Pomfrets are perciform fishes belonging to the family Bramidae. The family includes about 20 species. They are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and the largest species, the Atlantic pomfret, Brama brama, grows up to 1 m long. Several fishes of these species are important food sources for humans, especially brama in the South Asia. The black pomfret is a species of carangid native to reefs of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, where it is found at depths from 15 to 105 m, though it is rarely found deeper than 40 m. This species grows to 75 cm in total length and is very important to local commercial fisheries. Superior variety other than its white cousin white pomfrets, taste and nature of the bones remains the same as that of its white brother in law. This resemblance itself is the basic reason for its colloquial name machan. Very fleshy fish with chewable bones preferring chefs to prepare Biryani's. This fish is also widely used for meen pollichath which is generally prepared with Kerala pearl spots. These fishes can be dressed with skin on and without skin. Machans can be used for preparing fish mollies and is safer as their bones are soft. Excellent taste when curry is prepared with conventional methods and fried with fish masalas. Flesh is soft and sweet which once tasted,  will not be forgotten by fresh fish lovers.