Thailand

**BigAl** · 30-05-2006, 14:08

Hi All,

Despite being arrested on arrival at Bangkok airport for being in possession of too many duty free cigarettes, being taken to the Police station, fined 21,335 baht (£302) and missing the hotel connection cab, we eventually made it to the hotel in Bangkok.
We were only in Bagkok for 3 nights but decided to have a days fishing at Bungsam Lan Lake to try and catch a mekong catfish. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT!!!!!!
The lakes about 400 metres long by 500metres wide, surrounded by a wooden deck walkway with "bungalows" on it and it is absolutely heaving with fish from 10 kg upwards of all sorts of species. The surface is constantly in a state of confusion from so many fish rolling and leaping at the same time.
The only technique that I could see in use was breadcrusts mixed into a stiff paste and moulded round a spiral cage underneath a sliding float set at about 8 feet with the use of a stop knot.
To cut a long story short I ended up catching 10 mekong catfish to about 50lb through virtually no skill of my own, which, even though I would say it was quite good fun, the Thais certainly must be the world experts in over stocked commercial fisheries. It would be impossible not to catch fish. I was bored by 3.30 so went back to hotel.

Down to Phuketand immediately ring Micheal of "M/V Reel Thing" running out of Chalong to see what the possibilities are for the next week. A monsoon running south to north up the Chinese coast is effecting the weather in Phuket and when they were last out on the 17th, they had to contend with 4m swells and reduced fishing grounds due to 29 commercial boats taking shelter in the lee of Racha Yai and Racha Noi. The good news was that they had seen 6 or 7 sailfish free jumping that afternoon and as soon as the weather dropped we should bee in with a shout.
We arrived in Phuket on the 19th of may and our last available day would be the 25th. I kept in touch with Micheal throught the week and on tuesday it seemed like there might be a chance on thursday (25th). A quick call on wednesday evening confirmed blue skies and calm seas for following day and a pick up time of 7.00 am.
Micheal is from Denmark originally and speaks fluent english, better than most Brits, and quizzed me on the way to the as to what I would like to do for the day. Having never caught a billfish, a sailfish had to be the priority.
Micheal also had a suprise for us. Instead of going out on "Reel Thing", a 21 ft speedboat, we had been upgraded to "M/V Gecko" a 40ft boat usually used on liveaboard charters. So with Teo at the helm, Toy as deckie and Micheal as instructor for me we leave Chalong pier at 7.30.
The plan was to troll around and between the islands in the morning to get plenty of small tuna to use as belly strip baits for sails in the afternoon. The lure spread had only been out minutes before the first of more than a dozen small tunas hit the lures and were put on ice. Micheal kept us laughing with stories of past trips on the boat in the 8 years he's lived and worked there and all of a sudden its lunch time and Toy brings out lunch. Well we must be meeting up with another boat surely, theres enough food to feed an army!!!
We eat on deck so that we can keep fishing and refuse the cool of the air-conditioned cabin.
We're running a spread of 6 lures, 4 Kona head type lures and 2 smaller chrome head bubblers for tuna. We pass between the islands for the second time and the right hand tuna lure is away. I take the rod out of the rod holder move the lever to strike and as the line comes tight, I hit it, the fish takes 100 yards of line in the blink of an eye and the line falls slack. "Marlin" says Micheal quietly as I wind in the lure for inspection. The hook has straightened out considerably and I know its my fault for not setting the hook hard enough.
The hot time approaches for sailfish and Micheal shows me how to prepare and mount a Panama belly strip. We put out 4 belly strips and slowed the troll speed. 3 o;clock passes, then four o'clock, a Dorado, about 20lbs, attacks one of the baits leaps 6 or 7 times before letting go. The crew are trying as hard as they can for me, and we troll for another hour and a half with nothing to show for our efforts. But its not to be and we take the lures in at 5.45 and head back to Chalong pier.

Micheal and the other 2 Guys, Teo and Toy tried a hard as any guys I have had the pleasure to fish with and they were as disappointed as I was that I didn't break my billfish duck. Another thing that I really liked about Micheal was that it really was a hands on experience and I was allowed to do everything that I wanted to do, I wasn't there just to wind them in, if you know what I mean.

After all the anecdotes and stories of liveaboards, its time to save up and do a 5 day trip to the Andamans in the future.

If you do go to Phuket look Micheal up and I'm sure he'll do his very best to put you on some fish. A true professional, extremely knowledgable and can talk the hind legs off a donkey.

Their web site is http://www.fishing-khaolak.com

Allan

**PanamaJack** · 30-05-2006, 20:04

Great report Allan. And a shame that you lost the Marlin. Don't use this by any means as a yardstick BUT a member of our Club went over 10 years before he caught his first. Now though, for him, it's like 'falling off a log' and he's already notched up a 'grander'.

It's just a case of putting in the hours on the water and it will happen. Thailand's a magnificent location and the range of fish species is incredible. But if you ever become really desperate for a Marlin it's worth perhaps considering somewhere like Sao Vicente in the Cape Verde Islands. You'll usually find one or two reports on fish captures in the Trip Reporter section of the http://www.marlinnut.com web site.

Fingers crossed for the next trip.
All the Best
Dave

**DaveIrving** · 03-06-2006, 04:44

Hi Allan

As Dave knows already I am yet to lose my marlin virginity and I have fished Thailand many times - so for you to even get a hit is good going!

Bungsamran Lake is an amazing place to fish....but like you I got bored with the catfish a long time ago as they are just too easy to catch. If they are feeding well then its a fish every cast and they probably average about 17 or 18Kg.

There are lots of other species in that lake that I fish for now instead - Arapaima have been caught in there up to 200Kg, Giant Siamese Carp grow to about 100Kg plus there are lots of smaller fish like the Pacu (a type of piranha that grow to about 10Kg) and alligator gar.

I generally fish for the other species now which is more of a waiting game...sit back and drink a cold singha...more my style of fishing!

Will be there again next week still trying for that elusive arapaima or carp.

Also in Bangkok they have lakes stocked with Barramundi which grow to about 15Kg although a 10Kg fish is a good one.

Anyway good to hear you had a good time....hope you get that marlin next time!

Cheers

Dave

**BigAl** · 05-06-2006, 11:01

Thanks again guys. It was your help and advice that made the trip as enjoyable as it was!!

Dave,
Thanks for advice on Cape Verde Islands, am looking at web material now and saving hard for next year.

Dave Irving,
Thought your photo in the "Gecko" literature was excellent. On the subject of Bungsam lan, during the day I fished there an aripima rolled about 5 yards in front of the bungalow I fished from. It was a huge fish!!!! It was at least 7 or 8 feet long, was very dark over most of its body with a crimson red patches on its flanks and underside. I say patches, but I suspect it was individual scale colouration. Definitely the biggest fish I've ever seen in freshwater and I've fished for the cats on the Ebro so I've seen some biggies.
Just out of interest, how do you target the other species and not the Mekongs?
Good luck and I look forward to your report,

Allan

**DaveIrving** · 06-06-2006, 07:47

Hi Allan

Not sure what pic that was - haven't seen the Gecko literature yet!

For the other species in BSR:-

Pacu - they basically take any bait - we generally fish for them with light spinning rods and float fish with either banana or chicken liver. They do have teeth that are almost human so you get bitten off quite a few times....but if you use wire you don't get the bites.

Arapaima - generally fish with a small koi carp livebait - and just sit and wait. I have seen plenty of these huge fish but yet to even hook one. They tend to hit the livebait with their tail first then circle back and take it. I once fished 24 hours at that lake before deciding to give up - within an hour Francois landed one 60Kg on my rod!

Carp - generally we fish for them with a smilar method to the mekong catfish - a cricket ball sized lump of bread on a small bait cage. The difference is the bait is placed close to the banks or the bridge where the carp like to hang out. I have landed 2 of these so far but both have been babies.

Snakehead - Can catch these by walking around the edge of the lake - sometimes you will see a small school of snakehead fry....under these will always be 2 snakehead - Mom and Dad. To catch them you can drop a livebait into the fry - the snakehead will soon attack.

Alligator Gar - Cannot really target these as they are so difficult to catch - usually a by-catch when fishing for the arapaima as they take livebaits.

Gourami - Can catch these by fishing a ball of bread into any shallow area where reeds are sticking out.

There are lots of other species of fish in there but most of the others are very difficult to catch and are caught more by chance.

Here's some pics of some of the other smaller species you can get there.

Cheers

Dave

**DaveIrving** · 12-06-2006, 04:57

Hi Allan

OK just a quick follow up - we caught a few pacu and then I managed this Mekong Catfish by accident on one of the rods fishing for carp.....this one went 154lbs!

Cheers

Dave

**BigAl** · 13-06-2006, 18:05

What a superb fish, Dave!!!!!!!!

Well done

**Estuary Perch** · 14-06-2006, 08:47

How do the Pacu fight ?
They have a 'Trevally' shape and large powerful (looking) forked tails, so am just curious if they a good fishters on light tackle. Also I hear that they can grow to around 3 feet long.

**DaveIrving** · 15-06-2006, 02:20

Hi Estuary Perch

Pacu are good fighters on light gear...they are very very fast through the water although perhaps they don't have that much stamina.

The biggest I have landed is about 6Kg - although the biggest I have seen in photos in Asia is 14Kg - that fish was actually caught in Singapore.

I saw a recent article on the Barramundi fishing in Sri Lanka in Rod & Line magazine...it looks amazing. I guess another trip I have to add to the must do in this lifetime list!

Cheers

Dave

**Estuary Perch** · 15-06-2006, 10:19

Hi Dave,

Thanks. I guessed they would be good sport on light tackle. They are not indigenous to this country (Sri Lanka) but available as aquarium fish at pet stores.

I have a very large deep pond on my estate which is fed by a natural spring and therefore has good flowing water. I introduced about 100 baby Pacus and a 6 inch Arapaimah to it about 3 years ago and now they are a sight to see. The Pacu feed voraciously (mainly vegetarian but take small fish and prawns) and move around in a fearsome shoal. Each fish is around 4 - 5 kgs in weight. The Arapaimah is over 6 feet long and costs a packet to feed.

Interesting about the Barramundi article in a fishing magazine - I have not seen it, must get a copy. Yes, we certainly do have some great fishing (one of the best kept secrets) here - Barramundi, Narrow Barred Spanish Mackerel, GT, etc.