I later asked Mr. Rushdi where Eping caught his Mahseer, which was just a few meters upstream. He showed me where and asked me to cast my lure next to a boulder near the bank. I always listen to the guides and cast to where he pointed. Unsurprisingly there was a fish waiting there and it ate my lure as soon as it hit the water. I was happy to hook a fish but also a bit disappointed as I haven’t figured out the pattern that the fish are responding to because they always take my lure as soon as it hits the water.
Anyway, this fish had more fight in it and was an absolute thrill on light gear. I landed the fish and it was a good size, had no injuries and looked really healthy, the perfect candidate for tagging. The fish was first unhooked, then measured, weighed and the coordinates of capture were recorded. The fish was tagged below its dorsal fin where the tag’s barb is secured to the dorsal spines. It was later given time to recuperate before it was released, kicking as the oxygen-rich water rushed through its gills.