Bagan (fishing)

Lore & Background

Several types of bagan exist. Bagan tancap (stationary lift net) is non-movable and operated for the duration of the fishing season. Bagan rakit (raft lift nets) can be moved to locations where fish are predicted to be mobile, with a platform above the raft and bamboo as the base and floating device. Bagan perahu (boat lift nets) consists of two boats connected at the front and back by two bamboo sticks, forming a square to hang the net. Bagan perahu beranjang-anjang (boat lift nets with platform) is similar to bagan rakit but uses two boats as the floating device. Bagan berlayar (lift nets with sail) has its own rudder and sail, generally a larger version of local boats and canoes, with some having masts on each hull (if a catamaran) and various rigging types such as nade (gunter), lete (lateen), or tanja rig.

Reader's Guide

Bagan represents a significant traditional fishing technology in Indonesia, combining nets, lights, and various boat or raft designs to efficiently catch small fish, squid, and shrimp. Its introduction by Makassarese and Bugis people in the 1950s spread rapidly across Indonesian fishing areas, demonstrating its effectiveness and adaptability. The use of lights for night fishing, especially during dark moon phases, is a key innovation that allows bagan to attract and harvest marine life. The variety of types—stationary, raft, boat, and sailing—shows how the basic concept was modified to suit different coastal environments and mobility needs. Bagan's legacy lies in its widespread adoption and continued use in Indonesian fisheries, as well as its influence on similar fishing instruments in the region, such as the basnigan in the Philippines. The design elements, including the use of bamboo, wood, and traditional sail rigging, reflect local craftsmanship and maritime knowledge. While modern fishing methods have evolved, bagan remains a culturally and economically important tool for small-scale fishers, preserving a link to historical fishing practices in the archipelago.

Did You Know?

• Bagan was first introduced by Makassarese and Bugis people in South and Southeast Sulawesi in the 1950s.
• Catching with a bagan is only done at night, especially during the dark moon phase, using lights as fishing aids.
• Bagan berlayar (lift nets with sail) has its own rudder and sail and can be a catamaran with masts on each hull.
• The nets are generally 9 x 9 meters wide with 0.5–1 cm mesh, made of cotton or nylon yarn.

Origins & Historical Development

The practice of using artificial light to attract marine life in Indonesian waters likely traces back to the early twentieth century, when acetylene lamps first became available to fishers across the archipelago. However, the bagan as a distinct fishing instrument emerged later. In the 1950s, Makassarese and Bugis communities in South and Southeast Sulawesi are credited with introducing the first bagan rigs. The lighting technology of that era probably relied on high-pressure paraffin steam lamps manufactured domestically in Indonesia, rather than the more modern electric sources used today. What began as a localized technique spread with remarkable speed; within a relatively short span, the bagan became a recognized fixture across nearly the entire Indonesian fishing zone. As it traveled from region to region, the design evolved and adapted, taking on new shapes and configurations suited to local conditions. This rapid diffusion and continuous modification transformed a single community's innovation into a shared maritime tradition spanning the archipelago.

Construction & Operating Mechanics

A bagan rig is an assembly of several interdependent parts working together to harvest pelagic species from open water. The core catching element is a net typically measuring nine by nine metres, woven from cotton or nylon yarn with a mesh opening between half a centimetre and one centimetre. This net is lashed to a rectangular frame of bamboo or timber. Above the net sits a platform or shack, sometimes called anjanganjangan, constructed from woven material or wood and occasionally left without a roof. On a stationary rig the platform's underside spans ten by ten metres while the upper section measures nine and a half by nine and a half metres. A roller mounted on the deck allows the crew to lower and raise the net repeatedly. A serok, or handle net, assists in gathering the catch. Critically, all bagan fishing is conducted exclusively at night, with particular emphasis on the dark phases of the lunar cycle. Lights are deployed as the primary attractant, and the entire rig is floated out to sea where it may remain for days or even months before the haul is shuttled to shore by separate vessels.

Variations Across the Archipelago

The bagan family encompasses at least five distinct configurations, each adapted to different operational needs. The bagan tancap is the most fixed: once planted in the water it stays in place for the entire fishing season, with the net lowered and raised via the deck roller and lights positioned roughly one metre above the surface to draw in small pelagics such as sardinella, anchovies, rainbow sardine, yellowstripe scad, leiognathids, crescent grunter, gerres filamentosus, squid, and cuttlefish. The bagan rakit adds mobility by mounting the platform on a raft of bamboo, allowing crews to shift to areas where fish are expected to move. The bagan perahu is even simpler and lighter, using two boats lashed together at bow and stern with bamboo cross-pieces to form a square frame for the net. The bagan perahu beranjang-anjang combines the raft-style platform with two boats as the floating base. All three mobile types are anchored during the actual capture. Each variant reflects a different balance between stability, portability, and the scale of the target catch.

The Sailing Bagan & Traditional Maritime Craft

Among all bagan types, the bagan berlayar stands apart because it propels itself under sail rather than being towed. These rigs are essentially enlarged versions of local boats and canoes, often fitted with a working platform. In West Sulawesi, the hull form echoes the Mandarese sandeq, while other examples feature a large plank-built hold loosely lashed together with sticks and string. Some display the elegant, slender boards and ornate bow and stern characteristic of the sapa, or sope, while others forgo the sapa's distinctive prow. Decorated sterns, gunwales, and poop decks are common embellishments. The finest sailing bagan are catamarans carrying a mast on each hull with two parallel rigs. East Indonesian examples use nade (gunter) or lete (lateen) rigging, whereas those from Java and Sulawesi employ the tanja rig. Steering is handled primarily by a large vertical central rudder, though a minority carry quarter rudders; in practice the sail exerts a stronger influence on course than the rudder does.

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