Fishing in Ratchaburi - Thailand

**DaveIrving** · 19-09-2007, 14:47

Have just spent 15 days fishing in Thailand, mainly at a new lake in Ratchaburi.

Fishing was excellent with penty of fish and plenty of species including Arapaima, Black Pacu, Pacu, Alligator Gar, Redtail Catfish, Redtail Tiger Catfish, Asian Redtail Catfish, Walking Catfish, Chao Phraya Catfish, Siamese Carp, Gourami, Striped Catfish, Mekong Catfish, Barramundi.

Here's a few pics....the best arapaima went 67Kg although I got spooled by one estimated between 80 and 90Kg.

If anyone is keen to fish it please contact Jean-Francois at his website:

http://www.anglingthailand.com/

Cheers

Dave

**DaveIrving** · 19-09-2007, 14:51

Some more pics....

**Happy Dude** · 19-09-2007, 17:58

looks like you got the grand slam of moggies there dave.

i thought those arapaima were a south american species, are they imported?

was that kind of fishing better or not as good as jigging/popping for GT etc??

regards

Les

**DaveIrving** · 20-09-2007, 03:36

Hi Les,

How's things?

Yep most of these species are imported.....Thailand now has half a dozen lakes stocked with fish from all over the world. As you stated Arapaima are originally from Brazil.

I like all fishing to be honest....although I do still prefer the hit you get from a big fish on a jig, where you are struggling to stay in the boat!

We have an international jigging/popping competition next March in Tanzania, if you fancy a change from your Kenya trips?.....there will be a few teams from around the world targeting GTs and Dogtooth Tuna. A good chance to meet and fish with some of the people who have revolutionised this style of fishing.

Cheers

Dave

**Kingfish81** · 20-09-2007, 10:15

Dave, great pics!! Out of curousity, what are the opportunities like for fly-fishing in Tanzania for the GTs and dogtooths? I really want to get a dogtooth and GT on fly and really can't afford the cost of going somewhere like the Seychelles, outer reefs in Oz etc.

**Happy Dude** · 20-09-2007, 20:04

Originally Posted by DaveIrving

Hi Les,

How's things?

Yep most of these species are imported.....Thailand now has half a dozen lakes stocked with fish from all over the world. As you stated Arapaima are originally from Brazil.

I like all fishing to be honest....although I do still prefer the hit you get from a big fish on a jig, where you are struggling to stay in the boat!

We have an international jigging/popping competition next March in Tanzania, if you fancy a change from your Kenya trips?.....there will be a few teams from around the world targeting GTs and Dogtooth Tuna. A good chance to meet and fish with some of the people who have revolutionised this style of fishing.

Cheers

Dave

hi dave,

things would be OK if we had had some decent weather this year, been struggling to get a decent day out for months, had a few good days though.

i would love to go to tanzania but i'm booked for 8 days with angus on neptune in january at malindi.

my mate tony has his marlin head on and is determined to get his first one, even if it means letting me catch all the sailfish, which is the price of him getting all the marlin strikes until he lands one

plus i'm away to iceland for a week in october on a bit of a prospecting trip looking for big halibut and porbeagle sharks.

i don't think i'm fit enough at the moment for popping and jigging everyday for those brutes the GT's, but i have to admit, i would love to tangle with a doggie, of the tropical tuna variety instead of the LSD type we get here

are you still based in brisbane??

les

**DaveIrving** · 21-09-2007, 01:59

Hi Kingfish,

Have not fished Tanzania yet...this will be my first trip. The guys I know who have fished it have had some amazing GTs and Dogtooth. Check out this website....and yes they do cater for fly fishing. Now that would be some achievement to get either species on the fly.....hooking them shouldn't be the problem.....landing them will be!

http://www.kilwalodge.co.za/thelodge.htm

Hi Les,

Iceland sounds good....another place I need to visit. I have left Brisbane and for the last week have been living in Yokohama Japan, will probably stay here for 6 months. Have already arranged some trips - jigging for amberjacks and kingfish - will post some reports soon.

Cheers

Dave

**Kingfish81** · 21-09-2007, 09:52

Cheers Dave! There are some pics in their gallery of guys with spanish macs and dogtooths caught on fly. I may e-mail the lodge to see what kind of prices they offer...

**Happy Dude** · 21-09-2007, 12:46

Originally Posted by DaveIrving

Hi Les,

Iceland sounds good....another place I need to visit. I have left Brisbane and for the last week have been living in Yokohama Japan, will probably stay here for 6 months. Have already arranged some trips - jigging for amberjacks and kingfish - will post some reports soon.

Cheers

Dave

hi dave,

you fair get around, i'd love to visit japan not for fishing, just to be a tourist.

my mate went a few years ago and did the bullet train tour, even stood on ground zero in hiroshima.

not got anything pencilled in for 2009 yet, so who knows.

i was talking (drinking with) an american this year at gatwick and he recommended venezuela, heard anything about the fishing there??

les

**PanamaJack** · 21-09-2007, 15:26

Originally Posted by big_haddie

i was talking (drinking with) an american this year at gatwick and he recommended venezuela, heard anything about the fishing there??

les

Les
Your American drinking buddy was spot on. In terms of the Atlantic I guess it - the mainland fishing on the La Guaira Bank - and Mexico's Yucatan pennisular that offer the best opportunities for billfish 'Grand Slams' - Blue & White Marlin and Sailfish - and multiple billfish releases in a day. (If it's just Blues though that you're interested in then, somewhat closer to home, you've got Sao Vicente and Sao Nicholau in the Cape Verde Islands. Worth viewing the threads on the African forum if you're interested.) But off Venezuela there are also reasonable populations of Swordfish and Spearfish to supplement them.

In Venezuela the 'prime' billfish season tends to run from September through to April. Although that supplemented by a good run of Yellowfin during the Spring months. And obviously decent Dorado and Wahoo are usually also present.

I guess though one of my lasting memories of La Guaira was a huge, 1000lb plus, Mako literally 'shredding' the side of a 400lb Blue Marlin that I was playing! The Marlin tried to jump as the shark attacked and the flesh on its one side was literally hanging off in shreds.

In terms of boats there're really the two options - the local boats, mainly older Hatteras' and Bertrams but perfectly adequate - and the big American 'battlewagons' that make the run down every year. Those are somewhat more expensive as you can imagine!

As well as the offshore fishing on the La Guaira and Mero Banks from the mainland there's also great Bonefish fishing from Los Roques - an archipelago some 70 miles off the coast. And, to the west of the ports on the mainland, there're opportunities for juvenille Tarpon, again on the fly.

In terms of jigging opportunities, although I've only ever caught them on livebaits, there're some big Amberjack on those extensive bank complexes.
Dave

Hi Dave
Well, in Oz, did you get your chance to break your Marlin duck?
Dave