Alligator Pond, Jamaica

History

 

Manchester is generally thought of in terms of its cooler climes and mountainous landscape, making the hot, slightly humid fishing village of Alligator Pond at the southwestern corner of the parish almost seem like a different country. In this humble community, proud home of one of the longest fishing beaches in Jamaica, the catch is always plentiful, smiles are always bright and there are countless places to have a delicious meal prepared. Alligator Pond is a haven for seafood lovers, and most of the fish consumed in the parish is caught here. Every afternoon, droves of anxious consumers stand on the beach, waiting for the fishermen to come in with the day’s catch. At Little Ochi, possibly the oldest and most famous restaurant in the area, patrons enjoy fried fish and bammy, lobster and other delicacies while sitting in canoes raised on stilts, under the cover of thatched roofs. Rustic, intimate and slow-paced, Alligator Pond is a delightful find, an unpretentious place where there is little to do but, according to one resident, "go fish, come home, siddung, drink rum and cuss bad word."

 

Famous For

 

Alligator Pond is the hippest place in Jamaica to procure all sorts of seafood – cooked or uncooked. Usually the best selections are bought at the morning fish market, where patrons can buy the first catch of the day out of the boats of fishermen coming in from the sea.

 

Don't Miss

 

If you stop in Alligator Pond, hail up “Blacka”, the operator of Little Ochi Restaurant who is a fixture in the small village and a man with a vision for his community. His restaurant has managed to place the community and the South Coast on the map as a place where Jamaicans and tourists alike can share in delectable treats in a rustic, organic setting.