163-kilo grouper fish caught in Catanduanes, sold for over P17k

Residents of Barangay Cabcab in San Andres, Catanduanes were amazed after a 163-kilo giant fish was caught in their area.

Renalyn Habana took a video of the fish and uploaded it to social media.

“Sobrang laki po talaga. Ngayon lang po talaga ako nakakita ng ganun kalaking isda,” Renalyn said.

[It's really huge. This is the first time I've seen a fish that big.]

According to Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras,” Thursday, the fish they caught is a grouper, also called a baraka fish.

“Groupers actually have indeterminate growth. They keep increasing in length and in width throughout its life span. That is why it’s not unusual that you will be able to find really large individuals of groupers,” marine biologist Mylene Sadagnot said.

They can grow up to eight feet like the goliath groupers, which are the biggest of their kind.

These fish also have the ability to change their color as a defense mechanism.

“They are protogynous hermaphrodites that means they are born female and change sex to males at some points of their time,” the marine biologist added.

Fisherman Joey Habana said that he needed help from six people just to bring the fish ashore.

“Hinatak ko, biglang bumigat po nang husto. ‘Di namin naiangat, hinila na lang po namin. Halos isang oras simula sa gitna sobrang bigat ng isda. ‘Di talaga ako makapaniwala natulala po ako tapos nagdasal po na sana swerte talaga sakin ito,” Joey said.

[I pulled it, and suddenly it became really heavy. We couldn't lift it, so we just pulled it. It took almost an hour, starting from the middle; the fish was incredibly heavy. I couldn't believe it; I was stunned and prayed that this is really my lucky catch.]

“Hindi ko na nakayanan kaya nagpatulong na ako sa kasama ko salit-salitan na po kami. Buhay pa po siya rito sa dalampasigan,” he added.

[I couldn't handle it anymore, so I asked my companion for help, and we took turns. It's still alive here on the shore.]

The fish’s head was then divided and shared by the residents, while its 111-kilo body was sold for over P17,000.

—Carby Basina/CACM, GMA Integrated News