Breaking the Curse: My Record-Breaking Day Fishing for Southern Milkfish (Tulang)

Let’s be real—fishing is equal parts obsession and frustration. I’d gone a whole month without wetting a line, and my “fishing itch” was driving me crazy. Work was nuts, so I’d been binging TikTok to learn every trick in the book for catching southern milkfish (you might know them as tulang—those finicky little fighters that love to tease anglers). My go-to bait recipe? Youxianhun + Xingyun 7 + shrimp powder—it’s a classic, but lately, it felt like it was cursed. Today, though? I finally broke that stupid streak. Let me tell you how it went down.

The Setup: 3.6m Rod, 12 Hours of Fishing (No Regrets)

I hit the water at noon with my trusty 3.6-meter rod. The plan was simple: stay until I either caught something or the sun went down. Spoiler: I stayed until 8 PM. Yep, 8 whole hours. Was my back sore? Absolutely. Did I have a crick in my neck? You bet. But was it worth it? HELL YES.

First Win: Ditching the “In-Your-Face” Bait Approach

Here’s the thing about southern milkfish—they’re total drama queens. I’ve had days where they’d swim right up to my bait, nudge it like it’s a toy, and then dart away. No bite. Nada. Zilch. It’s enough to make you want to throw your rod into the water (don’t worry, I never actually do that… okay, maybe once). Today, I tried something new—smaller hooks, thinner line, and tiny bait chunks. Instead of dropping the bait right where I saw them feeding, I cast a little deeper and a little farther from the shore. And guess what? It worked. Not a ton, but I landed two solid ones. Progress, people. Progress.

Second Game-Changer: Tuning the Float (Finally!)

Float tuning is my kryptonite. I used to just slap on a heavy sinker and call it a day—heavy lead on the bottom, problem solved, right? Wrong. Today, I switched it up with a 2.7-gram nano float with two bold tips (game-changer for low-light). The spot I was fishing? Fast-moving water in the Yong River—milkfish love that current, but it’s a nightmare for keeping your bait steady.

• First try: No hook, adjust to flat water (float level with the surface), fish 2-3 eyes. Bites were super light, and I lost more fish than I caught. No small fish trouble, though—silver.
• Later, when the water calmed down: Hook on, adjust to 2 eyes, fish 2-3 eyes. BANG—bites got way more obvious. I even landed four in a row. FOUR. Let me repeat that: FOUR. In a row. I was screaming inside (okay, maybe a little outside too).

Why This Day Was Different (Spoiler: It’s Not Just the Bait)

Let’s be honest—most days, fishing feels like guessing. But today, I stopped guessing and started experimenting. Here’s what made the difference:

1. Ditching the “Safe” Setup

I’ve been using the same heavy line and big hooks for months because “that’s what I always do.” But southern milkfish have tiny mouths—duh. Smaller hooks let them take the bait without feeling like they’re swallowing a rock. Thinner line? Less drag, so they don’t feel like they’re fighting a brick. Simple, but I’m an idiot for not trying it sooner.

2. Reading the Water (Not Just the Fish)

Fast water means milkfish are feeding near the bottom, but not too deep. When the water slowed down, they moved up a little. I used to just cast and hope—now I’m paying attention to how the current moves the float. If it’s bobbing too much, I adjust the sinker. If it’s sitting still, I reel in a little. It’s like learning a new language, but today it clicked.

3. Patience (Ugh, I Know)

I wanted to quit at 4 PM. My hands were cold, my stomach was growling, and I’d only caught two fish. But then I remembered: the best bites happen when you’re about to give up. So I stuck it out. And that’s when the four-in-a-row happened. Patience is overrated, but it works. Don’t be like me—don’t quit early.

The Weather: A Double-Edged Sword

It’s getting hot here—summer’s coming, and the little guys (small tilapia, minnow-like fish) are waking up. That means more competition for the bait, but it also means milkfish are more active. They’re hungry, so they’re less picky. Pro tip: If you see small fish swarming, switch to a smaller bait. They’ll still go after it, but the milkfish will too. Win-win (sort of—you’ll catch more small fish, but you’ll get the big ones too).

And yes, I came prepared. My glow-in-the-dark float batteries and extra parts? All ready. Nothing kills a streak faster than a dead battery when the sun goes down. Don’t be that guy.

Final Thoughts: It’s All About the Journey (Even When It Sucks)

Today wasn’t about catching a ton of fish. It was about breaking a curse. A month of frustration, a day of trial and error, and finally, a win. Fishing isn’t about being perfect—it’s about learning from every bad cast, every missed bite, every time you want to throw your rod. It’s about that split second when you feel the tug, and you know you’ve got something. That’s the rush. That’s why we do it.

Thanks for reading, guys. Let’s keep experimenting, keep failing, and keep catching. If you’ve got tips for southern milkfish, drop ’em in the comments. Let’s learn together. Tight lines!