About The Goonch Catfish

The goonch catfish also known as the giant devil catfish or by its scientific name Bagarius yarrelli is a large type of freshwater fish found primarily in the waters of Northern India. This fish is very responsible from its odd looks including skin color, whiskers shape, and size. However, the most infamous feature of this freshwater fish is its large teeth! This is because the vast majority of catfish species do not have any noticeable teeth!

The largest confirmed goonch catfish caught on rod and reel was 192 lbs! But there have been many unconfirmed reports of 300+lb specimens. Not much is known of this fish from being quite rare, and living in isolated areas, but some people believe this fish will and has attacked humans, but this has never been confirmed.

Goonch Catfish Pictures

Goonch Catfish Pictures

Goonch Catfish Records - Largest Goonch Catfish Ever Caught

The Goonch catfish is perhaps the most mysterious of the worlds giant freshwater fish. This is likely due to a couple factors, one that the goonch arguably lives in some of the most desolate isolated waters on earth, but also the goonch is one of the rarest giant freshwater fish on earth, with a small population.

Because of these factors there is quite frankly not much known about the goonch especially large goonch, there could be much larger ones out there, but it's just that there are not many anglers fishing for these fish and catching them at that. So we really don't have any real specific idea of just how big they could grow.

Jeremy Wade the star of  the "River Monsters" TV show on Animal Planet used to have the record goonch catfish caught on rod and reel, his goonch was 161 lbs. Below is the picture of his record catch at the time.

Then in 2009 extreme angler Jakub Vágner caught a 165 lb Goonch breaking Jeremy's rod and reel record by just 4 lbs. Pictures of this catch below.

Current Goonch Catfish Record - 192 lbs

Amazingly just this month, June of 2012, Jakub Vágner broke his own record for the largest recorded Goonch ever caught by rod and reel. His catch was a massive 192 lbs! This catch is the current world record for the Goonch. The amazing thing about this catch was that Jakub actually scuba dived in search for a large Goonch when he spotted a massive one laying on the bottom, after locating his fish he then cast the bait near the fish's location! Check out the video below to see it if you do not believe me. See pictures below of this world record Goonch.

Bigger Goonch Still Out There?
Some say the Goonch catfish can grow to over 300 lbs and there are unconfirmed reports of these massive Goonch, below is a picture of a reported 300+ pounder. This catfish pictured below was actually talked about on the Goonch River Monsters episode where the angler said it was over 300 lbs (unclear if confirmed though). After reading a River Monsters book Jeremy Wade said supposedly they measured this fish's length at 7'6". Just from this picture it is hard to tell just how big it was being some of its body is beneath the water, but it makes you wonder if there are 300 pounders out there.