Fishing for Giant freshwater stingrays at the Maeklong River in Thailand offers visiting anglers the opportunity to fish for what is possibly the largest freshwater fish in the world the legendary Giant freshwater stingray Himantura Chaophraya.
Sport fishermen and specialist Anglers choosing to fish in Thailand for Giant freshwater stingrays at the Maeklong River in Samut Songkran will have the opportunity to fish for what has been widely acclaimed as the largest freshwater fish in the world.
The world famous Maeklong River in Samut Songkran Province in Thailand is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric fishing destinations in Thailand which is home to some of the largest freshwater monster fish on the planet.
The Area 51 section of the tidal Maeklong River in its lower reaches has been the scene of numerous epic battles with monster
Giant freshwater stingrays and has seen literally hundreds of Giant freshwater stingrays captured to world record proportions by our clients.
Previously whilst filming with National Geographic explorer Dr.Zeb Hogan for the highly acclaimed Monster fishing Giant Stingray show on NGC the Maeklong River saw the capture of what is possibly the largest freshwater fish ever landed on rod and line!
Dr. Ian Welch a volunteer angler from the UK whilst fishing with the Fishsiam team in Thailand landed a massive Giant freshwater stingray of world record proportions whilst fishing at the Maeklong River in Samut Songkran.
The gigantic Giant freshwater stingray was not accurately weighed due to the stingray being heavily pregnant and was estimated by scientists at the scene of the capture to weigh between 265-350kg's firmly securing it with a place in the record books as the largest freshwater fish ever landed on rod and line.
The starting point for all Fishsiam Thailand stingray fishing trips at the Maeklong River is the highly picturesque village of Amphawa in Samut Songkran which borders the Maeklong River in its lower reaches close to the Gulf of Thailand.
The town of Samut Songkran dominates the landscape in the lower reaches of the tidal river on one bank and is a thriving and bustling rural town with strong fishing history and ties. The town is a perfect example of a rural Thai fishing town with markets and food vendors on every street corner.
The opposite bank of the Maeklong River is festooned with rustic stilted riverside dwellings ingenuously constructed from locally sourced wood and materials housing a mixture of fish farmers who rear Barramundi in floating pens submerged at the rivers edge and various local fishing families who rely on the river to survive.
Large industrial fishing boats move regularily up and down the lower reaches of the Maeklong River travelling back and forth to fishing grounds out in the nearby Gulf of Thailand before returning with their bulging nets to sell to the local fish markets.
The Maeklong River in its lower reaches is a highly scenic and atmospheric fishing location which is bordered by a myriad of stunning Buddhist temples and is a site of great natural beauty and religious interest. The Maeklong River in its estuarine lower reaches sustains an enormous ecosystem of exotic flora and fauna along its muddy riverbanks in addition to being home to a wide variety of rare and exotic wildlife such as Monitor Lizards, Fish Eagles, snakes, jelly fish and crustaceans.
A trip to Amphawa floating market will reveal a plethora of local products ranging from freshly cut flowers to deep fried insects and freshly caught fish and shellfish which has been caught freshly from the Maeklong River.
Vendors at Amphawa floating market sell their wares from small boats moored up alongside a klong (small canal) adjoining the main Maeklong River.
The Maeklong River in Thailand is home to the largest known population of Giant freshwater stingrays in the world and is certainly the most prolific Giant freshwater stingray fishing grounds ever discovered. The Maeklong River in Thailand is the first site in the world to actively implement Giant freshwater stingray research studies and has been the scene of various International TV productions and documentaries most notably with Dr.Zeb Hogan from National Geographic and Jeremy Wade whilst filming River Monsters for Animal Planet with the Fishsiam team.
The Maeklong River in Thailand is the first official Giant freshwater Stingray research site in the world to deploy ac
oustic receivers at various strategic points of the river to monitor and track Giant freshwater stingray movements throughout the tidal river system.
In previous stingray fishing expeditions at the Maeklong River the Fishsiam team has assisted scientific researchers by catching Giant freshwater stingrays which have then been surgically implanted with acoustic receivers by scientists.
The valuable information retrieved from the tagging and implanting of acoustic receivers in Giant freshwater stingrays will assist the veterinary scientists with the monitoring of the resident Giant stingray population and their movements throughout the great tidal river systems of Thailand.
Fishsiam Ltd is the only Sport fishing outfitter in Thailand or the world that is involved in this highly exciting and ongoing research program concerning Giant freshwater stingrays on the Maeklong River and works closely with Chulalongkorn University veterinary research team in the study of the Giant freshwater stingray in the tidal rivers of Thailand.
When choosing to fish for Giant freshwater stingrays at the Maeklong River in Thailand anglers will have the unique opportunity to assist in the ongoing scientific research of Giant stingrays in Thailand.
Anglers fishing at the Maeklong River for Stingrays are regularily joined by veterinary scientists who will conduct ground breaking scientific research on any stingrays caught before the monster fish are released.
Anglers choosing our Maeklong River stingray fishing trips in search of Giant freshwater stingrays in Thailand will be faced with the ultimate angling challenge of Man vs. Beast.
Fishing for Giant freshwater stingrays in Thailand at the Maeklong River is one of the last frontiers of true freshwater fishing for monster fish in their native environment and will see anglers engaged in epic strength draining battles sometimes lasting several hours in duration.
Industrial strength heavy duty big game fishing tackle is required in the pursuit of the Giant freshwater stingrays with strong 80-120 lb class Okuma stand up rods fitted with roller guides coupled with large two speed multipliers needed to successfully land these River Monsters.
Big 10/0 Owner circle hooks attached to heavy duty flouro leaders with 100lb+ braided mainline completes the set up which is then anchored to the muddy riverbed with custom made 1kg’s weights to hold bottom in the flow.
When choosing to fish at the Maeklong River in Thailand for freshwater stingrays anglers will be assisted by a 4-5 man crew consisting of highly experienced stingray fishing guides and local boatmen.
Anglers will fish for the Giant freshwater stingrays from a main boat (fitted with gimble) which will be accompanied by a further two smaller manned support boats to assist with bait placement and the landing of monster fish.
The Maeklong River in Thailand is the most prolific Giant freshwater stingray fishing area in the world and affords specialist anglers the highest chance of landing a monster Giant freshwater stingray anywhere on Earth.
Stingray fishing in Thailand at the Maeklong River is productive during most months of the year with full moon weeks being particularily prolific, allowing anglers longer tides to fish and the best water conditions in which to target these River Monsters.
Our Giant freshwater stingray packages at the Maeklong River are ideally suited to specialist anglers and sport fishermen with a sense of adventure and a pioneering spirit who wish to test themselves against the world’s ulti
mate freshwater monster fish.
The daily itinerary for our Stingray fishing trips in Thailand at the Maeklong River is listed below.
Anglers wishing to do battle with the awesome Giant freshwater stingray on the Maeklong River at Samut Songkran will be collected from their hotel by a Fishsiam representative and then transported by air-conditioned vehicle to our site at the Maeklong river.
The infamous Area 51 stretch of the Maeklong River at Samut Songkran has yielded numerous massive Giant Freshwater stingray to the rods of Fishsiam with specimens to an estimated 265 kg / 583 lb.
On arrival at our Area 51 site near Samut Songkran anglers will board a 30ft longtail boat equipped with sun awning and life jackets. The angler will then be transported to one of several areas that we have identified as holding Giant freshwater stingray of world record proportions! The angler(s) will be equipped with all necessary equipment which will consist of large two speed multipliers (Shimano TLD) coupled with six 150lb class rods fitted with roller guides.
Heavy braided mainlines connected to ten metre fluorocarbon shockleaders of 150lb are attached to 200lb wire traces or fluorocarbon hooklengths with large 9/0 Owner hooks completing the heavy weight setup.
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Fishing for Giant freshwater stingray on a massive tidal river such as the Maeklong requires specialist guides and an experienced captain.
When a Giant freshwater stingray is captured a high degree of skill and experience is needed to safely secure and release such a specimen without harming the anglers or creature. Three to four guides/anglers are required to successfully land such a potentially dangerous and large capture.
When a Giant Freshwater stingray is brought alongside the boat the potentially lethal tail is immediately secured by one or more of the team carefully wrapping/binding the creature's barb with cloth.
When landing a particularily large specimen the fish will be brought into a waiting net attached to the side of the boat in order to safely transport the fish to the rivers edge.
On arrival at the rivers edge the fish will be given a short period of time to recuperate whilst photography, measurements and other scientific data are recorded. After carefully unbinding the barb the fish is safely and harmlessly released back to the river.
Fishing on the Maeklong River is timed to coincide with lunar phases and information gleaned from tidal charts concerning tidal movements affording the angler the best opportunity to do battle with the largest freshwater fish on the planet!
All angling expeditions to the Maeklong River entail fishing from our on site boat throughout the day exploring various areas we have identified as holding large Giant Freshwater stingray.
Anglers visiting the Maeklong River near Samut Songkran will be
surrounded by some breathtaking scenery and treated with a multitude of wildlife whilst fishing this mighty tidal river. Whilst fishing the Maeklong River the angler(s) will be treated to never ending sunsets and a multitude of sacred temples which adorn its banks.
With the considerable distance from Bangkok that this area is located and the elusive and nomadic nature of this mighty predator it is advised that anglers spend a few days or even a week in search of this mighty species.
Fishsiam offers riverside accommodation in the form of teak bungalows situated on the riverside for the angler(s) wishing to seriously target this ultimate predatory species. Fishsiam also offers daily trips in search of Giant freshwater stingray with the angler(s) being collected from the Bangkok hotel of their choice by air-conditioned vehicle. The duration of our daily trips to the Maeklong River is ten hours excluding traveling times.
Fishing on the Maeklong River can also be combined in our tailor made packages which are designed to meet the specific requirements of the visiting specialist angler.
Watch a video about Giant freshwater stingray fishing at the Maeklong River in Thailand.
