I was fishing on a pontoon near Shangri-La Resort at Rasa Ria, Tuaran, Sabah.

I used a 14 ft Boat surf casting rod. All the other patrons were cracking jokes and laughing at me. Except 1 guy who set quietly minding his own rod.

About 11 pm, I had a strike, fought what look like hours, the rod bend almost horizontal, the line was stripped to almost gone. All the other patrons were cheering me on. Then with a awful snap, the line broke.

The quiet guy came and commiserate me, and we got to talking.

I said I was from Melaka, and I like to fish from the jetty at Pulau Besar Melaka. He asked about fishing there, and I said it was good. We talked about the fish I caught, and I boast a little- well, a lot.

He ask me what was my pet peeve.

I went on a tirade about the Melaka Marine Police Department. They would park the boat on my favorite spot, they would fish from the boat into the favorite fish hole. How arrogant those guys were, how they would go raid the feast at the nearby cemetery. (usually done by Indian Muslim for some Muslim saints). How they lost a boat in Muar to a Indonesian. (Apparently, everybody went on shore leave, and left the keys in the boat by the river bank.)

I was wondering why he became quieter.