Prawn Fishing at Jurong Hill (2nd time)

A friend of mine who had never tried out prawn fishing before was game to try out my favourite time-killer and given my first positive experience there, we decided to go all the way to Jurong Hill Prawn Fishing. We rented one rod for 3hrs and then another rod for 3 hrs (but we used the second rod for 1 and a 1/2 hrs each) and although the bite-rate was pathetic at first (4 in the first hour), it got better as the rain let up. The pp working there told us that when the weather is cold, the prawns do not feed as often. Everyone else there had really bad bite-rates too (one couple didn't catch anything for an entire hour even) but there were certain more areas which were far more productive than others (the center of the pond is best).

At the end of the 4 hours odd, we had these prawns (22) and we actually lost 2 prawns which slipped out of the net from a hole at the side (where the side of the net meets the bottom). We both were flummoxed when despite our catches, there were only 3 prawns in the net each time we checked until my sharp-eyed friend spotted the hole at the side. I also suggested bbq-ing the prawns (which I'd never done before) and so we skewered the prawns (some were alive!) and put them on the tray.

Well, because neither of us had ever bbq-ed prawns before, we had to ask for help from the pp there who were most helpful in helping us start the fire and build the charcoal. However, bbq-ing was such a dismal affair because we burnt about 3 prawns, failed to get a roaring fire (the fire was limited to a small part of the grill), that we gave up after a terrible half an hour. We brought the prawns to the restaurant next to the prawn fishing area and they charged us an exorbitant SGD 13 to cook the prawns! However, at that time, it seemed like a really good idea to just pay and eat our catch compared to the bbqing - I think both of us swore that we would never bbq prawns again! :D The restaurant didn't do a half bad job of cooking the prawns in butter and my friend ate most of it with great relish. :D

The Slog Reviews: 8/10. Jurong Prawn Fishing is a great place to chill. However, it can get very crowded after 7pm, esp on a Sat evening. Lots of uncles and aunties there and some of them can be really friendly - they offer their catch or prawn fishing tips to the pp they perceive as newbies. The staff aren't as strict as Sin Ming Prawn Fishing about returning the rods on time but the catch rates while decent fall short of Sin Ming's (click here to read my experience prawn fishing there).