Fishing: Catfish caught

Date: April 20, 2019 

Trip #21 (#41)
Weather: Cloudy but bright, cool. Rained upon our return to the marina  
Waters: North of the SAF firing range, a little choppy
On board: C, A, J1, J2, R, K, B, D and Pudding 

It rained in the east coast in the morning, and there was a danger the trip would be canned. But we drove out west and it was fine there, so we headed out. 

B and D, R's brother-in-law and nephew, were guests on board today. D, aged nine, is the only one of B's four children who has taken an interest in fishing. Father and son came with their own rod and tackle, which they set up as soon as we had dropped anchor in our usual spot.  

We turned on the boat's fish finder and it showed disappointingly fish-less waters. D, enthusiasm dampened, jumped into the water as an alternative sport. Several dives later, he was emboldened enough to jump off the side of the boat, a considerably higher launch point. His dad, J1, R and K joined him for a spot of swimming. After the broiler heat of our last two outings, today was pleasantly cool, with the sun behind massive cloud cover. (Sunglasses were still required.)  

Pudding generally got in everyone's way until he was given a hoist to get to the upper deck with A, who just chilled there and watched some predator birds take dives into the water. (Hm, there must be fish there, she thought.) 

Pudding surveying his kingdom from his perch.

Then came a shout from aft. There was a bite on the line. It was a catfish.  

It was a joint effort in landing this catch.

Mindful of the poisonous barbs on this fish, B, with his left hand protected by a flip flop, removed the hook. He released the fish "because catfish aren't good eating", he said. These bottom-feeders taste muddy.

Seeing a storm front coming from the direction of the Lim Chu Kang fish farms, we hauled up anchor and headed back for Raffles Marina. We idled for a while outside the marina so the anglers could make another try for a catch, but they came up empty.

The rain caught up with us again as we turned into the marina's no-wake zone. C did the post-trip hose-down while the rest took shelter in the bistro. After the boat was cleaned and returned to the boathouse, we had a meal at the marina. None of the waiters who came by with the orders seemed perturbed to find a dog there, though our table was far from where most other customers of the bistro were. So we stayed for the meal.