No easy feat: Suhairan braving the big waves that hit the coast to catch mullets. — Bernama
BACHOK: The monsoon season, marked by towering waves and turbulent seas, has never dampened the fighting spirit of the fishermen here.
When the sea becomes too rough for them to venture out, mullet fishing with nets becomes their sole means of survival.
Along the coastline of Bachok, battered by powerful waves from the South China Sea, local fishermen view mullet fishing as a source of pride and a symbol of resilience.
“Scooping mullets is more than a job; it’s a cherished tradition.
“Since childhood, I’ve watched my father and grandfather face towering waves to bring in their catch.
“Their perseverance has been a profound inspiration, even though I understand the challenges involved.
“It takes years of training and perseverance to master it,” Suhairan Mohamed, a fisherman from Kampung Pangkalan Baru, told Bernama.
The 42-year-old said mullet fishing demands more than mere skill, noting that fishermen need keen eyesight to detect fish movements from over 100m away, and courage to endure the powerful waves pounding the shoreline.
“Mullets are often found in foamy waters mixed with clay carried by the waves, and only the bravest are rewarded with fruitful catches in these challenging conditions.
“We start work as early as 8am and finish around 6pm.
“Each day, we manage to catch 10kg to 30kg of mullet.
“Some of the fish we catch are given to our families, while the rest are sold at RM5 per kg to local traders or residents,” he said.
Mullet fishing can only be carried out on gentle, erosion-free beaches such as the stretch from Pantai Kemasin to Pantai Sungai Gali, spanning around 50km.
“One of the biggest risks is the whirlpool areas along the beach, where mullets often gather.
‘If we’re not careful, it can be life-threatening.
“We need to know the exact location of the whirlpools to avoid any unwanted incidents,” said Zulaiman Mat Ail, 53, a fisherman from Pantai Kemasin.
