Fisherman Catches Extremely Rare Bright-Yellow Catfish In The Netherlands

A professional fisherman in the Netherlands was left stunned after he caught an extraordinary bright-yellow catfish.

Martin Glatz, who was fishing with his twin brother Oliver on a lake, had caught many catfish, but he had never seen anything like this before - a wels catfish.

Martin Glatz/Live Science

Wels catfish are reportedly native to lakes and rivers throughout Europe, and can grow to 2.7 metres long if they live to become fully grown.

But this example of the incredible fish may have had a rare genetic disorder known as leucism, a rare genetic disorder that causes a reduction of pigmentation in skin and hair.

Michael McCarthy/Daily Star

"I have never seen such a catfish before. I am still overwhelmed by it," Glatz told Live Science.

Despite looking very striking to humans, animals with leucism often live at a disadvantage as their bright pigment can make them easier to spot, making it more difficult to avoid predators or to sneak up on prey.

Glatz took the fish out and was so impressed to see it that he dropped it again in the water but he managed to get a picture with it. The large species are included in the list of the largest fish living in freshwaters around the world.

The condition has been earlier observed in mammals, birds, and reptiles. Despite the fish already at its impressive size, Glatz hoped the fish would grow even bigger.

In an unrelated incident, a Maharashtra fisherman's fortunes turned for good after he caught 157 ghol fishes, known as 'sea gold' which sold for a whopping Rs 1.33 crores.

The auction for the fishes was held in Murbe, Palghar. The whole consignment was bought by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar-based traders.

Ghol fish, whose scientific name is 'Protonibea Diacanthus', is a type of croaker fish. Due to pollution, such fishes are very rare in the area. Fishermen in the area have to venture deep into the sea to get a good catch.

Ghol is touted to be the most expensive fish in India currently. Native to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, it has netted a record-breaking price at fish auctions around the coasts of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Fishermen also refer to it as the ¡®sea gold¡¯ as it helps them tide over their financial crises.