Question about the "Ah Seng"

[Darth Salacious]

I've understood from the post archives that the fish known colloquially as an Ah Seng is actually called a Duri and it seems like most anglers consider them as pests, or rather as dud catches, from what I'ver read so far. (I'm a real noob to fishing )

However, I've never seen one before, so can someone please post a picture of an Ah Seng in here, lest I catch one in the future and have absolutely no idea what it looks like?

Thanks so much.

[Tere]

Hi Darth,

You can look under What The Fish. There's a database of the fishes there.

Here's the black Eel tail catfish pics for you

Black Eeltail Catfish (Plotosus Canius)

[Darth Salacious]

Thanks. I didn't know that the Black Eel Tail Catfish and the Duri were the one and the same.

By the way, can share why they are considered pests?

[Peace]

Thanks. I didn't know that the Black Eel Tail Catfish and the Duri were the one and the same.

By the way, can share why they are considered pests?

Here's pics of Ah Seng:




They're are marine catfishes and more commonly known to us as Ah Seng or Seng Hurr. There's quite a few species of them and can be difficult to differentiate them from looks alone. They're a different family from eeltail catfish though. Eeltail catfish are more commonly known as 'tor sat', sembilang, gemang, depending on the species.

Catfishes are considered pest because they are generally considered low quality fish, especially among chinese. Malays, on the other hand, love them and make fantastic Assam Pedas with it.

Marine catfish has a coat of slime on its body with a very fishy smell which many anglers deem 'disgusting' even to touch. They can often be encountered in groups and will eat almost any types of baits. Some anglers believe that when there's a catfish swarm around, the good quality fishes like snappers won't come near.

Marine catfishes also have three venomous spines on their body which makes them troublesome to handle. Most anglers would disarm the spikes before removing the hook for safety.

Most anglers dislike Ah Sengs for the few reasons above.

[desleyhan]

I guess they are not too good for the dining table .... (that would be the main reason)

Or perhaps only 2 styles to cook it ... Asam pedas or Fish & Chips style!

Thanks. I didn't know that the Black Eel Tail Catfish and the Duri were the one and the same.

By the way, can share why they are considered pests?

...Ohhh yah, maybe its also becoz of the slime they leave on the leaders .....

[darren]

desleyhan you right i heard from my friend that fish and co use duri meat as fillet. not a bad taste after all. your snapper taste better. kekeke

[desleyhan]

desleyhan you right i heard from my friend that fish and co use duri meat as fillet. not a bad taste after all. your snapper taste better. kekeke

I now into different style of cooking up fish & its recipes ....

Visited Outram Park Temp Hawker earlier on tonite and tried the Hong Kong Style Steam Fish Head in Hot Sauce ... not bad man ....







You guys shld try it out some day ....

[darren]

is that a song fish head

[darren]

me eye cannot see on properly on that big sign board. sorry sonf fish fresh water fish .

[desleyhan]

is that a song fish head

Yup ... you're Right !!!

[darren]

i though this type of fish is very smelly?

[domvonn]

i though this type of fish is very smelly?

hmmm if fresh de i dun think so ...

Below is a pic of a pot of Song Fish fishhead soup i had in Shanghai. Not bad.

[Darth Salacious]

Thanks so much for the trouble posting up the various pictures and taking your time to explain to me, guys.

Btw, I'll be going for an offshore at the South China Sea on 20 - 22 Jul. I'll share the thrills and spills and the pictures in here when I get back.

And the fish dishes look rather yummy, I must add.

Once again, thank you so much.

[Darth Salacious]

Oh, I can emphatise with that (the slime).

I had a very bad experience with an Estaurine Moray Eel once, and when it came out of the water, it entangled itself around the line, took us a hard time to remove and worst of all, it coated the leader line with a thick layer of slime/mucus that smelt really bad.

[Peace]

Yes, the Estuarine Moray Eel can be a headache to untangle. Sometimes, leaving it on the ground, it may untangle itself. Even so, the line is left with slime which you probably will cut away anyway. But it's good to untangle and release the eel safely if you can.

Good luck on your upcoming SCS!