Epic fish porn [Picture X-Heavy]

[infante]

woo,very nice

[MichaelAngelo]

(04-29-2012 11:01 PM)infante Wrote:  woo,very nice

I'm happy this thread spilled onto page 2 LOL so I don't have to load all the pictures each time

Muskybait, can you tell us the story of the red tailed cat, and all the other fish that you got into the water to hoist?? I'd love to hear, all ears

[MuskieBait]

Well, the pictures of Mekong Giant Catfish, Giant Barb (aka Siamese Carp) and Redtail Catfish were caught from a pay venue. These are very popular in Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia. Normally, I would not like to fish in an artificial environment (ie, stocked ponds, rivers, lakes...etc). However, since the Mekong Giant Catfish and Giant Barb are critically endangered in the wild, I made the exception. This was a more ecologically sound option than to fish for a wild population that is already struggling. There is no need for extra angling pressure to place on the wild fish.

I'll keep this brief. I'm actually compiling a travel log for that trip. I usually write my trip reports quite quickly, but that one had taken a long time due to various reasons.

I started fishing this pond at 8am in the morning and within 15 minutes, I had already caught the Giant Barb. This fish was estimated to be 25lbs. The Giant Barb was one of the more difficult fish to catch since it prefers quiet settings and they usually feed at dawn and dusk, which meant the prime hours are limited.

The next fish was the Giant Mekong Catfish. It was the most numerous fish in the pond and the easiest to catch. However, for one reason or another, I didn't catch this fish until around 1pm. It was a pretty strong fish going about 70lbs. I think I brought it in under 10 minutes only...pretty short for such a large fish. About a hour later, I landed another Mekong Catfish that was about 60lbs. During the day, the catfish were very active. All you need to do was to cast a method bait ball into the vicinity of the fish, and the fish will respond to the bait ball hitting the water (and exploding into a cloud of chum), come in and gulp down the bread dough ball we use on the hook. It's very simple...and it really only take a few casts to hook up. After catching the two Mekong Catfish, I told my "guide" that I don't want to catch them anymore. I wanted to focus on other fish that are in the pond but I haven't caught yet. These included Alligator Gar, Suribim Catfish, Redtail Catfish and Arapaima.

I was using both rods to soak method mix and dead sardines for the predators I listed above. I could see Redtail Catfish surfacing once in a while but they just wouldn't eat. Once dusk fell, the activity began. I had positioned two dead sardines along the margins of the water plants near the shore. These are places where Arapaima and Redtail Catfish would hunt. I got about 3-4 light pick ups. One of them is likely an Arapaima based on the way it was picked up. None of them held the bait long enough to set the hook though. Finally, with about 10 minutes left of my day (the trip finishes at 8pm), I had a fish picked up the bait and made a long run. This Redtail Catfish was about 40kg according to two separate guides and it took me about 10 minutes to land. They don't look as heavy as they actually weight...but these fish have large bony heads where most of the weight was allocated. You couldn't tell in the picture, but I was really straining to hold the fish up for the picture.

The reason why all the pictures were taken in the water is to protect the fish. Since these fish were privately stocked into the pond and these ponds are ran as businesses, these fish are the most important investment. The guides take all precautions to protect the investment. The fish were netted in large cradle nets (they were fashioned by hula hoops and netting) and kept in the water the whole time. Picture sessions were limited to no more than a minute in total, and the fish was allowed to rest in the water between each shot. The guides also apply iodine to the hook would to prevent infection. Special fish such as the Giant Barb and Redtail Catfish were placed into a recovery pen where they would rest for 24 hours before being released back into the pond.

I actually appreciate the extend of care these operations put into their fish. The fish that are stocked by these private operators came from hatcheries. It is encouraging that at least a population of these endangered fish (albeit a "tamed" husbandry population) are maintained so that perhaps one day they can be reestablished in the wild.

If you are ever in Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore, look up these fishing venues and try them out! Bung Sam Ran is internationally acclaimed as the best venue for Giant Mekong Catfish. It's scary that the average weight of fish at BSR is between 20-30kg and a decent full day session is between 20-30 Mekong Catfish per person. There are many fish landed that are in the 80-100lb range, and I've read about sessions where people quit fishing after a half day when their bodies gave out after landing 20+ catfish.

[MichaelAngelo]

Fascinating! I had no idea these venues existed, and I'm dissapointed we don't have any here. I'm guessing the cold weather makes for smaller fish, since they grow only 1/2 the year.

Still a pond stocked with monster carp is possible . But a monster common is but a pea compared to some of the fish you mentioned!

What kind of prices does a day at one of these places command? Are they priced for locals, or are the a tourist attraction?

[MuskieBait]

Well, you can have some stocked ponds here, but it won't have the same potential here unless you have a pond filled with 4-5' hatchery raised Lake Sturgeons LOL. No one would pay a hefty price to catch a local readily available fish if they can just drive somewhere to catch them. Most of these ponds in Southeast Asia are stocked with rare local fish (difficult to catch in the wild) or exotics from Africa and South America. It is the good chance to catch novelty fish that is really the selling point.

As for the pond I fished, it cost CAD $120/day (8am-8pm) as a base cost. However, there is the price of bait and tips added on top of the base cost. At the end, I think I paid something close to $150. It's so cheap it's hard not to do it! People may think $150 to spend on a day of fishing cost a lot, but considering I usually spend at least $50 in gas to successfully catch a new species locally in Ontario, that is pretty on par with my standard costs.

Bung Sam Ran cost a little more, and they do not have the same opportunity for various species as the pond I fished. Some other ponds can be much more expensive though (some barramundi only pond cost around $150 for only 4 hours, same with some peacock bass only ponds). There are some predator lakes that cost about $300-400/day.

Yes, they have a much cheaper local price. Locals usually pay only 10% of what tourists / expat would pay to fish at these ponds. It's a bit of a highway robbery. But at that price, it is still very cheap to us. Compared to fishing in Europe, Southeast Asia is about the same as fishing in a carp pond in the UK. That's why a lot of Europeans visit Thailand to fish there.

But relatively speaking, these are all very cheap compared to a $5000/week BC salmon trip, sturgeon trip, Atlantic salmon trip or Arctic Char trip, and most of these are single species focused. Even with the cost of flight (major cost), accommodations and food (really, really cheap) and the fishing, it would still be cheaper to fish in Thailand for a week than to go to Newfoundland to fish for Atlantic salmon for a week.

[OldTimer]

Hey,

I tried a new type of “pay per catch” fishing last night with unusual new bait. The cost aint so bad and the catch tastes great.


Best uninterrupted fishing is at night after 2:00am till about 4:00am.


It takes a while to read the signs – but once you get on top of the quarry the fishing is fairly decent.


Exotic equipment is not required, but casting accuracy is paramount in your success.



Rig up your bait simply by tying it on the end of your monofilament.



Stealth is required to avoid alerting others of your presence and intentions. Look for fish right on the edge of a drop off or shelf. Use a light lob underhand flick to send your bait silently to its target.



Once you get a strong connection – reel quickly and lift the fish in a smooth motion into your grasp.



Here’s the best bait:

   



Here’s my catch last night:

   

   

   



The night manager at my Sobey’s said the fishing might “really really” be better done at Fortino’s next time. (do you think maybe he meant they have a sale on???????).

…………..smile

Cheers,

OldTimer

[--G--]

This is really an epic post...Fantastic stuff! thanks for posting this, a great read with a coffee at work.

[MichaelAngelo]

(05-30-2012 11:13 AM)--G-- Wrote:  This is really an epic post...Fantastic stuff! thanks for posting this, a great read with a coffee at work.

I should get started with my own life list. I wonder how many I can get without leaving Ontario....

[MuskieBait]

(05-30-2012 11:41 AM)MichaelAngelo Wrote:  

(05-30-2012 11:13 AM)--G-- Wrote:  This is really an epic post...Fantastic stuff! thanks for posting this, a great read with a coffee at work.

I should get started with my own life list. I wonder how many I can get without leaving Ontario....

I think I have 52 Ontario species, and this is taking into account the micro species (minnows, small catfish species, panfish...etc). Although the Ontario freshwater species is quite diverse, it cannot compare with that of southern US or anywhere saltwater. There are still a few more Ontario species I'm hunting this year. If you really get into the micro species, you can probably hit about 100 Ontario species. I've yet to get serious with the micros...maybe one of these days I'll start targeting them with more intent.

[Magikarp]

Bro thats a solid fish list there. the pictures to go along with it are solid to. you should put together a article or blog post on it. it be crazy cool to if you had a picture of the fish and a google map shot of all the areas you caught your fish from to do a all around the world look at where all the different fish came from. that would be a awesome read!