CATFISH SPECIES:

  • Chao Praya Catfish
  • Giant Seacatfish
  • Grey Eel Catfish
  • Hemibagrus Wyckii
  • Hemibagrus Wyckioides
  • Mekong Giant Catfish
  • Salween Shovelnose
  • Shark Catfish
  • Striped Catfish
  • Thai African Catfish
  • Thickspined Catfish
  • Truncated Estuarine
  • Walking Catfish, African

SNAKEHEAD SPECIES:

  • Dwarf Snakehead
  • Giant Snakehead
  • Great Snakehead
  • Splendid Snakehead
  • Striped Snakehead

FEATHERBACK SPECIES

OTHER SPECIES

  • Alligator Gar
  • Pacu
  • Arapaima
  • Suckermouth Catfish
  • Barramundi
  • Boeseman Croaker 1
  • Boeseman Croaker 2
  • Fourfinger Threadfin
  • Freshwater garfish
  • Giant Gourami
  • Mangrove Jack
  • Marbled Goby
  • Nandid Tiger Perch
  • Northern Paradise Fish
  • Pacu
  • Parambassis siamensis
  • Swamp Eel
  • Tilapia Nile & Java
  • Tilapia, Blotched Red
  • Wrestling Halfbeak


The Arapaima

The Arapaima is the world's largest freshwater predator, growing to weight's of over 800LB. The Arapaima has adapted well to life in Thailand's lakes where an abundance of prey fish have help the Arapaima grow to world record proportions at record speeds. Some private lakes now have Arapaima reputed to weigh over 300kg, 200kg specimens are becoming common.

A Mekong Catfish from Bungsamran.

Current IGFA All Tackle Record:

83kgs/182lbs15 oz. Pirarucu/Arapaima gigas All-Tackle -Laganto Cocha Ecuador Per-Ola Johannesson Feb. 16, 2003

Other common names:

  • Pirarucu
  • Pla Tjon Amazon
  • Arapaima gigas

Identification:

Large silver to dark scales with brilliant red flashing to the underside on larger specimens. Nearer the tail, the red becomes more pronounced. Pike shaped head with a sloping face and protruding lower jaw. Long and low dorsal and anal fins, near the tail.

Dimensions:

Weights of over 770LB have been recorded, measuring up to 300cm nose to tail.

Baits & Tactics:

Usually with a live bait, a small Koi Carp, fishing similar tactics to those used in the UK for Pike fishing, but beefed up for the Arapaima, to boat rods and larger baits. Due to the risk of gut hooking some misguided venues will now not allow anglers to pursue the Arapaima, or if they do, insist on high day ticket fee's. Gut Hooking can easily be avoided with the right tactics.

Fighting Characteristics:

A predatory fish of considerable size, the Arapaima as usual with Bungsamrans Inhabitants can be a handful, often leaping clean out of the water when hooked. But like many predatory fish it has speed, but not as much stamina as some of Thailand's catfish for example so can be beaten quickly on heavy tackle.

Catch Report:

A relatively easy species to catch, if the right tactics are adopted. A number of large Arapaima have come out of Bungsam Lan over the 200LB mark, the largest being 405LB, well over the current IGFA record. Smaller fish in the high doubles are their to be caught too. There is a growing number of fishing venues in Thailand where the angler can pursue the Arapaima, including one where you can fly-fish!

Venues:

Follow the venue links below to find out where you can catch the Arapaima.