05/07/2025
A journey from Miri to the serene streams of Kota Belud, Sabah — all in pursuit of the elusive '𝘛𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘶𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴', or '𝘗𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯' as it’s known locally.
After a 45-minute flight to Kota Kinabalu, I spent the night at my brother's place before Randy, a good friend from Sandakan, picked us up for a 1-hour 18-minute drive to TUNGA UNGA Ecotourism, KG. RATAU, Kota Belud.
𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥
We arrived in the evening — right into a downpour. Heavy rain isn’t ideal for stream fishing. We knew the water would rise, turn murky, and reduce fish activity. Still, our spirits were high.
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏
Our day started early with coffee and a view of Mount Kinabalu directly from our homestay — calm, quiet, and surreal.
As expected, the rain had affected the stream. The water was slightly murky with a stronger flow. We began trekking and casting through the river. Not long into the session, Randy landed the first Pelian of the trip — a decent-sized fish and a great sign despite the conditions.
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐
Another crisp morning with Akinabalu in the background. The second day brought more tracking and casting. My brother hooked into something big — the drag screamed, but the fish got away. The hook had bent open. We both knew it was no small catch.
Later that evening, I hooked into what felt like a strong Pelian. It fought hard, pulled my medium light setup drag — then slipped away. Frustrating! I cast again into the same spot — STRIKE!. This time, I managed to land my first Pelian — a small size, but satisfying after the earlier miss.
We continued moving upstream and I was fortunate enough to land a second Pelian. Both were on the smaller side, but after the conditions we faced, every catch counted.
𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲
We packed up and made our way back to Kota Kinabalu. Despite the tough water conditions, this trip was one of the most rewarding stream fishing experiences I’ve had.
Big thanks to Bombon Casting Pelian Tunga-unga Ecotourism for the top-tier hospitality and guiding us throughout the trip. We came for the 𝘗𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 and left with more than just fish.