Goonch Catfish (Bagarius yarrelli) The Man Eating Catfish

The Goonch Catfish or Bagarius yarrelli is a man eating freshwater fish! That's right, there have been a series of reports of this massive Catfish attacking individuals in three different villages on the banks of the Kali River in India. It is thought that this fish got the taste for human flesh after eating half burnt human remains discarded from funeral pyres on the river banks.As you can imagine the Goonch Catfish is absolutely huge, growing to over 6' long and weighing well over 150lbs! These fish have broad heads with a very wide mouth filled with sharp teeth that are backward shaped to help them swallow their prey, much like many sharks. Their gills openings are wide and the dorsal and pectoral fins have strong spines. They are normally an olive or brown in coloration matching the muddy river. You can check out the Goonch Catfish with your own eyes in the videos below...


These fish are not normally eaten and most people in India will simply kill them or release them back into the waters. They are considered a nuisance by many other anglers though treat them as trophy fish for their amazing size. If you have any additional information about the Goonch Catfish please leave us a comment below.