Common Name: Half beak (Hemiramphus
marginatus)
Known as Chui Chiam among the Hokkiens (Needles of the Sea) and
Todak or Jolong-jolong by the Malays.
Description: Cylindrical shaped, bluish green in colour. Has a long bony lower jaw that protrudes into a snout.Attains 40cm length, and has now become a commercial fish, being sold at wet markets.Like the grey mullet, these surface feeders travel in schools and combs the inshore waters and estuaries during tidal changes. Unlike grey mullets, they prefer calmer waters and once there is wave action, they would be gone.Very easy to hook and provides some fun on ultralight tackles.
Tips: Use small hooks (No 14) mounted on light lines (2kg), Single hook mounted on a 15cm leader suspended from a small polystyrene float. Bits of fish skin yield best results. Just cast a metre of two further and reel in to the school, slowly, and the fish will driven into a feeding frenzy.