With a water catchments area of 38,000 hectares, Tasik Kenyir is naturally a heaven for freshwater fish. During the wet season, when rain falls almost every day, fish can be caught using your bare hands!  A recent study revealed that there are some 300 species of freshwater fish dwelling in this lake.

The presence of protruding dead trees around the lake serves as a perfect breeding ground for these fish as algae growing on dead trees and branches serve as the main form of sustenance for the fishes. Most of these fish thrive in the rivers flowing into Kenyir, especially near estuaries where nutrients are found in abundance. From studies and observations conducted by the Department of Fisheries, species such as the big Lampam Sungai, Lalang, Parang, Kawan, Terbul and Sebarau are found in waters in and around the dead trees. This indicates that these fish have successfully colonized these areas and proved that dead trees have become an important part of the lake.

Large scale fish breeding in cages at Tasik Kenyir has shown tremendous success. Research conducted by the Fisheries Department estimate that 60 to 100 tonnes of fish can be harvested annually from the lake.