175lb 6oz (79.54 kg) Mekong giant catfish caught at Bungsamlan lake smashes the current 138lb 14oz IGFA World record.
Tim Webb is a very experienced Globe trotting angler, on top of that he is physically well built. His arms are almost as big as most peoples legs so he had no trouble controlling the monster giant Mekong catfish that was trying to drag him and his record attempt into the depths of Bungsam lan lake.
Bungsam lan fishing park in Bangkok is where it all finally came to an explosive finale with this new IGFA world record for the King of Catfish the Giant Mekong. This species is no doubt one of the hardest fighting freshwater game fish, it is certainly the largest catfish species and absolutely the largest ever recorded freshwater fish species in the world.
On Feb. 26, a couple of day before his world record catch, Tim had his hands full with a 121lb cat. Another lovely catch, the 119lb cat caught by Tim on the same day as his world record
Tim had already had a good few days at Bungsam lan lake and caught many different fish including 3 fair size Siamese giant carp, the biggest at 33lb. He had better luck though with the Mekong's, starting on Feb. 26 with the catch of a 121lb fish . But February 28th was going to be a helluva unforgettable day with four biggie mekong catfish landed on the same day, including a new IGFA world record.
One of the 3 Catlocarpio siamensis - a 33lb - caught by Tim Webb during his carp fishing sessions.
Tim caught a 90lb, a 99lb, a 119lb, and an outstanding catch weighted on certified scales at 175lb 6oz (79.54 kg). That latest breaking the current 138lb 14oz (63.00 kg) IGFA All Tackle World Record held since Feb. 2004 by another of Jean-Francois Helias's clients, Richard Ainsworth, from Bedford, England. It just so happens that the last IGFA world record for Giant Mekong catfish was caught on the 27th of February 2004, almost three years to the day. So get your bookings in for 2010 if you want to be in the record breakers club!....
After a 50 minute fight Tims Rod and Shimano Stella 10000 spooled with Power Pro braided line was beginning to show the strain while Tim himself is well on the way to ending the fight soon as the big cat starts to show signs of giving up
Jean-Francois Helias' team guide Noi & Tim Webb displaying the 175lb 6oz (79.54 kg) super biggie
Thecrew and witnesses taking care of the official weighing procedure according to IGFA rules.
In the past a total of 13 Giant Mekong catfish bigger than the previous record of 63 kg have been caught by Jean Francois fishing adventures Thailand clients. The two biggest ones weighed in at 85 kg and 82 kg. But unfortunately none of them could qualify for a new record as most entangled the angler's line around structures meaning the guides had to untangle the line by touching it or the rod and therefore breaking the very strict IGFA rules.
But three years after the last Giant Mekong catfish IGFA world record was set Tim Webb landed one fair & square & according to the IGFA rules, there were eight witnesses there on Feb 28th who watched the battle unfold and make sure that Tims 175lb giant catfish can qualify for a new record.
The 175lb 6oz IGFA World record :Mekong giant catfish soon to be release
The process of getting an IGFA world record Homogenated is very strict and can take up to two months from the time all the documents are submitted. Were not going to go into all the rules and regulations here, if you wish to know more about how to apply for a record you can find all the info on the IGFA website.
For fishing in Thailand at Bungsamlan lake and other packages around Bangkok CLICK HERE!
175lb 6oz (79.54 kg) Mekong giant catfish caught at Bungsamlan lake smashes the current 138lb 14oz IGFA World record.
