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Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Reports & Expeditions => Topic started by: Chris Tan on June 17, 2011, 11:56:59 AM

Title: My son's catch
Post by: Chris Tan on June 17, 2011, 11:56:59 AM
Well this isn't a GT and it wasn't caught on a popper. But it was caught on a lure in one of the stocked ponds in Bangkok. My son managed to hook this monster all by himself but needed some help in landing it.

Here's a couple of pictures. We also managed many other species on soft plastic, hard body lures and flies.

It was all good fun for my son but I'm really looking forward to some real GT fishing soon! 8)
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Patrick Cooper on June 17, 2011, 12:17:14 PM
nice work! would love to catch an arapaima one day..
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Chris Young on June 17, 2011, 04:23:10 PM
Great fish Chris, your son is catching bigger fish than you already ;) :D
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Chris Tan on June 17, 2011, 08:22:22 PM
The problem catching such a big fish early on the first day of fishing was that he was expecting all the fish to be of this size. He definitely outfished me and now he has the biggest fish caught in our family.....need to catch up!
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Kurt Carlson on June 18, 2011, 08:26:19 AM
Great Fish, he has every right to brag about that one for months  ;D
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Peter Morris on June 18, 2011, 09:40:44 AM
Well done to your son Chris. 8)

Is that a snakehead..??

Pete
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Chris Tan on June 18, 2011, 09:53:46 AM
Hi Pete,

That's an arapaima. These are snakeheads.

Chris
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Peter Morris on June 18, 2011, 07:37:10 PM
Cheers Chris,

See you in August. 8)

Pete
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Michael Evans on June 18, 2011, 09:59:29 PM
R arapaima native to Thailand?
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Chris Tan on June 19, 2011, 10:03:33 AM
Yup, see you in August Pete! Looking forward to the trip.

Michael, arapaimas are native to the Amazon. But you find them in several stocked ponds throughout Thailand. Definitely an easier option to catch these magnificent fish.
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Jon Li on June 19, 2011, 05:38:40 PM
Yup, see you in August Pete! Looking forward to the trip.

Michael, arapaimas are native to the Amazon. But you find them in several stocked ponds throughout Thailand. Definitely an easier option to catch these magnificent fish.

Hi Chris ,

What type of bait was used ?

Jon .
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Chris Tan on June 19, 2011, 05:44:59 PM
Hey Jon,

No baits allowed in the pond. So we used the guide's lures. We also used soft plastics for the redtail catfish.
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Jon Li on June 19, 2011, 06:06:02 PM
Hey Jon,

No baits allowed in the pond. So we used the guide's lures. We also used soft plastics for the redtail catfish.

Hi Chris ,

Thanks , next time I am in Thailand , I think I will try this arapaima fishing which my Thai friends have asked me to go so often . Using lures is cooool !

Jon .
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Chris Tan on June 19, 2011, 06:14:24 PM
The arapaimas suck the lures from the surface with a loud audible bloop. Very interesting fish.

Here are a few more photos
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Michael Evans on June 19, 2011, 07:34:42 PM
Yup, see you in August Pete! Looking forward to the trip.

Michael, arapaimas are native to the Amazon. But you find them in several stocked ponds throughout Thailand. Definitely an easier option to catch these magnificent fish.

Cheers chris ..That's what I thought! Nice catch!
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Ryan Theyer on June 23, 2011, 10:58:51 PM
Definatley different looking fish!!!
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Chris Tan on June 26, 2011, 08:46:38 PM
here's the video

Boy vs Arapaima! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHcsOknLzxY#)
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Sami Ghandour on June 26, 2011, 10:15:05 PM
Congrtas!
seems to follow the steps of his father  :)
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Ralph Holland on July 01, 2011, 03:37:05 AM
Great pictures and catches! Those arapaimas are very rare fish in this days.
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Chris Tan on July 01, 2011, 10:23:34 AM
Thanks guys!

Rare in the wild but abundant in this stocked pond. Reportedly around 100 of them in this small place. So its a guarenteed catch in this pond in BKK.
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Geoff Volter on July 01, 2011, 11:00:37 AM
Hi Chris, what can you catch them on in this pond? lures, flies? Is there anything else to catch there? Do they get fed or is there enough naturally occurring food?

I am thinking of taking my wife to thailand in oct this year and want some day trip options. I am not too fussy and this looks like fun.
Title: Re: My son's catch
Post by: Chris Tan on July 01, 2011, 11:19:25 AM
Hey Geoff, besides arapiamas, there are numerous types of catfish like the redtail catfish - very good fighters.

We mainly used the guide's lures which work very well. Small rubber lures work too. They do get fed once in the morning and once in the evening with 3 small nets of live tilapias and the fish get into a frenzy when that happens and that's the best time to catch them. They continue to take lures till around 1pm when things get real slow till late afternoon.

There's a restaurant on site and you get really good Thai food, esp the tom yam and Singha beer ofcourse.

Its a small pond but enough amenities to keep everyone satisfied for a day's trip.

Pm me if you're keen and I'll send you the guide's details.

Hi Chris, what can you catch them on in this pond? lures, flies? Is there anything else to catch there? Do they get fed or is there enough naturally occurring food?

I am thinking of taking my wife to thailand in oct this year and want some day trip options. I am not too fussy and this looks like fun.