RETURN TO BUNGSAMRAN

On our last day of the Thailand fishing trip, Steve and I decided to head back to Bungsamran and try our hand at a Giant Siamese Carp. Cole had to fly back to the states to get back to work. The Giant Siamese Carp are very difficult to catch and guide Eddie Mounce of http://www.fishthailand.co.uk/ hope that one of us would hook into a monster but gave the odds at about 1% that both of us would hook up. We fished with giant size rice/lamb balls directly on the bottom. The bait was the size of a small bowling ball and was very difficult to cast a few feet as the rod was bent in half. A few hours into the fishing, I had a drag burning hit. After a strong hook set, I thought I was going to get spooled. The guide knew I had a monster Giant Siames Carp hooked. These Carp do not look at all like our carp. They however are super strong and make very sharp turns. They head directly toward the dock pilings to free themselves. However this monster was caught. A very respectable 65lbs monster. Eddie figured we got very lucky and landed a monster Siamese carp and suggested to switch to catching Mekong Catfish. Since we landed more Giant Mekong's the first day of fishing, we decided to try to break the odds and hook another monster carp. Later in the afternoon Steve's line went screaming. After running to the next dock, he landed a twin--another monster Siamese Carp weighing around 65lbs. Eddie could not believe that we both landed fish of our dreams on the same day/same spot. Later that evening Steve and I flew out of Bangkok to Korea then back to Chicago. In all about a 22 hr flight. Before we heading out on this trip the Giant Siamese Carp was on my wish list. Now my dream came true and can add this species to my "Monster Fish List"

BOON MAR

On the 6th day of my Thailand fishing adventure we travelled about an hour out of Bangkok to the Boon Mar Ponds. Here there are lots and lots of ponds which the owner raises barramundi to sell to restaurants around the world. Fishing at Boon Mar remined me of the first time as a youngster entering a candy or toy store. Simply Amazing!!!! We caught big barramundi cast after cast. I figured we landed over 200 barramundi up to 18lbs in 6 hours of fishing. It got to the point that we were casting lures to see which ones they would not attack!!! The best were jointed minnow type baits like the Yo-Zuri jointed Sashimi minnows. The water literally boils when the barras attack your lure. They put on one of the best fights I have received on my spinning gear. Steve had his "new" reel drag gears burn up after the intense fighting of the barras. I landed a few on Klures barra popper also. This is truely one of the most amazing fisheries I have ever experienced. Definately put in on your list if you ever visit Thailand.

On the 5th day of my Thailand fishing adventure we travel about an hour from Hua Hin to Cha Am which is noticed for its large population of monster arapaima. The pond is small and we notice numerous large arapaima gulping air when first arriving. Steve hooks into a few smaller arapaima and later in the day hooks into the day's largest at approx 85lbs. Cole and I also hook into smaller arapaima. We all see numerous arapaima over 200lbs surfacing around the pond but cannot get any to bite our baits. Fishing for arapaima is a waiting game as deadbait is casted on the ponds bottom. When arapaima are spotted casts are made directly to them. When I return to Thailand, Cha Am will definately be on my to fish list as I am convinced a 200lbs monster will take my bait on the next trip. We again fish with Julian Fernandez of www.siamfishingtours.com Julian supplies all the lures, bait, plus quality rods and reels.

GREENFIELD VALLEY FISHING RESORT

ON the 4th day of my Thailand fishing adventure we travelled to Greenfield Valley Resort for a chance at catching an arapaima. The arapamia is the largest scaled fish on earth reaching lengths over 20ft. Nobody in the group had ever landed an arapaima but we have all seen monsters while fishing peacock bass in the Brazilian Amazon. Greenfield Fishing resort is located about 20 minutes from the seaside town of Hua Hin, Thailand. It is about 4 hours from Bangkok. The resort was recently opened by famous English Angler, John Wilson.

The main lake is home to a large variety of species such as the arapaima, pacu, alligator gar, and numerous others. One of the main goals of our trip was to each catch an arapaima regardless of size. That dream came true as all of us caught a few smaller arapaima along with numerous pacu and a few alligator gar. Arapaima are beautiful fish with very large scales tinted in red. Natives use the scales as files! The arapaima can constantly be seen gasping a gulp of air of which you cast your dead bait and hope. It is a long waiting game between bites, but then again not everyone catches an arapaima! We were led on this adventure by Julian Hernandez of http://www.siamfishingtours.com/

IT LAKE MONSTERS

On day 3 of my Thailand fishing trip, we ventured to the IT Lake Monsters which is my favorite fishng venue in Thailand. The lake is about a 2 hour drive from Bangkok in the rural Ratchburi Province. The lake is approximately 7 acres with depths reaching 5 meters. Here you can catch giant redtail catfish until your arms give out. Also the lake boasts a good population of pacu, Thai Redtail catfish, alligator gar, Chao-Praya Catfish, barramundi, and arapaima. We used live/dead talapia on heavy spinning gear. The morning started out on the slow side but I landed a huge 20lbs barramundi a few minutes into the day. Later I landed a 55lbs Chao-Praya Catfish which put up a reel burning flight. Later in the afternoon, Steve landed a monster 70lbs arapaima. Around 2pm the action really picked up with double header after double header on the large redtail catfish up to 60lbs. So, make sure to add IT Lake Monsters to your next Thailand fishing adventure!

PILOT 111 FISHING PONDS

On the 2nd day of my Thailand Fishing Adventure, we fished Pilot 111 Fishing Ponds for Giant Snakehead. The Pilot 111 Fishing Ponds are located about 1 hour from downtown Bangkok. The fishery is lure fishing only and has a diverse range on predator fish species throughout 10 ponds. We directed our attention to the Giant Snakehead which are tremendous fighters on both subsurface along with topwater lures. Our fishing day was quite windy so the topwater bite was off. The best lures were jointed rapalas, Kippers Live Taget Pumpkinseed, and SPRO BBZ-1 shad swimmbait. Should the topwater action been on, Klures Snakehead buzzer would be the lure of choice. Numerous Giant Snakeheads were landed by all. They are drag burners and definately should be on your list of species to catch! We fished again with Eddie Mounce of www.fishthailand.co.uk

BUNGSAMRAN

In the next few Fishing News Reports, I will describe the different fisheries visited during my recent trip to Thailand. Bungsamran is a fisherman's heaven!! This is a Shangri-La filled with mostly with Giant Mekong Catfish. Bungsamran was established on March 16, 1983. The venue is approximately 20 acres and an average depth of 4 to 10 meters. It is filled with more than 50 kinds of game fish including the above mentioned Mekong Catfish, Giant Siamese Carp, Arapaima, Striped Catfish, among others. The largest fish which swims in this water is a reported 450 lbs arapaima. The fishery holds an estimated +30,000 stock!!!

We fished with 7ft medium heavy Ugly Sticks and large Shimano Baitrunner spinning reels spooled with 60lbs mono. Hooks were strong 1/0 singles. Bait of choice is rice/lamb balls about the size of baseballs for the Giant Mekong's and the size of a 16 inch softball for the Giant Siamese Carp. While fishing for the Giant Mekong's the bait is suspended a few feet below the surface and it is placed on the bottom for the Giant Siamese Carp. Bungsamran is located in Bangkok, a short drive from your local hotel. Here, there are numerous bungalows to fish out of many of which have beds, television, toilets, etc.. You can fish 24hrs per day if you can hold up. There are restaurants and bars located on the fishery. Have visited this amazing fishery 4 times this year, a realistic expectation would be 30 Giant Mekong Catfish per 1/2 day if targeting them. If targeting the Giant Siamese Carp, possibly 1 per day. Both of these species are tremendous fighters and grown to enourmous sizes. When visiting Thailand make sure to put Bungsamran on the top of your to do list as most will catch the largest fish of their life on this fishery!