Ok I know a lot of avid fishermen know of these kelongs, but let me take some time to feed info to those who have never gone there and am researching for which one is the best. Pulau Sibu is a popular choice for many Singaporeans who want to experience an out-at-sea fishing experience, which we can never get at one of those fishing ponds at Pasir Ris or something, where they release fishes into the ponds so you are bound to hook a fish. And also, going out to sea also probably gives you a better excuse to sift off your embarrassment if you really manage to catch nothing.
So there are 4 kelongs out there at Pulau Sibu - Ah Yu, Ah Ngiam, Hotboys, and Ah Fatt. Different people have their 'favourite' kelongs to go to, and I heard that people catch more fish at Ah Yu Kelong since its located furthest out to sea where the fish are. Good theory, but its not been proven. You can try it if you want. For myself, I've been to all but Ah Ngiam Kelong.
Now if you are planning a really straight forward trip, or if its the first time you are planning this and you want it to be as simple as possible, I would suggest you go Hotboys Kelong. Yes its a little bit pricier than the rest at $88 for 2D1N (I think its around $70 or so for the others), but the owner's a Singaporean so the whole process is really quite hassle free. You can goggle 'Hotboys Kelong' and check it out, plus they have an option for transport from Singapore to the jetty and back. I managed to get a Malaysian guy to fetch us from the ferry terminal and back, and he's really good (not to mention slightly cheaper) so if you want his number, just drop me a comment with your email.
Awesome shot of Hotboys Kelong. This is home for the night!
So what do people go to kelongs for, yes, generally to fish. So what about rods! you might be asking. No worries, the kelongs do rent out rods as well. That sets you back like RM34 per rod, kinda ex but if you are there for the first time and just want to have that one experience, why not? Tip here: If you wanna rent a rod to fish, here's what I recommend before you embark on the trip. Go to some shops that sell fishing equipment in Singapore and buy "Apollo hooks" and weights. That will cost you like max $1.30 per hook and probably $2 for a bag of 6 pieces of 1kg weights. Reason: hooks get stuck on the sea bed or stilts all the time, and you have to keep changing it. You don't really wanna buy these hooks or weights from the kelong cos its pricey, so get them in Singapore. There are shops littered around Beach Road and Changi so check them out there.
that's what getting stuck looks like.
Ok important note: The ferry leaves the terminal to the kelongs only at specific timings, and trust me, you really do not want to miss them. Reason being it will set you back like RM150 to specially get a speedboat to take you there. That's unnecessary money so just be on time. Btw, set aside RM5 per person to pay for the ride there.
Speedboating our way to the kelong! Squashed myself in the middle so I will be protected from the occasional splashes.
Jem's classic hat which he bought specially for the trip.
Have a look around!
looks like boardwalks
surrounded by the sea. amazing.
the snoozing quarters. oh yes tip: wear long pants and long sleeves to sleep to protect you from the night winds and the residents of the kelong ;)
shot of the toilets. you see your waste drops into the sea, literally.
that's what we do most of the time - fish!
first catch of the day! girls 1 : guys 0
second catch of the day! girls 2 : guys 0
adamantly waiting.
still waiting...
never giving up....
caught it! .... or so it seems, cos in the end the hook just got stuck. Jem insists they caught a 6 mouth shark but it swam away. retard.
these boys never really do give up.
Ok I admit March isn't really a time to go fishing cos like most of the fish are in nursery stage or something, so they are really small. According to the friendly kelong in charge, the best times to go are from September - February. If you aren't scared of the monsoon period, December's the best. Cos it'll be pouring in December, and the fish have reached adult stage, and these adult fishes huddle around the kelong stilts for shelther. So wala! Best combination you have for fishing. Unfortunately, we went in March. Pfft.
If you get bored of fishing, there are other things for you to do there. Like:
...eat! 4 meals are provided through the day - brekky, lunch, dinner & supper. Coffee & tea, and free flow biscuits are available every minute.
...look out to waves and have melancholic thoughts. or stone.
...sleep. lol
...mahjong!!
...and go island hopping!
Island hopping is where the nice people who man the kelong brings you out on a speedboat and drops you off on an island some way off, letting you spend 1-2 hours there, basking on the beach. Winnie and I decided to give it a shot! And the view's awesome....
wanted to post instagram's version which is superbly awesome but I thought to let you guys look at the original.
i love the sea.
doing some jump shots!
winnie's so cute :D
everything's just about perfect..the sea, the trees, the sky...
nature's preety awesome..
and the sun begins to set..
It's been a long time since I hung out with the boys..so though my eyes were screaming to shut down, I forced them open along with a can of Carlsberg and a lot of hearts. The wonders good company can do :)
so that's it! it was a quick weekend getaway, and we feasted on KFC at the jetty before heading back to Singapore. Quite a good place to get yourself refreshed with good friends, good food, and a whole lot of nature.
Hope it was helpful for you if you are planning a similar getaway! Feel free to ask me for information :)
