In this page, I will only state the most common fishes around as there are too many kinds of fishes in the Malaysian waters to be stated. If you land a fish which is not listed here, you would probably like to ask the boatman about it. They would most likely be able to identify and give you more information about fish. Not all fishes can be eaten, some are poisonous or venomous so it is vital that you ask the boatman on the fish you are unsure of, checking with him whether it is venomous and if it is edible before turning them into your dinner.

Being  poisonous means that it will make a person sick or sometime fatal only if the fish is consumed. Cooking it will not removed or neutralize these poisons. One fish poisoning  that you should be aware of is the Ciguatare. It is caused by eating seafood (reef fishes) that have accumulated a poison, called CIGUATOXIN. Ciguatoxin is reproduced by microscopic organisms that grow on the surface of marine algae commonly found in reef areas of the ocean. The poison gets into the reef fish when they feed on algae. The poison can accumulated by larger fish when they in turn feed on this reef fish. This is most reported at the east coast of Malaysia and it can be easily avoided by knowing wether the fish feeds on algae or on reef fishes. One example of such fish is the Barracuda.

Many kind of fishes in the water has developed their own defensive system and some being venomous and could be fatal. An angler should be sure about this before attempting to handling the fish by hand, again check with an experienced buddy or the boatman if you are unsure. These nasty sting could mean life or DEATH. All these fishes that I have note below are of none venomous but care should be taken when handling then to avoid painful cuts from some of these fishes that has razor shape gill flaps and teeth. 

Note : I have also included the suggest bait for these fishes but other kind of bait which is not in the list should not be ignored. One good way to find out what kind of bait is better is to cut out the stomach of the first fish you land and look at what they are feeding on.

Common : Red Snapper Family : Lutjanidae Chinese: Hong Ji Malay: Ikan Merah Size 14-22 inches Bait Small Fish, Shrimps & Squid Method Bottom Habitat Medium Depth Waters, Clift, Caves, Rocks, Corals

To see the complete guide to fish facts of Malaysia click below