Thai Freshwater Stingray fishing – 08 10 2011
UK Fly fisherman Eric after spending an eventful few days fishing at various venues throughout Thailand decided to finish his Thailand fishing holiday with a trip to the Maeklong River stingray fishing.
On arrival at the tidal river Eric quickly got in position on the famous Area 51 stretch of the Maeklong River in readiness for the incoming tide.
After positioning a series of large livebaits at various points across the river the angler waited patiently for action to commence.
It was not long before one of the baits was picked up by an unseen river monster putting a healthy bend in the Okuma 80lb class stand up rod.
Steady pressure applied directly from above the stingray soon had the fish in mid water where it gracefully glided deep beneath the fishing boat.
After several more powerful dives back to the bottom and almost forty five minutes later the freshwater stingray was brought alongside the fishing boat and scooped into the custom built net.
The guides quickly bound the stingray’s barb with cloth before the stingray was brought to the bankside for inspection.
The Giant freshwater stingray was observed to have a width of 1.45 metres and was estimated to weigh 90kg’s.
After releasing the large male freshwater stingray the angler was quickly back in position and soon into another stingray.
The freshwater stingray on this occasion was brought up slightly easier, totally overpowered by the heavy duty Okuma rod and reel.
The Giant freshwater stingray was estimated to weigh 60kg’s and was released after photography.
Not long after another bait was picked up requiring the angler to once again don the fighting harness.
The Giant freshwater stingray on this occasion was slightly larger and was brought up after a short but spirited ten minute battle.
The Giant freshwater stingray on this occasion was estimated to weigh approximately 80kg’s and was released after photography.
With the tide starting to recede Eric managed one more stingray bite which produced another fish of a slightly larger size estimated to weigh 80kg’s.
After a few hours the angler was once again back in position waiting for the next tidal influx.
As the tide once again reached its highest point one of the baits was once again grabbed by a much larger freshwater stingray.
The battle on this occasion lasted much longer and saw the unseen Giant freshwater stingray moving powerfully upriver and dragging the boat some distance, this was real stingray fishing.
Eric battled the stingray for a considerable time with the unseen Giant freshwater stingray clamping onto the riverbed and several occasions requiring the angler to use all his strength to pull the stingray from the muddy riverbed.
After a battle lasting almost one hour the Giant freshwater stingray was finally brought up alongside the boat where it was expertly netted by the fishing guides.
The Giant freshwater stingray had an immense wingspan of 1.89 metres and was easily identified as being a large female.
The monster Giant freshwater stingray was carefully transported to the riverside where it was allowed a short period for recovery and photography.
The Giant freshwater stingray was estimated to weigh in the region of 200kg’s and was released back into the river shortly after.
With only half an hour left of the relatively brief tidal influx Eric being a glutton for punishment decided to fish for the last thirty minutes.
Minutes later Eric was once again attached to another r Giant freshwater stingray which he proceeded to haul up from the depths in an uneventful five minute battle.
The Giant freshwater stingray was estimated to weigh 10kg’s and signalled an end to the days highly productive freshwater stingray fishing extravaganza.
Eric’s day stingray fishing at the Maeklong River was the most productive days fishing for Giant freshwater stingrays by a Fishsiam client in terms of numbers of fish landed made all the more memorable by the capture of one of the rivers larger female monster fish.
