2 June 2012 - pelagic off Tanjung Dawai

2 June 2012 - pelagic off Tanjung Dawai

I woke up on 4.30 in the morning and took all thing I had packed earlier and ride my bike to the small fishing town of Tanjung Dawai to join the fishing boat out to the sea.
As I arrived at the anchovy boat jetty, one of the crew allow me to park my motorbike inside the jetty building. Boarding the boat on 6.50, after a few chat and a good breakfast, the boat left the port at 7.00. Most of the crew expecting early return because the weather forecast expecting a thunderstorm today as the wind blown strong from north-west direction.
Most of the crews were not present today, most of them had wedding to attend, those included the captain, Haji Anuar and our 'bird guide' - Baharom, reducing the crew number from 30 to 20

View of the sunrise behind the Tanjung Dawai mosque

The sea was not so friendly today - the roughest trip I'd ever encounter in Tanjung Dawai, honestly it is not so choppy as Mersing/Seribuat archipelago sea, however it turn my head dizzy in first four hour of the voyage.

The pole - this is the point when you exit the estuary and enter the sea. This flocks of Common tern are the first bird seen today.

The wind and wave level rising up as the boat move to the middle of the sea - The captain in charge told me that this condition is common in June, he also expecting a storm today.

The first net was set up at 0910 - the catch is not so good as well as birds seen.

Fast ferry to Langkawi island from Penang - two trip daily

The fishing vessel move toward north-west direction, toward Pulau Payar as the first catch is not so motivating. As we move, the weather become more friendly to us and the number of bird seen decrease dramatically. Suddenly - (I don't know how I felt asleep, luckily all my gear secured in my bag) somebody scream 'Itik Ayer' (Shearwater) and I woke to join the crew and realise I'm not joining the person who shouting - so no shearwater today.

No more than 5 minutes the boat stop and the buzzer call - this time the captain had to wait for more than 10 minutes for the crews to get in action - I realize, not only me sleeping around, The time was 1255 - freaking hot with wind dying out.

Bridled Tern is the most seen species today

The Common Tern come in as the second most seen birds

The main attractant (in term of terns) today are 2 juvenile Sooty Tern - This large Onichoprion tern has a unique call of 'kerrk-kwerrk-kwarrk' 

The second catch is much better compare to the first catch. The crew are really motivated, after the catch they sing and eat their lunch happily and ready to go for the next catch.

Better second catch

After the second catch the boat move on, now Pulau Payar is clear in front of us, with the help of sonar system and few round of patrol, the buzz calling the crew for the third time of the day at 1600. With no time to waste, all the crews are well prepared this time to cast the net. The bird number and fish caught improved for the second time of the day.

Terns feeding close to the net - 2 Arctic Skua were seen far, try to marauding tern that stray far from the boat.

Juvenile Sooty Tern

Adult Common Tern

The catch is getting better, can u tell?

Better catch mean more scrap to be thrown out from the boat. Theorically, this will attract more boat and after 5 minutes left the fishing spot, I notice two swift-sized boat flying behind the boat in which behaviour I haven't seen in any swift. I observe the bird extend the leg and began to dancing on the sea water. I shout in my heart, 'Petrels'. I get my bins try to get the tail view - fish-tail shape, no white rump, thus considering that was my first Swinhoe's Storm Petrel and my first Petrel in Tanjung Dawai. 

Last but not least, my first turtle sighting in Tanjung Dawai and it is an Olive-Ridley Turtle.

We arriving Tanjung Dawai jetty at 1945, which me and all the crews were full of spirit. Hence, I still had a 60 km motorbike ride to my home, realizing I'm really enjoy my trip today.

Labour's day Pelagic off Tanjung Dawai

I make a last minute call to join Choo Eng and Dave Bakewell for a pelagic trip on anchovy's fishermen boat in Tanjung Dawai on Labour day holiday. I'm seeking any opportunity to go out to the sea since I left Pulau Tengah last November and only had the chance after nearly 6 months. After watching the Manchester derby, I left my home at 5 and it not took me long to wait for Dave and ChooEng. We arrived at Tanjung Dawai fishing port at 6.30 and the fishermens greet us with smile.

The view of the fishing port from the boat upper deck

The view of the anchovy boat

7 in the morning, we set sail to the sea - this is my first experience riding the new boat, and I found the new boat was more comfort compare to the old one - but not as comfort as the fishing boat in Mersing.

The storm is coming - despite the nice sea condition we had today, there are big cloud over Pulau Bidan and the cloud seem building up over Gunung Jerai - The first shearwater of the day was spotted at this point.

The first haul of the day - A lot of by catch capture by the fishermen today : They claim today as the weird day, by catch including Tuna, octopus, Lutjanus sp. , Mantis prawn, squid and mackerel

Not many bird came by the boat as the  fishermen launch their net, however, the bird number building up as the boat move further northeast. This including two Short-tailed Shearwater, groups of White-wing Black Tern, Bridled Tern, Common Tern and Long-tailed Skua/Jaeger.

The tubenose (real pelagic bird) of the day - Short-tailed Shearwater, local call it 'Itik Air' which mean aquatic duck. Although it use to be an unusual bird, most of fishermen in Malaysia recognize it and please with the present of this bird - They claim it as luck bringer.

A flock of Bridled Tern flew past as the boat move

Meanwhile on the boat, although the fishing had done, the fishermen continue their work in processing the anchovies - They have to boil and let it dry - those fishermen who did not conduct the boiling will sewn the damaged net and rearrange it, so it be easy for them to launch the net on the next catch.

The fishermen boiling the anchovies - build up the smell, and the smell attract 2 more shearwater.

Anchovy drying process - increase the degree of smell produced, on top is the squid, another by catch that have market potential.

Our friend, Mr. Harom prepared to release the net for the second catch - Look promising as the number of terns building up

Terns including this Bridled Tern feeding gracefully around the boat, terns number building up really quick until...

The Long-tailed Skua come and marauding them - This Skua dare to come close to the boat to get the terns catch.

After It got the tern catch it go away - move away from the boat

After the threat of Skua gone, terns coming back closer to the net to feed. This Bridled Tern seem still alert after the Skua attack.

On the second catch, a gracious tern fly toward the boat and it turn out to be an Aleutian Tern - A lifer for me. White winged Tern all seen in their breeding plumage. The fishermen satisfied with their catch and the total count of the day are:

White-winged Tern 150

Bridled Tern 100

Common Tern 60

Black-naped Tern 3

Whiskered Tern 1

Aleutian Tern 1

Long-tailed Skua 6

Short-tailed Shearwater 5

Unidentified Shearwater 1

Unidentified Skua 2

That's all for this visit, as we enter the month of May and June, I'm looking forward for more pelagic trip in Tanjung Dawai and in Pulau Sembilan in Perak. One of the fishermen share a valuable info with me - To go on with the fishermen in Langkawi as those fishermen go out longer and further. When we reach the port, I'd met someone I know from Mersing - one of Mr Mustafa boat crew, what a small world I thought, after a few friendly chat we leave. Here from the fishermen of Tanjung Dawai: 

Our Fishermen friend in Tanjung Dawai. The tagline mean 'the band of old boys'