Giant freshwater stingray fishing Ban Pakong River in Thailand – 04 03 2009
The final day of filming with Hirosumi Yamaguchi from NHK Japan saw the Fishsiam team once again fishing on the banks of the Ban Pakong River in Thailand.
After positioning baits a various points along the main channel the anglers readied themselves for more action.
With the river in full flood a procession of floating rafts of weed constantly fouled the anglers mainlines.
Regular repositioning of the rods allowed the anglers to constantly keep baits fishing effectively.
Several aborted takes heralded the arrival of the stingrays resulting in baits being retrieved that had been cut clean in half!
The anglers continued fishing well into the afternoon before managing to finally hook into a fish.
A tentative take saw the anglers winding down into an unseen predator some fifteen metres below.
The Giant freshwater stingray responded by instantly clamping onto the bottom creating an unmovable weight.
Constant pressure was applied bending the rod into its full parabolic fighting curve and quickly bringing the fish into mid water.
Several powerful lunges were absorbed by the rod before the Giant freshwater stingray was finally brought alongside the boat.
After carefully transporting the stingray to the riverside it was examined by Dr.Zeb Hogan and Thai veterinary scientists.
The Giant freshwater stingray was observed to be a small male and was estimated to weigh 35-40kg’s.
All events at the Bang Pakong river were captured on film by Hirosumi Yamaguchi for a forthcoming NHK TV production
