When the river rises, the ‘lundu’ arrive
For a brief spell during the rainy season, schools of catfish move upstream - and inland fishermen along the Kinta River know exactly when to set their traps.
When the Kinta River swells during the rainy season, inland fisherman Anuar Osman knows it's time to set his traditional "belat" trap for a short but profitable fishing season. The "lundu," a type of catfish, migrate upstream in large numbers, creating an opportunity for fishermen who can quickly place and retrieve the traps.
Anuar, 49, explains that the hunt only lasts for about a week before the lundu retire, retreating once the river drops. Shahril Yeop Mat Sibi, 37, notes that the fish come from the lower reaches of the Perak River into the Kinta River during high water levels. The belat trap, which doesn't require bait, is strategically placed along the riverbanks to catch the migrating fish.
Trader Jasnurol Iznal Zainal Abidin, 43, makes a significant income during this brief season, selling between 300kg and 600kg of lundu at around RM30 per kg. However, the fishing comes with risks, as crocodiles inhabit the area and rising water creates unpredictable conditions. Experienced fishermen like Anuar and Shahril understand the signs and act accordingly, setting traps and retrieving them before the river recedes.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
