Here are the basic things you need to know for your first time fishing adventure.

1) How to fish with bait

* Tackle. To plunk the bait, you should purchase lead weights. The weight of the lead would vary depending on the current of the environment. Anglers commonly use and recommend bank sinkers with a number-two hook.

To avoid sinkers to slide, you would need a swivel to act as a stop. To protect the knot, you could use plastic beads between the swivel and weight. Using two appropriate swivels could allow you to rig the sliding sinkers.

* Bait. The commonly used bait for all kinds of fishes is worms. Another popular bait is chicken liver. Remember to buy fresh bait and keep them cold to avoid them from getting soft and allowing the bait to stay within your hooks.

Some of the commonly used baits are cut-baits which include skin from fried chicken, fish entrails, grasshoppers, salmon eggs, shrimps and crayfish tails.

2) How to fish - There are three basic methods for fishing.

* Plunking - It is the most common method used. Use a suitable amount of weight for you to be able to take hold of the bait in a position which is against any current. An option in plunking is to use minimal weight for the bait to move along with the water current.

* Back bouncing - It is done by lifting the bait out the bottom and raising the tip of the rod for one to two feet. Allowing the bait to walk with the current, you should free the back reel or spool. Repeat the steps when the lure settles down on the bottom. Back bouncing is effective in deeper water like fishing in a boat.

* Drift-fishing - It is a simple method wherein you cast upstream or downstream. This may vary depending on the current's amount. You should count the appropriate depth and start reeling.

3) How to fish from a boat - It is important to determine in which location you would perform your fishing. Deeper water needs heavier jigheads compared when fishing on shore.

* With heavy weight which keeps your bait near the bottom of the water and the line straight down from your boat, you are able to drift the boat along with any current. A good technique of fishing on boats is trolling slowly with a fishing device called bottom-walker.

Fishing is easy as long as you're enjoying the trip. Bring some of your family and friends along and make your first time fishing a memorable one.

So here are some pictures that have been taken in my first time fishing at Sandakan...

Labuan terletak 115km daripada selatan Kota Kinabalu, penerbangan memakan masa lebih kurang setengah jam, dua setengah jam dengan feri.Ia mempunyai keluasan sebesar 95 kilometer persegi.
Aktiviti yang boleh dijalankan di sini serta tempat menarik untuk dilawati termasuklah:-
Snorkel di sekeliling pulau
lawatan ke rumah panjang
sukan memancing
memancing di tepi pantai
menyelam dalam bangkai kapal karam yang dikenali dengan nama 'Wreck Diving.'
membeli-belah di tempat bebas cukai di Jalan OKK Awang Besar
Berkayak
Menjamu selera dengan makanan laut segar.

Kampung Air.
Terdapat dua buah perkampungan air yang besar iaitu Kampung Bebuloh dan Kampung Patau-Patau. Kebanyakan penghuninya adalah orang Melayu Brunei. Rumah-rumah kayu ini dibina di atas jangkungan di atas air. Mereka dihubungkan oleh titi kayu. Setiap rumah mempunyai botnya masing-masing.

Taman botanikal, dikenali sebagai Bumbung 12, terletak di belakang lapangan terbang lama.

Marine Park yang merangkumi Pulau Rasukan Kecil, Pulau Rasukan Besar dan Pulau Kuraman.

Boleh berkelah dan berjemur, berenang, berkhemah.

Muzium Labuan mempamerkan budaya serta sejarah Labuan.

The Chimney setinggi 106 kaki dibina pada tahun 1800an. Ia merupakan mercu tanda popular di Labuan. Rahsia masih menyelubungi sebab sebenar ia dibina.

Muzium Marin Labuan mempamerkan pelbagai hidupan laut.

Memorial Perang Dunia Ke-2 merupakan kawasan perkuburan tentera terbesar di Malaysia.

Sebahagian besar dari jumlah 3908 terdiri daripada tentera Australia, Britain dan India.

Upacara Mengingati dijalankan pada hari Ahad paling hampir kepada 11hb November setiap tahun.

Peace Park terletak di Layang-Layangan.

Japanese Surrender Point terletak di Layang-Layangan. Ia adalah tempat ke-37 di mana Askar Jepun bagi rantau selatan menyerah diri kepada tentera Diraja Australia ke-9 pada 9hb September 1945.

Dataran Labuan merupakan tempat mengadakan pentas terbuka bagi kebanyakan pesta penting di Labuan. Di sini terletaknya tiang bendera yang mengibarkan bendera Malaysia.

Taman Burung - terletak berhampiran Terowong Tanjung Kubong, mempamerkan sebahagian besar burung tropika dari rantau ini.

Kompleks Sukan Laut Antarabangsa Labuan - bertaraf dunia, meliputi kawasan seluas 5.91 ekar. Kemudahan yang disediakan termasuklah pusat sukan air laut, kedai cenderahati, tempat makan dan sebagai menara tinjauan. Muzium marin Labuan juga terletak di sini.

4 buah Bangkai Kapal yang Karam di Labuan:-
The Blue Water Wreck bernama Mabini Padre
The Cement Wreck bernama MV Tung Hwuang
The American Wreck bernama USS Salute
The Australian Wreck bernama SS de Klerk
terdampar dalam lingkungan 34 km dari Labuan. Ia terdampar di dasar laut antara 30 meter sehingga 35 meter dengan bahagian puncak kapal berada pada takat 8 meter hingga 12 meter. Kejernihan air berubah-ubah bergantung kepada musim dari 6 meter sehingga 20 meter.

Hotels

Sheraton Hotel
Tel: 087 422 000
www.sheraton.com/labuan

Tiara Labuan Hotel and Service Apartment
Tel: 087 414 300
Emel: tiara002@streamyx.com

Beta Service Apartment
Tel: 087 453 333

The Waterfront
Tel: 087 418 111
Emel: waterfront@streamyx.com

Manikar Beach Resort
Tel: 087 418 700
Emel: manikar@tm.net.my

Boutique Hotel

Sara Hotel
Tel: 087 415 555

2-Star Hotel

Hotel Global
Tel: 087 425 201

Mariner Hotel
Tel: 087: 418 822

Budget Hotel

Hotel Pulau Labuan
Tel: 087 416 288

Hotel Ambassador
Tel: 087 423 233

Victoria Hotel
Tel: 087 412 411

Pulau Labuan Inn
Tel: 087 416 833

Hotel Pulau Labuan - branch
Tel: 087 422 388

Sky Global Hotel
Tel: 087 431 218