Kota Kinabalu: It was a bonanza for some local fishermen who stumbled upon a large shoal of Giant Trevally or Ikan Putih (Caranx Ignobilis) between the city perimeters and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park islands. This situation also attracted the attention of many islanders and boat operators who took the opportunity to purchase the big fishes at lower than market prices.
According to an onlooker named Almando, the fishermen stumbled upon the large shoal early Friday.
"These fishes were probably attracted by the little baitfish that come to the area and I think it was the fishermen's luck that they encountered the shoal when they did.
So much was the catch that the fishing boats' waterline sank to within a few inches from the sea surface under the weight of the catch.
"Being unable to fit in all the fishes into their boat the fishermen were forced to leave the rest in the net at sea and resort to selling off the fishes also to those interested to buy them at sea," he said.
He said the fishes weighing around 3.5 to 5kg on average were going for around RM40 per fish.
On whether this would depress fish prices at the KK Market, he said prices at sea were different from land.
"The prices will be much higher by the time it reaches the market.
Asked how much will such a similar sized fish cost by the time it is sold in the market he said probably around RM60-70.
Judging from the haul of fishes, he reckoned the fishermen could earn RM15,000 to RM20,000 from their haul.
At the jetty many Chinese towkays and people were seen carting away the fish that was purchased.
