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SPECIES: Arapaima gigas or Pirarucu. |
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FRESHWATER FISH SPECIES -
SPECIES- INTRODUCED
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Written by Administrator
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 The Arapaima is a tropical fish of the Amazon basin. It has been introduced into Thai waters.It is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Arapaima reach sizes of up to 15 feet in length. Probably one of the rarest preditors left on this planet, these fish are very fussy feeders but for the ultimate fishing experience are well worth the effort for the serious fisherman who want to catch the ultimate freshwater predator.
Arapaima ( brah chon Amazon ). aka: Arapaima gigas, Pirarucu, Wararapaima.
Scientific name: Arapaima gigas.
Status: Introduced.
Diet: Fish, Frogs, Small water mammals and Birds.
Habitat: Freshwater.
Description: The Arapaima is a bony tounge fish and has large sales which range from Olive green to Silver grey and slowly turn blood red/pink with bright red edges towards it posterior and tail. The scales on a large Arapaima can reach 6 centimeters in length.
Its long body is broad and creates amazing speed and power which it uses when catching prey. It has a long sloping forehead and its lower jaw is slightly overshot.
The Arapaima can be found cruising around the upper levels of its waters hunting for food aswell as lurking deep down around weed beds and snags where it will ambush prey fish.
 The Arapaima has been succesfully introduced into a few countries outside of its native South America. Its a true Predator of gigantic proportions. A beautifull fish that is very strong and athletic, it eats fish aswell as leaping out of the water to grab birds from hanging tree branches.
The IGFA world record catch for this hard and dirty fighting fish is 83kg and was caught by Per-Ola Johannesson in Laganto Equador on Feb 16th 2003.
The Pirarucu as the arapaima is also known reaches gigantic proportions in its native South America (Arapaimas have been recorded at 200kg (450lbs) and up to 5 meters in length) and they have been successfully introduced in Thailand to an increasing number of fishing lakes and fishing parks. There are specimens of Arapaima that are known to be well over the world record weight for this fish.
Fishing in thailand for Arapaima is by no means easy, they can be fussy eaters and can be seen at many fishing lakes surfacing ( Arapaimas have to surface occasionally for oxygen and make a loud gulping noise when they do )and rolling their massive and beautifull blood red tails as if to taunt you.
If you are lucky enough to hook up with a giant Arapaima then landing it within the strict rules of the IGFA is not going to be easy.
The Arapaima gigas' fighting strength and ability is well regarded and will test any angler to the limits, they are very mobile for their size and will head for any snag which is near to them.
Fishing venues in Thailand that stock the Arapaiama such as Bungsamlan lake in Bangkok is full of snags around the posts of fishing pontoons and bungalows. The Arapaima ( especially the biggest ones ) will head straight for the nearest snag and try to get unhooked.
In the wild at one time, there were many Arapaima specimens over 3 meters in length that weighed more than 150 kilograms. Sadly now they are pretty much all gone. This is due to over fishing, water pollution and loss of its habitat.
 Species: Arapaima gigas or Pirarucu. Picture courtesy of Jean-Francois Helias of Fishing Adventures Thailand.
Arapaima gigas are becoming increasingly rare in the wild and are in danger of becomming extinct in their natural habitat, If you would like more information on these endangered species and how you can help the Mega fishes project click here. Alternativley please take time to visit these conservation websites.
http://www.iucn.org/
http://www.wwf.org.uk/news/n_0000001664.asp
To see some amazing pictures of the Arapaima gigas caught in Thailands fishing parks go to the Mega fishing Thailand Catch reports page.
Venues: If you want to fish in Thailand for this species its recommended you try these venues: - Bungsam lan fishing park, Bangkok
- DREAMLAKE, Chiang Mai
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