Catfish prices in Uyo this month
By Zozzah Farms. Updated . 4 minute read.
Fresh or live catfish from our ponds starts at ₦4,999 per kg this month, and smoked catfish starts at ₦29,900 per kg. Both are in the table below with the month they apply to. Ask for today's exact price before you pay.
Catfish is one of the hardest things in the market to compare, because sellers quote per fish, per kilo, per piece or per carton, live or smoked, with or without cleaning. This guide explains what drives the price and how to compare one quote with another so you know what you're really paying.
| Product | Price | Prices for |
|---|---|---|
| Catfish, live or freshper kg | From ₦4,999November 2026 | November 2026 |
| Catfish, smokedper kg | From ₦29,900November 2026 | November 2026 |
What catfish costs elsewhere in Nigeria
Nobody publishes an official weekly catfish price for Uyo or Akwa Ibom. Uyo sellers post prices on Jiji and Facebook, but most don't say whether the price is per kilo or per fish.
The best recent national figures come from a June 2026 WithinNigeria guide. It put early-2026 retail prices in Lagos and Abuja at about ₦2,650 to ₦4,400 per kg, with farm-gate prices around ₦3,000 per kg. Feed has gone up since then, so treat those as a floor, not today's price.
Why catfish prices keep moving
Feed is most of the cost of raising catfish. WithinNigeria's catfish farming guide put a 15kg bag of local floating catfish feed at about ₦9,000 in early 2026, with imported feeds from about ₦11,000. When feed goes up, the price per kilo follows.
Size matters too. Bigger, table-size fish take longer to grow and eat more feed, so they cost more per fish, though not always more per kilo. Demand also climbs in December and around big events, when everyone wants fish for pepper soup at the same time.
Live, fresh or smoked: what differs
Live catfish is as fresh as fish gets. Many people buy live for pepper soup and have it killed and cleaned at home or by the seller.
Fresh catfish has been killed and is sold the same day. It should be cooked that day or cleaned and frozen.
Smoked catfish is dried over fire until firm. It keeps much longer and has a deep flavour that suits soups like afang, edikang ikong and egusi. Smoking removes most of the water, so it takes several kilos of fresh fish to make one kilo of smoked. That is why smoked catfish costs several times more per kilo than fresh, and why comparing the two kilo for kilo makes no sense.
How much catfish a party needs
For pepper soup, most hosts plan on one good piece per guest, with extra for big eaters. A table-size catfish of around 1kg usually cuts into five or six pieces, so as a rough guide:
| Guests | Catfish (fresh) | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | About 4kg | 4 table-size fish |
| 50 | About 9 to 10kg | 9 to 10 table-size fish |
| 100 | About 18 to 20kg | 18 to 20 table-size fish |
Tell us the number of guests and the date, and we'll help you work out the order. For events, book a few days ahead so we can set the fish aside.
How to tell catfish is fresh
- Live fish should be active and moving, not floating still at the top of the water.
- Eyes should be clear and bright, not cloudy or sunken.
- Gills should be red, not brown or grey.
- Flesh should be firm and spring back when pressed.
- It should smell clean, like fresh water. A sour or strong smell means it's old.
How to check smoked catfish quality
- It should be dry and firm all the way through, not soft or damp in the middle.
- The colour should be even, golden to dark brown, without black burnt patches.
- There should be no mould, especially along the belly and inside the head.
- It should smell smoky, not rancid or musty.
How to store fresh and smoked catfish
- Fresh catfish: cook it the same day, or clean it, cut it into portions and freeze it. Freeze in meal-size bags so you only thaw what you need.
- Smoked catfish: keep it in a cool, dry place in an airtight container. If it starts to feel damp, warm it gently in an oven or over low heat to dry it out again. For longer storage, freeze it.
- Don't refreeze fish that has fully thawed.
How to compare catfish quotes in Uyo
- Ask if the price is per kg or per fish. A per-fish price means nothing until you know the weight.
- Ask if it's live, freshly killed or smoked, and compare like with like.
- Ask the size. Small fish and table-size fish are priced differently.
- Ask whether cleaning and cutting are included.
- Ask whether delivery is included, and how long the fish will be out of water.
How to order catfish from us
Our catfish comes from our own ponds at Itak. Message or call with how much you need, live, fresh or smoked, and where you are. We'll confirm the price and delivery fee before you pay.
Restaurants, caterers and hotels can set up a regular weekly supply. Tell us how much your kitchen gets through in a week and we'll say what we can supply. See our catfish page for more.
Products mentioned in this guide
Or see everything we sell and this month's prices.
Common questions about catfish prices
How much is catfish per kg in Uyo?
Our fresh or live catfish starts at ₦4,999 per kg this month, and smoked starts at ₦29,900 per kg.
Why is smoked catfish so much more expensive?
Smoking removes most of the water, so several kilos of fresh fish go into one kilo of smoked. You pay for the fish, the time and the firewood.
How much catfish do I need for 50 guests?
For pepper soup with one piece per guest, plan on about 9 to 10kg of fresh, table-size catfish.
Do you supply restaurants with catfish every week?
Yes. Tell us how much you need each week and we'll confirm what we can supply.