EXCLUSIVE! A brand new IGFA world record catch of a 9.2 Kg Giant Snakehead in the 50lb line class for Rick Pike from the UK who had been invited on a very special snakehead fishing expedition and on the last day he hooked and succesfully landed what is an absolutley outstanding catch for Thailand. A great big momma Channa micropeltes, the "gangster of the deep".
From March 27 to March 30, Thailand's freshwater sportfishing pioneer Jean-Francois Helias was leading a 5 day expedition to the Srinakarin reservoir in Kanchanaburi province, for a famous American film production company, for the shooting of a documentary about snakehead species.
Mentioned by Francois in a previous interview over the phone, his role in that documentary was to be part of of a scientific mission involving Walter R. Courtenay, Jr., and James D. Williams, the world's leading fishery biologists for snakehead species.
Helias showing a Rapala jointed to the camera during the shooting of the film.(Photo courtesy of Jean-Francois Helias / Fishing Adventures Thailand)
His mission was to capture one or two specimens of the Thai channa marulius, to photograph them, and to take fin clippings to be preserved in screw-top vials containing 95% ethyl alcohol.
The clippings are to be sent first to the Florida Integrated Science Center in Florida, and then forwarded later to the Natural History Museum in London who are taking care of the DNA research.
The object of the research is to be able to compare the DNA of both the Thai Channa marulius and the invading Channa marulius that is now found in the USA in some Florida canals , the hope is that scientists will then know once and for all if the Florida marulius comes originally from Thailand, or not.
Francois invited his numerous times return client and good friend Richard Pike to come along and to assist him in his scientific mission.
Helias commenting the behaviour of the channa micropeltes while his mate Richard J. Pike displays a post spawning 4.50 kg (Photo courtesy of Jean-Francois Helias / Fishing Adventures Thailand)
Rick is a retired UK expat based in Pattaya who according to Francois is as totally dedicated to snakehead fishing as Francois is himself, and is today the very best of all top class snakehead anglers whom Francois had the privilege to take under his wing.
The filming went extremely well and 9 hours of footage were captured on film by the crew.
A part of the numerous giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes) catches filmed by the crew, two rare Cobra snakeheads (Channa marulioides) were also caught, so Francois could take care of his scientific duties.
A happy Richard Pike showing his pending 9,2Kg IGFA All Tackle world record .(Photo courtesy of Jean-Francois Helias / Fishing Adventures Thailand).
On March 30 - the final morning of the expedition, missions accomplished, snakehead expert Richard Pike boated a catch of a lifetime giant snakehead: a 9.2kg beautiful mama guarding her blood-red newborn fry. Rick's fish measured 99cm in length. That helluva catch breaking French angler Pierre Liegeois's 50lb line class IGFA Record for a 7.4kg catch will earn Rick a third IGFA world record, once his application is homologated.
A channa micropeltes catch of that kind of huge size is so exceptional that I must say: "Congratulations Rick for such a wonderful achievement!"
If you would like to try you hand at Snakehead fishing with Jean Francois Helias in Thailand then click here or on the banner above to go to our tour page where you will find VIP exclusive Snakehead fishing trips with the master himself.
EXCLUSIVE! A brand new IGFA world record catch of a 9.2 Kg Giant Snakehead in the 50lb line class for Rick Pike from the UK who had been invited on a very special snakehead fishing expedition and on the last day he hooked and succesfully landed what is an absolutley outstanding catch for Thailand. A great big momma Channa micropeltes, the "gangster of the deep".
