A remarkable catch was made by fishermen in the Lagonoy Gulf near Catanduanes and Camarines Sur, where they hauled in a giant grouper weighing an astonishing 163 kilograms – equivalent to more than three sacks of rice. The fish was so large that fisherman Joey Habana and his colleague Jomer Tapar had to tow it to the shores of Barangay Cabcab in San Andres, Catanduanes, using their boat, unable to lift it due to its massive size.
This extraordinary catch, requiring over an hour to lift from the sea depths and the collective effort of six people to carry it to the market, became the talk of the town. According to Joey Camacho of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Catanduanes, such large catches are rare, with groupers capable of reaching weights up to 400 kilograms and lengths of three meters.
This incident is not just a tale of a fisherman’s luck but also a reminder from BFAR of the larger blessings that await if everyone collaborates to protect and preserve the oceans. The giant grouper, which fetched P20,000 at the market, symbolizes both a rare catch and the potential of sustainable fishing practices for the future of marine life and local communities.