A small lizardfish reaching up to 40 cm, typically around 25 cm, found in Indian coastal waters. Prized by anglers for its spirited fight and valued as both a game and food fish. It is also known as பம்பாய் வாத்து, बम्बे डक, బాంబే బాతు and ബോംബെ താറാവ്. Scientific name: Harpadon nehereus.
Live lots change through the day. See all live lots
Delicate, mild flavour with soft, flaky white flesh; highly prized when fresh, also popular dried and salted
Many fine bones; easier to eat when dried or in curries where bones soften
In our species guide, the main season for Bombay duck is June to October.
In November, our outlook shows it in season around Chennai, Digha, Goa, Kochi, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.
Annual sea fishing bans: East coast annual fishing ban (15 Apr – 14 Jun); West coast monsoon fishing ban (1 Jun – 31 Jul). Fewer boats land fresh sea fish during these weeks.
Tamil: பம்பாய் வாத்து, Hindi: बम्बे डक, Telugu: బాంబే బాతు, Malayalam: ബോംബെ താറാവ്, Kannada: ಬಾಂಬೆ ಬಾತ್, Bengali: বোম্বে ডাক, Marathi: बोंबिल, Gujarati: બોમ્બે ડક.
In our species guide, the main season for Bombay duck is June to October. In November, our outlook shows it in season around Chennai, Digha, Goa, Kochi, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.
Delicate, mild flavour with soft, flaky white flesh; highly prized when fresh, also popular dried and salted. Many fine bones; easier to eat when dried or in curries where bones soften.
Popular dishes include Bombil fry (Maharashtra, Gujarat), Sukha Bombil (Konkan coast), Bombil curry (Goa, Karnataka) and Bombil pickle (Maharashtra).
On the Fishing Journey Fish Market, FSSAI-registered sellers list fresh catch as lots. Bid up to your maximum or use Buy now where it is offered, pay from your wallet within 2 hours of winning and collect the fish with your pickup code.
Mechanised and motorised boats stop fishing at sea during the annual bans (East coast annual fishing ban (15 Apr – 14 Jun); West coast monsoon fishing ban (1 Jun – 31 Jul)), so less fresh sea fish is landed in those weeks. Check the Fish Market for live lots.
Bombay duck fishing guide: bait, season and spots
