Fishing for Freshwater stingray with National Geographic Thailand – 20 01 2009
After the previous days stingray fishing at the Maeklong River being an astounding success the chance of catching more Giant freshwater stingray seemed highly likely.
With Dr.Zeb Hogan and the Infocus Asia production team in attendance the Fishsiam team once again were soon fishing their baits in the central reaches of the river and waited for action.
After a quiet two hour period the clutch on one of the reels began to click as line began to evaporate from the reel.
On setting the hook the fish proceeded to clamp onto the bottom with an unmovable force causing the rod to be wrenched down towards the river.
After applying maximum pressure the fish was felt to come off the bottom sending the rod springing backwards.
Furious winding of the reel saw the anglers regain contact with the Giant freshwater stingray before it once again clamped onto the bottom.
A further twenty minutes passed with the 100lb class rod taking up its full parabolic curve before the fish was finally brought up from the depths.
After carefully securing the fish’s tail the fish was brought to the riverside for an examination by Dr.Zeb Hogan.
The stingray was identified as being a small male and was found to weigh 40kg’s with a width of 1m.
After numbering the stingray and recording other scientific data the Giant freshwater stingray was released back into the river.
Some two hours later saw the Fishsiam team once again battling yet another Giant freshwater stingray.
The battle on this occasion was a much more protracted affair and lasted two hours.
The unseen Monster Fish was clearly a large specimen which towed the 30ft fishing boat around in circles.
After tying two smaller boats to the side of the fishing boat things became a lot more stable.
Continued pressure on the fish saw it moved from the bottom on several occasions only for it to bury itself into the muddy substrate moments later.
With the invading tide now at full flow the battle became a grueling two hour stand off with the anglers gaining line only for it to be removed by the fish seconds later!
Finally after an exhausting two and half hours the # 4/0 tuna hook snapped at the shank.
The hook unfortunately was not an Owner Circle hook as normally used by the team and had failed in the crucial final stages of the battle!
