 Mega Fishing Thailand Presents you with an amazing chance to fish for one of the most talked about species right now. The Giant Freshwater stingray is arguably the Largest freshwater fish species in the world. Its size and power are tremendous and trying to land one of these Giant freshwater rays has been compared with battling with a submarine
ABOUT THE BANG PAKONG RIVER & THE NAKORN NAYOK RIVER:
The Bang Pakong River (one hour drive from Bangkok) is fed by 2 other brackish rivers, the Nakorn Nayok River and the Prachin River. These 3 rivers are known to have the country's biggest population of Giant Freshwater Stingray (Himantura chaophraya) and Grey Eel Catfish or Giant Sea Catfish (Plotosius canius).
 six hours of fight for 6 people and this 220lb 100kg Giant freshwater sting ray was landed at the Bang pakong river near to Bangkok Thailand
Both species are terrific game fish due to the hard fights they give when hooked up by anglers. Giant Freshwater Stingray and Giant Sea Catfish can be targetted at this river all year long but March to May is the very best period to fish for them.
The sea tides are an essential parameter for this kind of fishing. Both fish species bite in the daytime and nightime though nightime fishing usually offers better chances to catch them.
It takes about a one hour drive from Bangkok to reach the Bang Pakong River where you will be boarding our captain's wooden boat. It takes around one hour of boating then to reach the best fishing spots on any of these 3 rivers. GREY EEL CATFISH (PLOTOSIUS CANIUS):
 Lek Helias with her IGFA World all tackle record Giant Sea Catfish. 8.50 kg and 116cm in length. The Grey Eel Catfish (Plotosius canius) or Giant sea catfish is called in Thai "Pla Duk Talay (meaning "sea catfish"). It is a tremendous fighter which can reach a max. weight of 15.00 kg for over 180 cm long. The current IGFA All Tackle world record for the Grey Eel Catfish is currently held by my Lek Helias for a 8.50 kg catfish (116 cm of length). Much bigger size specimens inhabit these waters. Each year cats above the 12.00 kg mark are caught by anglers. GIANT FRESHWATER STINGRAY (HIMANTURA CHAOPHRAYA):
 The Giant freshwater stingray is arguablly the largest freshwater fish species in the world with tales of rays of over 1000lb but one of that size has never been caught or landed This particular stingray is one of Thailand's true water world giants. The Freshwater Stingray or Himantura chaophraya is said to reach 1,000 pounds. According to locals, nowadays specimens around 250 kg (for a diameter of almost 4 meters) are the biggest size inhabiting these waters.
A few years ago, a freshwater stingray estimated at 250 kg was found dead at one of the river's area we are often fishing. we dont wish you of course to hook a ray at this kind of size (smile).
A 100 kg specimen hooked up by an angler already means several long hours of fighting (some Thai anglers have fought huge specimens for 14-16 hours without being able to land the fish). So if you really wish to give a try at these stingrays then I hope you understand you'd better be physically, in good shape. We are speaking here of an extreme physical test with a heavyweight fish at the other end of your line....
Anglers usually fish with 2 rods for this destination. One heavy duty rod is for the Freshwater Stingray and the second rod, much lighter, is for the Grey Eel Catfish. Both stingrays and sea catfish take the very same bait: river prawns. So anglers get often into serious trouble when a big size stingray takes the bait on their light tackle rod. In this kind of situation there is no need to say that the stingray has no problem at all to end the fight as the winnner, breaking the line by whipping it with its tail. For the biggest size ray specimens, once they are stuck on the river's bottom you can guess it is almost impossible to make them move. Most of the time local anglers resign themselves to cut the line after several hours of fighting.
Giant Stingrays landed by local anglers are in average around the 30 kg mark (maybe also because locals use much lighter gear as they don't target rays but the Grey Eel Catfish. The few much bigger rays caught by local friends were around 60 kg. But to land such a fish they had to share the rod, taking turns to help with the fighting, in a tug of war lasting several hours.... This explains why the Giant Freshwater Stingray has never been submitted with the IGFA for a first entry on their world records list. I would love to see one of our visiting anglers adding his name and this rare species to this list. But can it really be done? It would be a ultimate sportfishing exploit to have an angler fighting on his own for several hours such an aquatic UFO and be able to land it.  COWTAIL STINGRAY (HYPOLOPHUS SEPHEN):
Another rare species of stingray inhabits these 3 rivers. It is the rare Cowtail Stingray or Hypolophus sephen (local name: Pla Kabeng Chai Tong). According to locals, this species can grow to a max. weight of 30.00 kg.
These Stingrays will be targeted on the same tackle as the Giant sea catfish and the smaller Thickspined catfish and Booseman Croakers.
All these smaller species make for great action while you wait for the Monster Giant Ray to take your bait.
THICK SPINED CATFISH or Arius nenga and the BOOSEMAN CROAKER.
 Other brackish water fish species such as the Thickspined Catfish and the Boesemian Croaker are also found at these rivers. We target them on light gear while fishing for the Freshwater Stingray and the Grey Eel Catfish.
To book a tour to the Bangpakong River or for questions enquiries or more info, please email tours@megafishingthailand.com we are always happy to help in any way we can.
THERE ARE 2 PACKAGES OFFERED TO VISITING ANGLERS: 1 DAY FISHING (from 8.00 am to late at night)
1 angler: 7,000 baht 2 - 3 anglers: 5,500 baht per angler 4 anglers: 4,500 baht per angler
1 DAY & 1 NIGHT FISHING (from 8.00 am to 8.00 am the next day) 1 angler: 10,000 baht 2 - 3 anglers: 7,500 baht per angler 4 anglers: 6,500 baht per angler
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Go to booking enquiry form
For more information about this package at the Bangpakong River or for questions and enquiries please email tours@megafishingthailand.com we are always happy to help in any way we can.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Insurance covering the angler(s) Round trip transfer by private van from Bangkok to Bang Pakong River Traditional Thai wooden boat & captain Full assistance of 1/2 Fishing Adventures pro guide(s) All fishing tackle provided (rods & reels) All required baits and rigs Ice, mineral water - tea & coffee NOT INCLUDED: Food & soft drinks - beer or any other alcoolic drinks (available inexpensively at the destination)
Go to booking enquiry form
For more information about this package at the Bangpakong River or for questions and enquiries please email tours@megafishingthailand.com we are always happy to help in any way we can.
Tight Lines! |
