It was my first trip to the famous Russian Wreck in 1998. After a simple breakfast at Tanjung Bunga, Teong, Chris and I headed up to Batu Ferringhi where the boat was waiting. Uncle Bob who had flown all the way from UK just to fish in Penang waters, was already waiting for us on the boat.

We headed off to the Wreck, about 28 miles away. We trolled our way there but although the water was 'black' and clear, there were no takers on the Reidy's, Rapalas and Impalas. However, when we reached the wreck site and neared the bamboo poles, Uncle Bob's Abu reel with the Dusky Rapala gave a loud screech. It was cranked in effortlessly and gaffed. A Mackerel Tuna....the first fish of the day! The skipper parked the boat and we commenced bottom fishing and drifting.

I could see on the surface of the water packs of little Dorado (Mahi-mahi) or Dolphinfish swimming around our boat. Excitedly, I clipped on a metal spoon and lunked it at them and retrieved as fast as possible. They simply followed the lure, as if to inspect it and them swam away. After countless casts and change of lures, I gave up. The fish just simply wouldn't bite. By this time, Chris was bringing up groupers and other bottom fishes at the expense of snagging the bottom many times.

By noon, we decided to shift locations, nearer to the poles. The boat which tied itself to the poles had already landed a big grouper and two cobias. Once the anchor gripped to bottom, I drifted out a mackerel for tenggiri (Spanish Mackerel) but before I could even tie on the float and lock the ratchet, the bait was molested. There were splashes near my bait and soo enough with Teong's advice, I got a hook up. It jumped and darted furiously but it was 'winched' in wihout any fight. It was a beautiful little Dorado with splendid, vibrant colours. The pack moved in with the hooked dorado and circled the boat. Chris quickly took the opportunity to drop down a piece of strip bait and it was taken immediately at boat side. Two doradoes landed safely and into the cooler.

Teong and the skipper began casting lures in the late afternoon. Nazir the deckie was already asleep. A loud screech woke him up from his slumber as line emptied from his little Penn 10 coupled to a parabolic Uglystik. He offered the rod and reel to Uncle Bob who enjoyed the fight from another acrobatic Dorado. Later, another dorado took my drifting bait and it was also put into the cooler box.

I joined in the casting brigade of Teong and skipper. I have never landed any fish from casting before so you could imagine my sceptism. I forced myself to believe that the little popper on the other end was going to catch me a fish. However, I swallowed my doubt instantly when the skipper's rod bent and line whizzed out from his spinning reel. The Spanish Mackerel came in 5 minutes later, hooked with a Williamson Red Head.

Inspired, I began casting non-stop with my popper on my noodle-stick Berkeley spinning rod. I knew that I would be in deep trouble if a mackerel came along and hit my lure. My noodle-stick would not be able to withstand the pressure. After about 30 casts later, my popper was dragged down and then the 'neon light' jumped up and cleared the surface.A dorado on popper! And my first fish on casting too! Was I thrilled! When the fish came along and at the boatside, Teong attempted to lift the fish by the gills. With a flip of its body, it dislodged the trebles and swam away. Premature release but I had fun!

The little dorados that we played with that day saved us from an uneventful day at sea. Although small in size, they did not lack the tenacity in taking lures or baits that were hurled at them. I wonder when is the next trip....