The fishermen take great pride in their unique fishing practices and manual preparation techniques for good reason: their reputation for selling sweet, fresh udang extends beyond Penang to other regions in Malaysia.

Chinese restaurants clamour to purchase udang during Chinese New Year, causing its price to increase from around RM40-60 to RM70-80 per kilo during this festive period.

The nets used by fishermen are no longer locally made; they are now imported from Thailand, leading to a significant price increase from approximately RM30 to as high as RM160!

Crab nets are typically white in colour while those for udang are usually green and pink. There are also two types of shrimp nets: tangsi and benang. The former, made of nylon, is twice as expensive as the latter, a long, thin but flexible thread usually made of cotton or polyester and often used for sewing, weaving and stitching.

Some fishermen liken their search for good fishing spots to a blind person finding their bearings—they cannot simply "see" a productive area, but must navigate the waters through experience, relying on trial and error to identify the best locations.

In the past, artificial reefs were used as anti-trawler devices to prevent their encroachment into the zone demarcated for traditional fishermen (see "Zone")--these artificial structures would trap and tear their deep trawler nets. However, the Sungai Batu fishermen contend that the laws which prohibit the trespassing of these trawlers are presently more relaxed; artificial reefs are no longer employed, open seizures are no longer performed and trawlers are still able to continue their activities despite having been caught numerous times. The fishermen can still hear the rhythm of these larger, commercial vessels' engines as they fish under the cover of night, leaving the traditional fishermen with little to catch the next morning.

Though rare, some fishermen have also joined the profession through apprenticeships or learned the trade from their friends.

Fishing boats typically operate with two crew members: a tekong and an awak-awak. If a third person is added, they are also called awak-awak. The number of crew members directly affects how the day’s catch is divided - fewer crew mean larger shares; more members, smaller portions.

The umbai and gawaq are both thrown into the water to mark different ends of the fishing net. The umbai floats on the surface, while the gawaq, with its concrete base, sponge midsection and flag, stands upright for better visibility. Together, they help the crew locate and recover the net with precision, even after long hours at sea or in rough weather conditions.