The pristine waters of the Bay of Bengal, near the coral-rich Saint Martin’s Island, have yielded a magnificent catch: a gargantuan Bull Fish (locally known as Bol Mach) weighing a staggering 205 kilograms. Caught by local fishermen on Thursday, the specimen was sold at the Teknaf লামার (Lamar) market for a princely sum of 255,000 BDT, sparking a frenzy of interest among locals and traders alike.
The Catch of a Lifetime
The drama unfolded on Thursday morning when a trawler owned by Mohammad Nasir and Kaiser Uddin, residents of Teknaf Municipality, cast their nets in the Sheelerkum area, southwest of Saint Martin’s Island. After failing to find a significant haul near the coastline, the ten-man crew ventured deeper into the rocky, coral-strewn outcrops where these rare giants are known to dwell.
By late afternoon, the crew realised they had snagged something extraordinary. It took the combined strength of all ten men to haul the massive creature onto the deck. Upon returning to the Abu Musa warehouse in Teknaf, the fish was officially weighed at 205 kg (equivalent to five maunds and five kilograms). To transport the leviathan from the jetty to the warehouse, a team of a dozen men was required to secure it with heavy ropes.
Market Dynamics and Retail Strategy
Initially, the fishermen sought a price of 300,000 BDT. However, after a competitive bidding war between local wholesalers, traders Mohammad Jafar and Saiful Islam secured the fish for 255,000 BDT.
| Metric | Details |
| Total Weight | 205 kg (5.12 Maunds) |
| Wholesale Price | 255,000 BDT |
| Wholesale Cost per kg | ~1,244 BDT |
| Anticipated Retail Price | 1,700 – 1,800 BDT per kg |
| Record High Price | 2,000 BDT per kg |
A Local Delicacy
The Bull Fish is highly coveted in the coastal regions of Bangladesh for its succulent, firm flesh. To ensure the entire town had an opportunity to purchase a portion, the new owners spent Friday morning announcing the sale via loudspeakers (myking) throughout the municipality. The fish is scheduled to be carved and sold by the kilogram at the Teknaf Pilot High School ground.
Umme Farha Begum, Teknaf Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer, noted that while these fish can occasionally reach weights of 350 to 400 kg, such a catch is increasingly rare. “These fish prefer the deep, coral-rich crevices around Saint Martin’s. Seeing a 200 kg specimen is a positive indicator for our marine biodiversity,” she remarked.
This catch surpasses last year’s record in the region, where a 166 kg Bull Fish was caught off the Baharchhara coast, further cementing Teknaf’s reputation as a premier destination for extraordinary marine harvests.