Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar
07-04-2008, 17:05
Admittadly this report is not about Thai salt water fishing but I thought some of you would like to see it, John Beachcomber.
A friend of mine has recently returned.
My Thailand fishing holiday by Peter Gardiner.
We left for Thailand on the 27th February 2008 and flew from Spain’s Alicante airport to Madrid then on to London Heathrow, it was cheaper to fly from England. We left 4 hours later for Beijing China and the flight took about 10hrs.
When I looked out of the window over China, my thoughts were “what a drab place it looks”. On arrival in Beijing we walked down the stairs of the plane and two Chinese policemen looked straight at me, menacingly. Maybe because Ann and I were the only non Chinese on the plane. Thankfully we were allowed to quickly join the rest of the passengers on the bus to the terminal and went to “International transfers” where we waited in line.
When we got to the front of the queue the immigration man checked our papers and in front of him were four buttons asking, did he provide good service? “Very Good”, “Bad” or “Very Bad”, I pushed “Very Good” just in case!
Thankfully he stamped our passport without hesitation and we waited for the flight to Bangkok. On arrival there 6hrs later we picked up our baggage and our BMW limousine was waiting to take us to the Citi Chic hotel.
On arrival a Thai porter opened the door and saluted the wife and I said “I could get used to this.” Our room was excellent containing a 42 inch TV with 4 sports channels plus a few more English speaking ones. After a good night’s sleep we found our friends Pat and Diane, who had travelled from the states to meet with us. We had breakfast and then went for a walk to explore Bangkok and if you like market stalls you’ll love it. Haggling is a favourite pastime of mine and I got some great deals on teeshirts and football shirts.
That night we had a great dinner in a German restaurant (Why? I hear you ask) and the next day went for a boat trip in a gondola type thing. The following day we spent taking pictures of Thai palaces and stopped at a snake farm for the show. Great fun and then more food at a posh hotel, The Landmark.
Today we met our French guide who said we would go fishing at 7.30am tomorrow.
Day 1 week 1.
The following morning as arranged we met his wife and jumped into a chauffeur driven people carrier and we were driven to Bung Sam Lan. I have never seen a lake with so many big fish topping in my life, me and my friend Pat were gob smacked.
We met our guide and fished from one of the lakeside bungalows. Tackle was a sliding float, 15ft deep with a method ball, made of ground rice. The size of a Jaffa Orange, no bait they just push the bare hook in the ball.
Two rods were quickly cast out 50 metres, I didn’t know what to expect. The rods were 7ft, 4lb test curve with Shimano 6500 reels. It wasn’t long before one of the bait runners screamed off and my mate, who was closer, hit the rod. In the next 15 minutes the fish fought like hell and tried hard to get under the bungalow staging. Eventually a mekong cat of about 50lbs was in the net.
During the next 8 hours we caught 25 Mekongs to 60lbs and I have never fought a harder fighting fish in my life. Even my biggest fish, a Wels catfish of 138lb was less work. We went back home to our wives who were shattered, they had been shopping by the way, as wives do.
See photo of Pete with a mekong cat.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/mekongcat47lb.jpg
Day 2 week 1.
Next morning I met my mate Pat for breakfast and we talked about the day’s fishing that was coming up at Bung Sam Lan Lake. We fished the same tactics as yesterday and caught 27 mekgong cats to 58lbs. To give you some idea of the set up we were using. The float slides on the line and to within 9 inches of the hook.
Sometimes I thought I had beaten a fish after a 15 minute fight. Even though I was often pulling so hard with both arms on the rod, fish rarely broke the surface of the muddy water.
Instead of coming up they took more line and went under the staging and got snagged. This happened about five times a day. More a less all the fish fought like that, some you landed, some you didn’t.
At the end of the day I was shattered and headed back to the hotel. The funny thing about Bangkok is there is about two hundred thousand taxis which are some strange bright colours, purple, yellow, green and pink .We wouldn’t get in a pink one if you know what I mean. Then there’s the tuk tuk, a funny looking vehicle that carries two people. Plus there are lots of motorbikes that carry passengers on their back seats. I even haggled with the taxi drivers for a good price.
In Bangkok you see many fifty plus men with young good looking Thai girls, my wife always says “old perverts”, I say “lucky sods”. My friend who lives in Thailand warns us about lady boys if they are tall, “beware” he says. We were walking around a market near our hotel and I saw a great looking girl working on a stall, then the wind blew her skirt up and I new it was a boy. My, wife said “pervert, how many photos did you get?”
Day 3 week 1.
The next day we were up early to go up country which took about two hours. We arrived at a lake called Monster Lake located at Ratchaburi. We were told we could use live or dead bait after 2pm, but before that only lures. Pat was happy because he fishes for bass with lures in the States, I on the other hand have never used one. I started casting this rubber fish and after 20 minutes I had a hit and the fish ran strongly. After 10 minutes a fish broke the surface and what a fantastic colour it was too. My guide told me it was a red tailed catfish of about 20lbs.
See photo.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/redtailtigercatfish20lbs.jpg
When I held the fish it croaked and then laid still for a picture. I had one more run after about two hours when I felt a little tap on the line. I set the hook and the fish took about 100 metres of line and after another 5 minutes the hook pulled. I was gutted and went for drink in the lakeside bar and then had lunch.
Around 2pm I started using live bait and after 2hrs I caught a red tailed catfish of about 20lbs,
another nice looking fish which fights really well.
See photo of Pete with a good red tailed cat.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/redgtailedcatfish.jpg
Shortly after this I caught a small catfish of about 5lbs, the guide got really excited as it’s only the third one ever caught from the lake, it’s called a blue emerald eye catfish.
See Photo.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/blueemeraldeyecatfish5lbs.jpg
Pat caught a red tail catfish of about 17lbs, and we fished until 7.30pm. We went back to the hotel after stopping for a great meal in a Thai restaurant.
By the way the wives were taken to the river Kwai by our driver and had a fabulous time doing the tourist thing.
Day 4 week 1
At Monster Lake next morning I was looking forward to fishing more than ever because you just don't know what’s going hit you. The fishing for me started slowly but Pat had two red tail catfish early, 26lbs and 33lbs.
I was getting fed up just standing in one spot, casting this rubber fish and so went for a walk around the lake, casting as I went. It wasn’t long before I got hit and after a good fight the fish was in the net. It was called a pacu and weighed about 5lbs. It looked like a piranha and was one more new species for me.
Pat had a red tail cat on a piece of chicken skin, left over from his dinner plate. I put a piece on the hook and caught two redtails of 17lbs and 26lbs. Nothing happened for three hours so I put a small dead bait on and caught another blue eye catfish, only the fourth one from that lake ever!
When it got dark the wives came back from sightseeing but we carried on fishing. I threw away a small dead fish in the margin and five minutes later a huge arapaima took it. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought I had missed my chance but put my bait back in the margin, “you never know” I murmured. Ten minutes later I saw a huge bow wave and the arapaima was back and took my bait. The line tightened and I struck, the fish screamed across the lake into the darkness. It made several powerful runs and after 15 minutes it got off. I was peed off but had a great time and what a buzz. Back for a great dinner at the Thai restaurant and our regular return limo ride to Bangkok.
Day 5 week 1.
We decided to fish for siamese giant carp at Bung Sam Lan and we were told by our guide to expect a long wait for these fish, we thought it was a worthwhile gamble though. I woke up feeling ill with flu but fishing still sounded great.
We fished 4 rods close to the bungalow and on the method, we caught three mekong cats. Pat lost a nice carp under the staging and we saw a big carp jump out of the water, weighing approx 60lbs.
I felt better after dosing my self up all day with medicine and so on our last day we came to hammer the mekong cats.
Day 6 week 1.
After leaving the hotel we picked up a Finnish couple from a nearby hotel and they told me they had fished Bung Sam Lan many times and gave us a few tips. I was feeling a lot better and was going to make the most of our last day. In the end I had 9 cats to 57lb. Pat had 8 to 56lbs. We always took turns hitting the runs which we thought fair. Our new Finish friend only caught 5 which he said was his worst ever day.
We said goodbye to our guide and I was a bit sad walking away from a great place, with head held low we went back to our wives to have dinner.
Day 1 week 2.
The next day we were flying to Koh Samui for another weeks fishing, I can’t get enough and love it.
During a one hour flight from Bangkok we had a quick lunch and drinks, free, a bit different from the budget airlines.
We were met at airport by our driver who took us to the Koh Samui lake. We walked to the lakeside restaurant where we were met by Mick the lake owner who told us our Thai houseboats were being made ready for us.
While we were having a cool drink an English guy walked into the bar and he had cuts, bruises and grazes all down one side of his body. I asked what happened to him, he said he fell off his motorbike yesterday and his wife who was sunbathing by the pool had broken her arm two weeks earlier, unlucky pair I guess.
Anyway the guides put our suitcases into one of the houseboats which are moored on the far bank. We unpacked, well my better half Ann did, I went walkies along the bank to talk to a guy I saw fishing. He told me the fishing was good so I rushed back to the bar and asked about going fishing straight away. Mick said I was going to fish peg 4, I met my Thai guide named Chard and got the rods set up.
The time was 4.30pm; one rod was baited with a piece of fish, taken out by boat and dropped next to a weed bed which floated on the surface, about 30metres from the bank. We were fishing close to the weed because fish lay under it for shade. My other rod had the method on (bread and soaked maize this time). The rods were 9ft, 4lb test curve with 6500 Shimano reels. After about an hour I had a mekong cat of 39lbs and as before, a great fight. I told Chard I wanted to catch some different species of fish because I had caught a lot of mekongs already.
Chard baited both hooks with fish and we sat back and relaxed. Just as it got dark my right hand rod had a screaming run. On striking, the fish went under the floating weed bed. I sank the rod tip under the water until the fish cleared the weed and after about ten minutes the fish came to the surface, 5 metres from the bank. Chard landed all the fish in the water using a 6ft oval net. I looked in the net and couldn’t believe my eyes for the second time this holiday. I had caught a 25lb alligator gar, wow what a sight.
See Photo of Pete’s fish being held by the guide.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/alligatorgar.jpg
During the next couple of hours I had two more mekong cats weighing 35lbs and 39lbs. Shortly after I had another screaming run, striking the rod I knew I had hooked a good fish because it went deep under the weed. I was in panic mode but eventually the fish cleared the weed and was netted by Chard. It was another beautiful fish which I was told was an arapaima weighing about 35 pounds. I was straight in the water for my photo.
See photo
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/arapama35.jpg
Sat in my seat I thought what a great place this is, I can't believe my luck. Eventually I reluctantly headed for my bed and told Chard I would see him at 7.30 in the morning.
Day 2 week 2.
After meeting Chard we decided to fish a swim at the far end of the lake, next to another floating weed bed and we put one bait under it. The second bait was put in open water but after two hours and no bites I joined Ann for breakfast in the lakeside restaurant. I had to spend some time with her, as you do. Anyway enough of that rubbish, back to the fishing. We cast the baits in again and the rod in open water had a twitchy run after 15 mins. Soon in the net lay a red tailed cat of 57lbs and I was straight into the water again for my photo, I love it. After ten minutes in 32c I was soon dry and by the way, keep putting the suntan lotion on. We started fishing again but nothing happened for a few hours and then I got a good run on the bait under the weed. This fish would not stop; it went deep into the weed and snagged itself. I was gutted as Chard told me the arapaima grow to 10ft in this lake. The next thing I knew, Chard took his shirt off and dived into the lake and disappeared under the weed. Another angler walked over and asked me where my guide was, I said “last seen 5 minutes ago”. Much to my relief a head pop up in the middle of the weed and told me to reel in, the fish had fallen off naturally.
About an hour later the same rod produced another run but this time I got the fish out of the weed, another arapaima gigas weighing 35lb. The colours were great and the fish was an amazing 4ft long and the last two feet were a mass of red.
I packed up an hour later while on cloud nine and went for a Thai dinner and a few beers.
Day 3 week 2.
Started at 8am and I fished the same swim as yesterday and put both rods out with pieces of fish on the hook close to the weed bed. I caught a small pacu of about 11lbs in the first hour then had a lovely breakfast, scrambled eggs on toast with beans on the side. (Just because one is fishing doesn’t mean one cannot spoil oneself). 11am, a lovely arapaima gigas of 38lbs was in net and it was quickly followed by another on the left hand rod of 41lbs, two lovely fish in the space of ten minutes. It all went quiet and I asked Chard to phone the restaurant for a menu and later a lovely lunch turned up, brought to the swim by Apple, Chards girlfriend. (What’s all this Apple and Chard name thing about, Fruit and Veg?)
After lunch I had three more arapaima to 30lb and two pacu, 9lbs and 6lbs, stopped fishing at 7pm and what a days fishing, wow.
Day 4 week 2.
I took the wife to see a crocodile show, followed by a ride on an elephant through the jungle, I’m just a great husband I know. Got back for a few hours fishing and just when I thought a blank was on the cards, I had two lovely red tail catfish of 26lbs and 28lbs, both caught in the last hour.
Day 5 week 2.
I changed swims to try to catch some giant Siamese carp and used the method with 5 pieces of corn. First fish was a sharp tooth catfish originally from India, only about 4lb but a very rare catch in this lake seemingly.
See photo.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/sharptoothcatfish4lb.jpg
Then a mekong cat came in to me of 33lbs followed by five more around the same size, I thought earlier, where are the carp? I had a good run on hair rigged banana, my first carp of 11lbs was in the net. I only had one more fish that day, a pacu weighing 11lbs
Day 6 week 2.
Same swim and I started at 8am. Within minutes I had a beautiful giant Siamese carp weighing about 30lbs.
See photo.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/giantsiamesecarp30-31.jpg
Second fish was a rahu which looks like a common carp but has silver scales with a tinge of red, it weighed 11lbs.
See photo of a rahu.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/rahu11lbs.jpg
Mick went crazy when he saw the fish, “another rare catch” he said. 2 hours later I had a pacu of about 15lbs.
See photo of guide chard with Pete’s 15lber.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/pacu15lbschard.jpg
Then a run on a rod that was close to the bank on bread and the fish fought hard but a different fight than a Mekong. After 10mins a lovely carp was in the net, a fish of about 33lbs. I had one more fish, a red tail catfish of 33lbs on sweetcorn and bread,
I was about to pack up when a Russian guy and his girlfriend turned up to fish, I decided to carry on for a couple of hours and chatted with them. He told me it was nice and warm in Moscow,1c, to which I replied “I think that’s cold”, “cold”, he said, “it’s normally 32c below” so I guess it’s warm then.
Anyway it got dark but still nice and warm and the Russian had a mekong cat of 22k. I was watching them having their photo taken when I had a run and 10 minutes later a carp of 31lbs was in the net. Two in a few hours and I was in heaven and went for dinner.
Day 7 week 2. (Last day)
I started fishing at 7.30am and cast the rods out still trying for carp but also using the method and trying to catch a few mekong cats seeing I won't be catching any back home in Spain. I had a carp of 33lbs within ten minutes on bread and sweetcorn, and a guy from England turned up to fish. A fellow Spurs fan luckily and we had a nice breakfast on the bank. Then I caught another rahu, about the same size as the last. Time was running out then at 1.30pm I had a good run, one last mekong of 50lbs, a good fish to finish with and the best fighting fish I have ever caught.
A lunch of roasted pork and then a taxi to the airport, I will be back for another holiday of a lifetime.
If you have any questions or want any details please e-mail Peter @ petergardiner2001@yahoo.com
A friend of mine has recently returned.
My Thailand fishing holiday by Peter Gardiner.
We left for Thailand on the 27th February 2008 and flew from Spain’s Alicante airport to Madrid then on to London Heathrow, it was cheaper to fly from England. We left 4 hours later for Beijing China and the flight took about 10hrs.
When I looked out of the window over China, my thoughts were “what a drab place it looks”. On arrival in Beijing we walked down the stairs of the plane and two Chinese policemen looked straight at me, menacingly. Maybe because Ann and I were the only non Chinese on the plane. Thankfully we were allowed to quickly join the rest of the passengers on the bus to the terminal and went to “International transfers” where we waited in line.
When we got to the front of the queue the immigration man checked our papers and in front of him were four buttons asking, did he provide good service? “Very Good”, “Bad” or “Very Bad”, I pushed “Very Good” just in case!
Thankfully he stamped our passport without hesitation and we waited for the flight to Bangkok. On arrival there 6hrs later we picked up our baggage and our BMW limousine was waiting to take us to the Citi Chic hotel.
On arrival a Thai porter opened the door and saluted the wife and I said “I could get used to this.” Our room was excellent containing a 42 inch TV with 4 sports channels plus a few more English speaking ones. After a good night’s sleep we found our friends Pat and Diane, who had travelled from the states to meet with us. We had breakfast and then went for a walk to explore Bangkok and if you like market stalls you’ll love it. Haggling is a favourite pastime of mine and I got some great deals on teeshirts and football shirts.
That night we had a great dinner in a German restaurant (Why? I hear you ask) and the next day went for a boat trip in a gondola type thing. The following day we spent taking pictures of Thai palaces and stopped at a snake farm for the show. Great fun and then more food at a posh hotel, The Landmark.
Today we met our French guide who said we would go fishing at 7.30am tomorrow.
Day 1 week 1.
The following morning as arranged we met his wife and jumped into a chauffeur driven people carrier and we were driven to Bung Sam Lan. I have never seen a lake with so many big fish topping in my life, me and my friend Pat were gob smacked.
We met our guide and fished from one of the lakeside bungalows. Tackle was a sliding float, 15ft deep with a method ball, made of ground rice. The size of a Jaffa Orange, no bait they just push the bare hook in the ball.
Two rods were quickly cast out 50 metres, I didn’t know what to expect. The rods were 7ft, 4lb test curve with Shimano 6500 reels. It wasn’t long before one of the bait runners screamed off and my mate, who was closer, hit the rod. In the next 15 minutes the fish fought like hell and tried hard to get under the bungalow staging. Eventually a mekong cat of about 50lbs was in the net.
During the next 8 hours we caught 25 Mekongs to 60lbs and I have never fought a harder fighting fish in my life. Even my biggest fish, a Wels catfish of 138lb was less work. We went back home to our wives who were shattered, they had been shopping by the way, as wives do.
See photo of Pete with a mekong cat.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/mekongcat47lb.jpg
Day 2 week 1.
Next morning I met my mate Pat for breakfast and we talked about the day’s fishing that was coming up at Bung Sam Lan Lake. We fished the same tactics as yesterday and caught 27 mekgong cats to 58lbs. To give you some idea of the set up we were using. The float slides on the line and to within 9 inches of the hook.
Sometimes I thought I had beaten a fish after a 15 minute fight. Even though I was often pulling so hard with both arms on the rod, fish rarely broke the surface of the muddy water.
Instead of coming up they took more line and went under the staging and got snagged. This happened about five times a day. More a less all the fish fought like that, some you landed, some you didn’t.
At the end of the day I was shattered and headed back to the hotel. The funny thing about Bangkok is there is about two hundred thousand taxis which are some strange bright colours, purple, yellow, green and pink .We wouldn’t get in a pink one if you know what I mean. Then there’s the tuk tuk, a funny looking vehicle that carries two people. Plus there are lots of motorbikes that carry passengers on their back seats. I even haggled with the taxi drivers for a good price.
In Bangkok you see many fifty plus men with young good looking Thai girls, my wife always says “old perverts”, I say “lucky sods”. My friend who lives in Thailand warns us about lady boys if they are tall, “beware” he says. We were walking around a market near our hotel and I saw a great looking girl working on a stall, then the wind blew her skirt up and I new it was a boy. My, wife said “pervert, how many photos did you get?”
Day 3 week 1.
The next day we were up early to go up country which took about two hours. We arrived at a lake called Monster Lake located at Ratchaburi. We were told we could use live or dead bait after 2pm, but before that only lures. Pat was happy because he fishes for bass with lures in the States, I on the other hand have never used one. I started casting this rubber fish and after 20 minutes I had a hit and the fish ran strongly. After 10 minutes a fish broke the surface and what a fantastic colour it was too. My guide told me it was a red tailed catfish of about 20lbs.
See photo.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/redtailtigercatfish20lbs.jpg
When I held the fish it croaked and then laid still for a picture. I had one more run after about two hours when I felt a little tap on the line. I set the hook and the fish took about 100 metres of line and after another 5 minutes the hook pulled. I was gutted and went for drink in the lakeside bar and then had lunch.
Around 2pm I started using live bait and after 2hrs I caught a red tailed catfish of about 20lbs,
another nice looking fish which fights really well.
See photo of Pete with a good red tailed cat.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/redgtailedcatfish.jpg
Shortly after this I caught a small catfish of about 5lbs, the guide got really excited as it’s only the third one ever caught from the lake, it’s called a blue emerald eye catfish.
See Photo.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/blueemeraldeyecatfish5lbs.jpg
Pat caught a red tail catfish of about 17lbs, and we fished until 7.30pm. We went back to the hotel after stopping for a great meal in a Thai restaurant.
By the way the wives were taken to the river Kwai by our driver and had a fabulous time doing the tourist thing.
Day 4 week 1
At Monster Lake next morning I was looking forward to fishing more than ever because you just don't know what’s going hit you. The fishing for me started slowly but Pat had two red tail catfish early, 26lbs and 33lbs.
I was getting fed up just standing in one spot, casting this rubber fish and so went for a walk around the lake, casting as I went. It wasn’t long before I got hit and after a good fight the fish was in the net. It was called a pacu and weighed about 5lbs. It looked like a piranha and was one more new species for me.
Pat had a red tail cat on a piece of chicken skin, left over from his dinner plate. I put a piece on the hook and caught two redtails of 17lbs and 26lbs. Nothing happened for three hours so I put a small dead bait on and caught another blue eye catfish, only the fourth one from that lake ever!
When it got dark the wives came back from sightseeing but we carried on fishing. I threw away a small dead fish in the margin and five minutes later a huge arapaima took it. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought I had missed my chance but put my bait back in the margin, “you never know” I murmured. Ten minutes later I saw a huge bow wave and the arapaima was back and took my bait. The line tightened and I struck, the fish screamed across the lake into the darkness. It made several powerful runs and after 15 minutes it got off. I was peed off but had a great time and what a buzz. Back for a great dinner at the Thai restaurant and our regular return limo ride to Bangkok.
Day 5 week 1.
We decided to fish for siamese giant carp at Bung Sam Lan and we were told by our guide to expect a long wait for these fish, we thought it was a worthwhile gamble though. I woke up feeling ill with flu but fishing still sounded great.
We fished 4 rods close to the bungalow and on the method, we caught three mekong cats. Pat lost a nice carp under the staging and we saw a big carp jump out of the water, weighing approx 60lbs.
I felt better after dosing my self up all day with medicine and so on our last day we came to hammer the mekong cats.
Day 6 week 1.
After leaving the hotel we picked up a Finnish couple from a nearby hotel and they told me they had fished Bung Sam Lan many times and gave us a few tips. I was feeling a lot better and was going to make the most of our last day. In the end I had 9 cats to 57lb. Pat had 8 to 56lbs. We always took turns hitting the runs which we thought fair. Our new Finish friend only caught 5 which he said was his worst ever day.
We said goodbye to our guide and I was a bit sad walking away from a great place, with head held low we went back to our wives to have dinner.
Day 1 week 2.
The next day we were flying to Koh Samui for another weeks fishing, I can’t get enough and love it.
During a one hour flight from Bangkok we had a quick lunch and drinks, free, a bit different from the budget airlines.
We were met at airport by our driver who took us to the Koh Samui lake. We walked to the lakeside restaurant where we were met by Mick the lake owner who told us our Thai houseboats were being made ready for us.
While we were having a cool drink an English guy walked into the bar and he had cuts, bruises and grazes all down one side of his body. I asked what happened to him, he said he fell off his motorbike yesterday and his wife who was sunbathing by the pool had broken her arm two weeks earlier, unlucky pair I guess.
Anyway the guides put our suitcases into one of the houseboats which are moored on the far bank. We unpacked, well my better half Ann did, I went walkies along the bank to talk to a guy I saw fishing. He told me the fishing was good so I rushed back to the bar and asked about going fishing straight away. Mick said I was going to fish peg 4, I met my Thai guide named Chard and got the rods set up.
The time was 4.30pm; one rod was baited with a piece of fish, taken out by boat and dropped next to a weed bed which floated on the surface, about 30metres from the bank. We were fishing close to the weed because fish lay under it for shade. My other rod had the method on (bread and soaked maize this time). The rods were 9ft, 4lb test curve with 6500 Shimano reels. After about an hour I had a mekong cat of 39lbs and as before, a great fight. I told Chard I wanted to catch some different species of fish because I had caught a lot of mekongs already.
Chard baited both hooks with fish and we sat back and relaxed. Just as it got dark my right hand rod had a screaming run. On striking, the fish went under the floating weed bed. I sank the rod tip under the water until the fish cleared the weed and after about ten minutes the fish came to the surface, 5 metres from the bank. Chard landed all the fish in the water using a 6ft oval net. I looked in the net and couldn’t believe my eyes for the second time this holiday. I had caught a 25lb alligator gar, wow what a sight.
See Photo of Pete’s fish being held by the guide.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/alligatorgar.jpg
During the next couple of hours I had two more mekong cats weighing 35lbs and 39lbs. Shortly after I had another screaming run, striking the rod I knew I had hooked a good fish because it went deep under the weed. I was in panic mode but eventually the fish cleared the weed and was netted by Chard. It was another beautiful fish which I was told was an arapaima weighing about 35 pounds. I was straight in the water for my photo.
See photo
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/arapama35.jpg
Sat in my seat I thought what a great place this is, I can't believe my luck. Eventually I reluctantly headed for my bed and told Chard I would see him at 7.30 in the morning.
Day 2 week 2.
After meeting Chard we decided to fish a swim at the far end of the lake, next to another floating weed bed and we put one bait under it. The second bait was put in open water but after two hours and no bites I joined Ann for breakfast in the lakeside restaurant. I had to spend some time with her, as you do. Anyway enough of that rubbish, back to the fishing. We cast the baits in again and the rod in open water had a twitchy run after 15 mins. Soon in the net lay a red tailed cat of 57lbs and I was straight into the water again for my photo, I love it. After ten minutes in 32c I was soon dry and by the way, keep putting the suntan lotion on. We started fishing again but nothing happened for a few hours and then I got a good run on the bait under the weed. This fish would not stop; it went deep into the weed and snagged itself. I was gutted as Chard told me the arapaima grow to 10ft in this lake. The next thing I knew, Chard took his shirt off and dived into the lake and disappeared under the weed. Another angler walked over and asked me where my guide was, I said “last seen 5 minutes ago”. Much to my relief a head pop up in the middle of the weed and told me to reel in, the fish had fallen off naturally.
About an hour later the same rod produced another run but this time I got the fish out of the weed, another arapaima gigas weighing 35lb. The colours were great and the fish was an amazing 4ft long and the last two feet were a mass of red.
I packed up an hour later while on cloud nine and went for a Thai dinner and a few beers.
Day 3 week 2.
Started at 8am and I fished the same swim as yesterday and put both rods out with pieces of fish on the hook close to the weed bed. I caught a small pacu of about 11lbs in the first hour then had a lovely breakfast, scrambled eggs on toast with beans on the side. (Just because one is fishing doesn’t mean one cannot spoil oneself). 11am, a lovely arapaima gigas of 38lbs was in net and it was quickly followed by another on the left hand rod of 41lbs, two lovely fish in the space of ten minutes. It all went quiet and I asked Chard to phone the restaurant for a menu and later a lovely lunch turned up, brought to the swim by Apple, Chards girlfriend. (What’s all this Apple and Chard name thing about, Fruit and Veg?)
After lunch I had three more arapaima to 30lb and two pacu, 9lbs and 6lbs, stopped fishing at 7pm and what a days fishing, wow.
Day 4 week 2.
I took the wife to see a crocodile show, followed by a ride on an elephant through the jungle, I’m just a great husband I know. Got back for a few hours fishing and just when I thought a blank was on the cards, I had two lovely red tail catfish of 26lbs and 28lbs, both caught in the last hour.
Day 5 week 2.
I changed swims to try to catch some giant Siamese carp and used the method with 5 pieces of corn. First fish was a sharp tooth catfish originally from India, only about 4lb but a very rare catch in this lake seemingly.
See photo.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/sharptoothcatfish4lb.jpg
Then a mekong cat came in to me of 33lbs followed by five more around the same size, I thought earlier, where are the carp? I had a good run on hair rigged banana, my first carp of 11lbs was in the net. I only had one more fish that day, a pacu weighing 11lbs
Day 6 week 2.
Same swim and I started at 8am. Within minutes I had a beautiful giant Siamese carp weighing about 30lbs.
See photo.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/giantsiamesecarp30-31.jpg
Second fish was a rahu which looks like a common carp but has silver scales with a tinge of red, it weighed 11lbs.
See photo of a rahu.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/rahu11lbs.jpg
Mick went crazy when he saw the fish, “another rare catch” he said. 2 hours later I had a pacu of about 15lbs.
See photo of guide chard with Pete’s 15lber.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f309/Beachcomber_Bar_Mojacar/pacu15lbschard.jpg
Then a run on a rod that was close to the bank on bread and the fish fought hard but a different fight than a Mekong. After 10mins a lovely carp was in the net, a fish of about 33lbs. I had one more fish, a red tail catfish of 33lbs on sweetcorn and bread,
I was about to pack up when a Russian guy and his girlfriend turned up to fish, I decided to carry on for a couple of hours and chatted with them. He told me it was nice and warm in Moscow,1c, to which I replied “I think that’s cold”, “cold”, he said, “it’s normally 32c below” so I guess it’s warm then.
Anyway it got dark but still nice and warm and the Russian had a mekong cat of 22k. I was watching them having their photo taken when I had a run and 10 minutes later a carp of 31lbs was in the net. Two in a few hours and I was in heaven and went for dinner.
Day 7 week 2. (Last day)
I started fishing at 7.30am and cast the rods out still trying for carp but also using the method and trying to catch a few mekong cats seeing I won't be catching any back home in Spain. I had a carp of 33lbs within ten minutes on bread and sweetcorn, and a guy from England turned up to fish. A fellow Spurs fan luckily and we had a nice breakfast on the bank. Then I caught another rahu, about the same size as the last. Time was running out then at 1.30pm I had a good run, one last mekong of 50lbs, a good fish to finish with and the best fighting fish I have ever caught.
A lunch of roasted pork and then a taxi to the airport, I will be back for another holiday of a lifetime.
If you have any questions or want any details please e-mail Peter @ petergardiner2001@yahoo.com