Unfortunately, no scientific study or research have ever been carried out to find out for certain the reasons for the congregation of sailfish in Kuala Rompin, located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
It has always been a debate if the billfish concentration, particularly in huge numbers from August to November annually could only be due to the arrival of food source (anchovies and other bait fish, and squid). Thus bringing along with them large numbers of sea birds and hordes of other predators including the army of sport fishers (including commercial fishermen).
The bait fish arrival must be a big factor but many have also wondered if the sailfish are here to spawn. There are evidence that the waters in or not far from Kuala Rompin is also a spawning ground and nursery for this gracefully powerful billfish species.
A juvenile sailfish of about 20cm (8 inches) in length and weighing 200 gm was caught on a jig. The little Sailfish was released after the photograph was taken.
This should be an exciting piece of news and discovery. It is with great hope that perhaps the local state authorities, Fisheries Department or Jabatan Perikanan, university or any research body would conduct proper study and do something to preserve and protect the surrounding waters.
It must be made known that it is not just the sailfish that needs to be protected but just as important the bait fish and ecology that holds all together in balance.
Research must be carried out and closed season too, if necessary. Fortunately, the north-east monsoon between November to February does a decent job of that. Perhaps what will be good is a gazetted No Net Zone.
What do you think needs to be done? Please share your suggestion as any support is much needed.
Some Photos of Juvenile Sailfish Caught in Kuala Rompin Over The Years
I definitly like this. Thumbs up to whoever manages this site.
Most divers would know that the sea is fighting a losing battle against global warming. A temperature rise of a couple of degrees would bleached coral and set off a chain effect of untold destruction. With the ever increasing world population now reaching 6.9 billion people, greenhouse gases are not likely to reduce as long as fossil fuel is in demand as energy source. Recent blunder from BP has released enormous amount of toxic heavy metals into the ocean. I suggest that each person practice recycling to combat further polution to the environment and keep global warming at bay.
Mother nature can certainly use all the help she can get. No matter how small the effort, every bit counts when you add up the planet’s ever growing population.
As anglers, we should be even more sensitive to the changes else we will always look back and say ‘those were the days…’
The fishery department will SIT ON THEIR ass about protecting juvenile sail fish,,
What can be done is AS SIMPLE AS organising a FEW PEOPLE during the fishing season and hand a letter to the sit on his ass head honcho at the Fishery DEpt of ROMPIN.
oF COURSE WE HAVE TO GET THE press..MEDIA ONLINE OF OFFLINE MEDIA FISHING MAGS..ETC ETC. iF TOO MUCH WORK ..JUST TAKE A FEW PHOTOS post online ourselves here and there..
.if nothing happens Do it again next year just for the heell of it.
No need Big crowd like bersih2.0…!!! 5 ,6 6,7 whatever numbers will do most expensive item in this move is the BANNER.
Thanks for taking a concern, Francis.
We will do what we can over here at SFA, like the Save Our Sailfish effort we pushed through our Facebook page and the banners printed by certain Rompin skippers and the K. Rompin Fishing Association.
We hope all angler will play a part, too. No matter how small the effort, it will add up.