Freshwater

Goonch catfish (giant devil catfish)

Bagre goonch

Bagarius yarrelli

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

10–50 lb.

Depth

5–30 ft among boulders in strong current.

Best time

Evening, night and early morning.

Found in

1 area

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A big, flat-headed river catfish with mottled brown, yellow and gray camouflage blotches, small eyes on top of a broad head, a big mouth with sharp teeth, long barbels, and fins ending in long threads. Its skin is rough and the pectoral fins have strong spines.
Typical size: 10–50 lb.
Maximum size: About 7½ ft (230 cm); fish over 100 lb have been caught.
Diet: Fish, crabs, insects and shrimp.
Behavior: Lies on the bottom among boulders in fast, rocky rivers and holds tight in the current; fights by planting itself between rocks.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Pakistan. Big rivers of the Indian subcontinent, especially the Himalayan rivers of India and Nepal such as the Kali/Mahakali, Sarda and the Ganges and Brahmaputra tributaries.
Habitat: Big rivers of the Indian subcontinent, especially the Himalayan rivers of India and Nepal such as the Kali/Mahakali, Sarda and the Ganges and Brahmaputra tributaries.
Depth: 5–30 ft among boulders in strong current.
Fishing depth: On the bottom at the head and tail of rapids and deep boulder runs.
Best season: Before and after the monsoon (about March to May and October to November).
Best time: Evening, night and early morning.
Best tides: No tide — clear, stable river levels.
Best weather / conditions: Settled weather; rivers rise fast with rain or snowmelt.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live or dead fish and fish strips on the bottom.
Best artificial lures: Occasionally takes heavy spoons and jigs bounced along the bottom.
Tackle setup: Very heavy rod and reel with a strong drag — you must pull the fish off the bottom fast.
Hook size: 6/0–10/0 strong single hooks, barbless where camps require.
Line: 50–80 lb braid.
Leader: 80–100 lb mono.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

As an Amazon Associate, BigJoe earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep this guide free.

Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Big rivers of the Indian subcontinent, especially the Himalayan rivers of India and Nepal such as the Kali/Mahakali, Sarda and the Ganges and Brahmaputra tributaries.
Rig up: Very heavy rod and reel with a strong drag — you must pull the fish off the bottom fast. 80–100 lb mono.
Pick your bait: Live or dead fish and fish strips on the bottom. Lures: Occasionally takes heavy spoons and jigs bounced along the bottom.
Fish it: Anchor a fish bait on the bottom in deep boulder runs and hold the rod. When it takes, lean back hard at once and keep the fish moving before it wedges itself in the rocks.
Time it: Evening, night and early morning. No tide — clear, stable river levels.

Fishing techniques: Anchor a fish bait on the bottom in deep boulder runs and hold the rod. When it takes, lean back hard at once and keep the fish moving before it wedges itself in the rocks.
BigJoe's tip: Use a strong rod holder or keep the rod in your hands — goonch take hard and head straight for the rocks.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Pectoral fin spines and sharp teeth can injure you; support the heavy body and handle with gloves. Strong, icy rivers — wear a life jacket on the bank or boat.
Regulations: Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN; on mahseer rivers it's fished under the same permits and catch-and-release rules. In India, river fishing rules are set by each state, and many mahseer rivers are run by forest departments, angling associations or camps that sell permits and require catch-and-release; Nepal, Pakistan and Bhutan have their own permit systems.
Conservation: Big goonch are old fish in rivers with few left; release them carefully.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits