Weekend Snapshots: Sydney Fish Markets

My body had gone far too long without its daily recommended intake of Vitamin-D, so G felt a sense of duty to take me out for a weekend of sunshine and shopping. After already braving the masses at both Glebe and Bondi markets, we decided to make a trifecta of it and defy all better judgement and head to the throng-infested Sydney Fish Markets.

Now to be utterly cliché, Sydney Fish Market is an institution, almost like a rite of passage to experiencing quintessential Sydney. Being surrounded by such a beautiful and bountiful harbour, it is only natural that Sydney should boast one of the world’s largest fish markets. With a range of seafood only second to those of Japan’s markets, the SFM is a mandatory visit not only for tourists but for Sydneysiders alike. Just make sure you don’t come on Christmas Eve, there is no guaranteeing you getting in or out, for that matter.

Unlike the weekend of torrential rain and gale force winds we just had, this weekend was the polar opposite; sunshine abounded and not a drop of rain was to be found. Unfortunately when the weather is good, you and the rest of Sydney will decide to head out and enjoy every last bit of it, so not only was the sun out, but everyone else was too. As one who is vehemently allergic to crowds and prone to adverse fits of irritation when it comes to enduring them, I was reluctant in making our way to the markets. You might think, hey these are only fish makets, how crowded can they be? Do not be deceived, these crowds can get to Disneyland proportions and when there are immensely hungry people in the mix, this can become a cockatil for disater. So all I am saying is there will be lots of people, beware before you go for a visit and get flustered by the amount of shuffling and waiting you will be doing.

Crowds considered, the prospect of getting my hands on some fresh fish and my favourite, fried whitebait, was much too strong to disregard. Giving into my crowd-repulsion, paid off when we finally got our hands on the hot little fishies!

(Sorry there are no photos of fresh fish here, I wasn’t going to be coaxed indoors when the sun was out and spring weather was flaunting its very best.)

Whitebait, I think are so cute, and there is something terribly unnerving about finding pleasure in eating them. Albeit their visual charm did not surpass their gastronomic appeal, and my appetite.

Pan fried Salmon with salad

More whitebait... this came with the seafood basket, the calamari, prawns, fish cocktails, baby octupus, mussels, scallops and fish were all underneath.

The pelican and seagulls, getting a free feed.

The ravenous crowd

The view

An Ibis cunningly peruses the scene from atop a fish truck.

Located at Bank St, Pyrmont, on the Blackwattle Bay foreshore, the Sydney Fish Markets are open everyday from 7:00am, except on Christmas Day.