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IGFA Corporate
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 Fox Consultant and Angler’s Mail journalist Ian Welch has just returned from a groundbreaking exploratory visit to Thailand’s remote and untamed river systems with FishSiam.com in search of the largest known freshwater fish species: the Giant Freshwater Stingray.
Until recently the species was thought to be exceptionally rare with occasional specimens being reported only at irregular intervals in rivers throughout Cambodia and Thailand. However, groundbreaking work by Rick Humphreys and Wuttichai ‘Boy’ Khuensuwan of FishSiam during recent months has shown the species is present in far greater numbers than previously thought and they have proved the species is a realistic target for anglers and Ian was the first UK journalist to join the team in search of a monster. |
 Excess water due to the Burmese cyclone meant Thailand’s rivers were all but unfishable for the first half of the stay and after several blanks Ian took time out to with ‘Boy’ to fish a local lake for Arapaima, an Amazonian species, which has thrived in Thailand since its introduction. After netting two small Araipaima to 50kg along with a variety of other species Ian’s freelined mackerel section was taken by a much bigger fish at dusk and after an incredibly dramatic 30 minute battle in the darkness he banked a fish estimated at 150kg plus – thought to be the largest in the lake.
Returning to a different river after the lake success Rick, Boy and Ian tried a revolutionary new technique for the stingray which, after an incredible battle in a small boat on a big river, resulted in Ian setting a new river record Giant Freshwater Stingray estimated at 150kg. |
For full details and pictures of this incredible trip check out Angler’s Mail from 10 June 2008 and we will have the full story here, on this site, soon too!
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Ian Welch
