Traditional Drag-Netting

Traditional drag-netting (‘pukat’ in Bahasa, ‘pukek’ in local language) is another method of fishing among traditional fishermen in Krui, South Sumatera. Unlike hook fishing or gillnetting, drag-netting isn’t as practical as it needs more people to coordinate. However, when the season is high, the people can get much more catches in return than a traditional hook fisherman or a gillnetter can get.  

In traditional drag-netting, one or two men handle the boat about three or four hundred meters off shore while ten to twenty people on shore dragging the lines on both sides. People who handle the line on the left side have to coordinate well with their partners on the right so as to make simultaneous drag. It usually takes at least 5 people on each side to make an effective move. If the ball gets fully loaded with fish or things then the drag is harder and more people needed, but if it gets hardly anything, then there is no sweat.

Traditional drag-netting fishing is much more joyful than other fishing methods. And unlike other methods, it takes a solid team work. When they catch abundant of fish, there will be more people swarm around to check. And when there is more and more people gathered, it looks like a beach party which everybody enjoy.

Traditional drag-netting doesn’t need as long time as other methods. One drag-netting session take about two hours. There’s nothing modern in this traditional way of catching fish. The boat is rowed by four people or more. And the lines are dragged by hand. No engine and  no fuel needed.

Anybody can help dragging the lines for some share, when the net catches something. But if they catch nothing, then you’ll have to take it for fun only. Through the years, traditional drag-netting has shared more fish to locals than other fishing methods.

If you are there, don’t skip this event. It’s worth watching. And if you like, you can give them your hands too.