Visiting the fish market (freshly caught ones) has always been exciting for me because of the surprises that one can find and also the fact that it is an indication of the state of health of our seas. Over the years that I've visited the fisherman markets in and around Kuantan, I have noticed a steady decline in the varieties offered as well as the number - the answer is always a familiar one: there isn't much in the sea these days...if we do not take initiatives to curb pollution and overfishing, this is hardly the beginning of more sad stories to come...
Back to more pleasant issues - another reason I visit these stalls is that their catch are wild fishes (meaning not reared with unknown feed) and the non homogenous sizes of the fish tell a lot...also, the taste is much firmer than your average bought over the counter supermarket fishes that usually have to go through numerous freezing and thawing...
Venus clams
Tenggiri (think is a species of large mackerel)
Dory-like fishes (maybe a Talang)
Trigger fishes like these have a surprising texture almost like chicken (the Chinese call these sea chicken)
Tiny Garoupas next a some medium-sized Red snappers
crabs
Kerisi
A medium-sized Garoupa
Selar Kuning, a tiny fish good fried crispy and eaten with a chilli vinaigrette
Tongkol, a local tuna used for the curry for Nasi Dagang, a speciality of the East Coast
Pelaling
Scat fishes, a common estuary species
Impressive-sized Royal Snapper
Jenahak or Golden snapper
A barrel of Tongkols
A large Red Coral Cod, often prized by Chinese restaurants
a pair of delicately-colored Coral Cods, the most expensive offering of the day. Bought the larger one (around 1.4 kg). This fish has a very delicate and full flesh and best eaten simply steamed (recommended to take it to a good Chinese restaurant if you are not well-versed with the cooking method).
Very colourful Royal Snappers...
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