24-kilo Asian sea bass caught in Iloilo River

Detailed summary

An Iloilo City resident caught a 24-kilogram Asian sea bass, locally known as bulgan, in the Iloilo River. In Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras,” Friday, Serlito Veladiez said he was…

An Iloilo City resident caught a 24-kilogram Asian sea bass, locally known as bulgan, in the Iloilo River.

In Kuya Kim’s report on “24 Oras,” Friday, Serlito Veladiez said he was surprised when he felt a strong pull on his fishing rod while casting a line in the river. He initially thought a snake had taken the bait, only to discover that he had caught a nearly three-foot-long fish.

He also caught another one just two days later, weighing 18 kilograms.

Veladiez said the two catches happened on different days and at different fishing spots.

Since his family had not yet finished consuming the first fish, he decided to sell the second catch for P2,500.

According to Kuya Kim, the Iloilo River is an estuary, where freshwater from streams mixes with saltwater from the sea. This creates brackish water, which supports various aquatic species.

Parts of the river are also designated as fish sanctuaries, serving as breeding and spawning grounds for fish and crustaceans.

The fish caught by Veladiez were Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer), also known as barramundi or apahap. These fish can grow up to two meters long and are classified as euryhaline, meaning they can adapt to a wide range of salt concentrations in the water.

According to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region VI Regional Director Remia Aparri, the large catches may be linked to the fish's spawning season.

Opening of the article, excerpted from GMA News. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.