it set the hook itself. 

It just ‘pulled’ away, with me on the kayak. Man, the feeling was ecstatic! The Sail was going left and then right but I was able to control the kayak with my Thomas Stroker rod in hand. It almost felt like a ’steer’ of sorts. A motorised kayak, so to speak. 

The author sailing away on a sailfish-powered kayak

The sailfish pulled the author and his kayak for some 50 meters before tiring out...

Be careful with the bill...

This went on for about 50 metres or so (could be more, I guess) till it tired out and I was able to reel it back towards me. Got it onto my lap for some picture-taking and safely released it to fight another day. 

Next, it was Howard’s turn, he too had the ride of his life. The Sail brought him around our boat, till it tired itself out, and Howard skillfully handled the Sail for some picture-taking and released safely. 

Howard landing his catch.

Howard and his sailfish

Catch-n-Release

All-in-all, it was really good fun to fight the Sailfish on a kayak and being on the water with perfect hot weather and good friends made the trip even more memorable. 

Only thing is, I forgot about Arnold’s (another kayak fisher buddy, also known as LOTM to most Malaysian fishing forumers) advice on putting on spf50 sunblock. In the midst of fighting the Sails, one can be forgiven for overlooking this part of the trip but I have to pay for it now, as my skin is peeling. 

Words can only describe up to a certain extent, the feeling we had that day with the Sails on kayak. I would strongly suggest that you get your kayaks and go out yourselves to get that ‘feeling’ of being pulled around by the fast and strong Sailfish. Do remember to be careful of the bill, as it can be rather dangerous when pulling it up onto the kayak. Make sure the Sail is calm before you do so. 

Now, we got to plan for our next trip…