The Scenes of Fishing Village at Muara Sungai Duyung

The serene view of fishing village, the docking and undocking of fishing boats, the life of fishermen, are usually the pictures that we’ve forgotten or ignored in our bustling city life surrounded by skyscrapers. In places like Kuala Lumpur federal territory, scenic beach, streams, and country sites are almost non-existent. Fortunately in Melaka, despite the recent rapid economic growth and development, occupation-based settlements like fishing villages are still preserved.

On last Saturday, during a fine evening, I went to a stream mouth neighboring to the town, called Muara Sungai Duyung. It is easy to locate the place. Just heading upwards from Ujung Pasir to the direction of Padang Temu, and you will see a big sign board written Muara Sungai Duyung, pointing to a small lane on your right. That’s the place where a number of fishing boats are docked and undocked everyday, and a significant community of fishermen is making their living.

Direction to Muara Sungai Duyung

At Muara Sungai Duyung, the fishing boats caught in sight are of varying sizes. The small motor boats are apparently only suitable for fishing activities at shallow stream to catch small fishes. On the other hand, the bigger and all-weather fishing boats allow the fishermen to reach deeper sea for bigger local fishes, such as groupers, Jenahak and herrings.

The small wooden hut used by fishermen to store fishing equipments

Fishermen preparing for trip

Fishermen heading for a trip on small boat

Fishing nets

Fishing traps

Malaysia national flag flying at the dock

Fishermen preparing and fixing fishing net

A small wooden bridge at the dock

Source of Fresh Catches

Every evening, especially weekends, there will be a crowd of local residents waiting at the dock for returning fishing boats, to look for fresh catches of the day. If you’re particular about the taste and meat textures of the fish you eat, this is definitely one of the good places in Melaka where you can find fresh catches that have never been frozen.

Comparing to the fishes sold in wet market which has been frozen during transporting, fresh catches taste sweeter and finer. Of course, fresh catches come at a price much higher than those sold in wet market.

Besides Muara Sungai Duyung, there are also a few places in Tanjung Kling and Klebang where you can get fresh catches of fish.

Ikan Bakar at Night

When Malaysian thinks of seafood, ikan bakar (BBQ fish) will usually be one of the most drooling dishes. As a fishing village, when the dawn falls off, you can also find two ikan bakar restaurants at Muara Sungai Duyung - Medan Ikan Bakar Muara Sungai Duyung, Anjung Muara Ikan Bakar.

Between the 2 mentioned ikan bakar restaurants at Muara Sungai Duyung, personally I prefer the Anjung Muara Sungai Duyung.

As shown in the above direction map, you have to go through a river-side road to reach the ikan bakar restaurants, whereas the river should be on your RIGHT. The river-side road is relatively dark at night, but busy traffic during weekends.

At the end of the dark river-side road, you will see a brightly-lit ikan bakar restaurant on your right. DON’T go to this one. You should go to another ikan bakar on your LEFT, which is the not so brightly-lit Anjung Muara Sungai Duyung that I’m referring to. The seafoods are fresh catches, and reasonably priced. Personally, I find Anjung Muara Sungai Duyung to serve better foods.

4 comments September 24th, 2006