During our last trip to Bangkok, we paid a visit to Bungsamram Fishing Resort and had the opportunity to witness anglers fishing for the famed and mighty Mekong Catfish. I’ve heard alot about them, read about them in fishing journals etc… but I never had the opportunity to see one landed until now! And what a sight it was!

Commercial fishing for the Mekong giant catfish is illegal in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, but the bans appear to be ineffective, with the fish continuing to be caught in all three countries.However, in recognition of the threat to the species, most Thai fishermen agreed to stop catching the endangered catfish in June 2006, to mark the 60th anniversary of Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession to the throne of Thailand.

Attaining an unconfirmed length of 3 m, the Mekong giant catfish grows extremely quickly, reaching a mass of 150 to 200 kg in only six years.The largest catch recorded in Thailand since record-keeping began in 1981 was a female measuring 2.7 m (roughly 9 feet) in length and weighing 293 kg (646 lb). This specimen, caught in 2005, is widely recognized as the largest freshwater fish ever caught (although sturgeon can far exceed this size, they can be anadromous ie they are classified as both salt and fresh water). Thai Fisheries officials stripped the fish of its eggs as part of a breeding programme, intending then to release it, but the fish died in captivity and was sold as food to local villagers.

Grey to white in colour and lacking stripes, the Mekong giant catfish is distinguished by the near-total lack of barbels and the absence of teeth. Like all catfish, they are generally scavengers and will almost eat anything, although their main diet consists of vegetation, weeds and algae.

Fighting the Mekong Cat is no child’s play. The tackle used by the anglers were heavy stuff, equivalent to the popping gear for big GT’s in the Maldives. The picture above shows the bait ball used by the anglers to catch the Mekong Catfish. It’s as big as a tennis ball and probably 4 times heavier. Heavy gear is needed just to cast that bait ball. Yet, despite the heavy arsenal, we witnessed on two landed out of five that were hooked over a period of an hour or so.

Catching the Mekong Catfish is an experience every angler must have at least once in a lifetime. Even if you don’t catch one, at least see one being caught. It’s a wonderful experience and gives you bragging rights for a lifetime. Enjoy the video I took below.

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