IPON Biology Ipon is actually fries of the goby fish, or in some instance, that of the anchovy fish. It is called silver fish and dulong in some Ilocos areas. This small fish that measures about one (1) inch in length and 1/4 inch in diameter is only endemic to the Provinces of Ilocos Norte, Cagayan Valley and Ilocos Sur. Ipon for some is considered an ilokano exotic food or delicacy because of its mystery, rarity, high price and of course of its distinct flavored by Ilokanos.
Prepared & Produced by: Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur—Provincial Agriculture Office (Fisheries Division) G/F Provincial Library Building, Quezon Ave., Vigan City Telephone numbers: (077) 632-1126; (077) 722-8159
It is also called a lunar fish because they only appear after counting ten days from full moon. Ipon usually appear from the month of August until February, the following year. Fisherfolk can catch this fish from 3-5 days once in a month. Fishermen make one harvest in the morning and one in the afternoon. Where does ipon comes from? From the theory, a huge egg hatch in the middle of the water. Another is that, it comes from the sea water to migrate into the river water and later on when it grows bigger it becomes the bukto. Still a mysterious fish.