Fishing Spots ＞ Peninsular Malaysia
Snakehead (toman)/Peacock bass
2 captains listed · freshwater category. A spot in Tasik Bukit Merah (Perak) (Peninsular Malaysia) targeting Snakehead (toman)/Peacock bass. Check the tide, captains and recent catches, then contact them directly via public social accounts. Access, climate and lodging are in the details below.
Bukit Merah Lake (Tasik Bukit Merah) is a dam reservoir near Taiping in Perak, with Penang (PEN) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) as the main gateways. It sits right beside the Bukit Merah IC (Exit 150) on the North-South Expressway, making access by car the most convenient. The ETS rail line is also available via the nearby Taiping and Bagan Serai stations (a separate taxi or similar transfer to the lakeside is required). There is an approximately 3.5 km railway viaduct (Bukit Merah Marine Viaduct) crossing from the north to the south end of the lake, also famous for the lake views from the ETS windows.
| From | Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penang (PEN / Penang Island) | Car, North-South Expressway → Bukit Merah IC (Exit 150) | About 1 hour 30 minutes | About 50 km south of Penang Island. The nearest gateway. |
| Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | Car, north on the North-South Expressway → Bukit Merah IC (Exit 150) | About 3 hours | The resort is very close to the expressway IC. |
| Taiping town | Car | About 30 minutes | The lake is about 12 km north of Taiping. |
| ETS rail (KL Sentral–Butterworth / Padang Besar line) | Get off at Taiping or Bagan Serai station → taxi or similar | Bagan Serai station is the closest to the lake. After passing Bagan Serai, the train crosses the lake on the approximately 3.5 km viaduct. A separate transfer from the station to the lakeside resort is required. |
Coordinates: 5.02, 100.66（Open in Google Maps）
Snakehead (toman)/Peacock bass
Freshwater fishing at Bukit Merah Lake is best in the early morning (around 7 a.m.) and the evening, and toman (giant snakehead) can be targeted year-round. The high season for toman (snakehead) in Malaysia is said to be December–March. The general best season for fishing in Malaysia is March–October.
○ in season: Jan–Mar, Dec
See what else is in season now →
For Snakehead (toman) Peacock bass Topwater casting is king.
Full how-to & tackle on each species page
*Photos are not re-hosted; we link to each social account (R8). Auto-updated with the latest posts.
The area around Bukit Merah Lake (representative values for the Taiping area in Perak) has a tropical rainforest climate, with temperatures nearly constant throughout the year. Daytime highs are generally 30–32°C (May is the hottest at about 33°C), and nighttime lows are 23–25°C, with little month-to-month variation. Taiping is one of Malaysia's rainiest places, with annual rainfall of about 2,757 mm. The rainy season is bimodal, in April–May and September–November, with November being the wettest. The relatively dry and easier-to-visit periods are January–March and June–August. Year-round, the basic attire is light clothing (short sleeves) plus sun protection, along with rain gear and a layer for squalls.
| Month | Avg ℃ | High ℃ | Low ℃ | Clothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 24 | Short sleeves and light, breathable clothing. Carry rain gear | ||
| 32 | 24 | Light short-sleeved clothing. Lower humidity. Carry rain gear | ||
| 32 | 24 | Light short-sleeved clothing. Relatively dry season, good time to visit | ||
| 32 | 24 | Short sleeves plus rain gear. The (first) rainy season begins | ||
| 33 | 24 | The hottest month. Short sleeves, sun protection, rain gear | ||
| 32 | 24 | Light short-sleeved clothing. Relatively dry season, good time to visit | ||
| 32 | 24 | Light short-sleeved clothing. Less rain within the month | ||
| 32 | 24 | Light short-sleeved clothing. Good time to visit | ||
| 31 | 24 | Short sleeves plus rain gear. The (second) rainy season begins | ||
| 31 | 24 | Short sleeves plus rain gear. High humidity | ||
| 31 | 24 | The wettest month. Rain gear essential, plus a layer | ||
| 31 | 24 | Short sleeves plus rain gear. Rain lingers but gradually eases |
| Class | Property | Price (approx) | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-end | Novotel Taiping Perak | From RM245/night | A 4-star hotel in central Taiping. It has ample family facilities such as a children's pool and game room, and is highly rated. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Bukit Merah Laketown Resort | From around RM120/night (reports of about US$29–34) | A large resort on the shore of Bukit Merah Lake. Water bungalows/chalets, an outdoor pool, with direct access to the water park and Orang Utan Island. About 18 km from Taiping. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Flemington Hotel | Around RM157–186/night | Located overlooking Taiping Lake Gardens. Rooftop infinity pool. Within walking distance of the zoo, night safari, and lake gardens. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Louis Hotel | From RM99/night | A mid-range hotel in Taiping town. Highly rated by guests, with a good balance of cost and location. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Hotel Taiping Perdana | — | A standard mid-range hotel in central Taiping. With many reviews, suited for a reliable stay. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | The Cozytainer | — | A loft-style boutique hotel converted from containers. In central Taiping, close to major sights. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Tune Hotel Taiping | From around RM40/night (the cheapest tier in Taiping overall) | A budget chain-style hotel. Simple and clean, suited for short stays or room-only stays. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Sojourn Beds & Cafe | — | An in-town inn converted from a 1930s shophouse. Affordable, with air conditioning and free WiFi. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Square Inn | — | A budget inn about 5 km from Taiping Mall. A practical option for couples or solo travelers. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Name | Cuisine | Budget | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larut Matang Hawker Center | Hawker (Malay / Chinese / Indian) | About RM5–15 | A large hawker street along Jalan Panggung Wayang. Over 100 stalls gather here, with char koay teow (stall No. 46) and fishball kway teow as specialties. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Soon Lee Seafood Restaurant | Chinese / seafood | — | A popular Chinese seafood restaurant in Taiping town. Highly rated for its fresh seafood dishes. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Restoran Kakak | Malay / Asian cuisine | — | Seafood porridge is the signature dish. Praised for generous portions and good taste. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Ansari Famous Cendol | Dessert (cendol) | Around RM5 | Founded in 1940, a pioneer of Taiping cendol. A shop-style venue famous for creamy cendol and jelly. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Tai Chien Restaurant | Chinese / breakfast | — | A breakfast spot popular with locals. Wonton noodles, nasi lemak, chicken rice, char koay teow, and more. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Yat Sun Restaurant | Kopitiam (Muslim-friendly) | — | A long-established pre-war colonial-style shop with marble tables and mosaic tiles. Two outlets on Jalan Pasar. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Restoran Mr BBQ | Chinese / Asian cuisine | — | An affordably priced Chinese restaurant. Consistently well rated by locals. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
Nearby spots easy to combine into one trip (straight-line distance). See the map above for locations.