Freshwater fish species in Thailand
Our species page includes a wide selection of freshwater fish species both native and imported, which can be caught whilst fishing in Thailand with Fishsiam.
Varying from giant monster fish to smaller lesser known species, all of the fish below can be caught in Thai lakes, dams and rivers when fishing with our guides.
Alligator Gar
The Alligator Gar is a freshwater predator fish species which is indigenous to the USA and has been widely imported to Thailand. The prehistoric Alligator Gar has reached weights of 100kg’s and is an aggressive predator.
Arapaima
The Arapaima Gigas is the largest scaled freshwater fish in the world and is indigenous to the Amazon basin.The Arapaima has been introduced to fishing lakes in Thailand where it has reached world record proportions.
Arowana
The Asian Arowana in Thailand is a freshwater predatory fish which is capable of amazing bursts of acceleration enabling it to snatch prey from overhanging trees.
Atlantic Tarpon
The Atlantic Tarpon is one of the worlds most sought after saltwater game fish which has attained gigantic weights in the excess of 160kg’s. Atlantic Tarpon have now been introduced to fishing lakes in Thailand.
Barb, Bony Lipped
The Bony Lipped Barb is a native freshwater carp species found in Thailand and throughout South East Asia and inhabits streams and rivers
Barb, Golden Belly
The Golden Belly Barb is a native freshwater carp species which is indigenous to Thailand occurring in the Mekong River, Chao Phraya River and Maeklong Rivers and their tributaries.
Barb, Hampala
The Hampala Barb or Jungle Perch is a predatory member of the Cyprinidae (carps) family found in various parts of South East Asia. This Thai carp species is found in the Mekong and Chaophraya basins in Thailand in addition to the Malay Peninsula and Indon.
Barb, Java
The Java Barb is native carp species to Thailand and several other Asian countries and is one of Thailand’s smaller and lesser known freshwater fish species.
Barb, mad
The Mad Barb or Hoven’s Carp is a beautiful Asian carp species found in Thailand,Malaysia and Borneo which is also refered to as the Mad Carp or Cigar Shark.
Barb, red tailed tinfoil
The Red-Tailed Tinfoil Barb is one of Thailand’s smaller carp species which inhabits rivers throughout the Chaophraya and Mekong River Basins.
Barb, smiths
The Smiths Barb is one of several Barb species native to Thailand which are found in streams, rivers and inland reservoirs such as Srinakrin Dam in Kanchanburi
Barb, soldier river
The Soldier River Barb is another beautiful Thailand carp or Barb species which is widely distributed throughout South East Asia and Thailand’s Mekong Basin and surrounding areas.
Barramundi
The Barramundi is imported to Thailand is a highly prized freshwater sport fish popular with anglers across the world which is well known for its hard fighting qualities and aerial and acrobatic displays and is capable of reaching weights upto 37kg+.
Bass, Peacock
The South American Peacock Bass is highly prized by sport fishermen around the world and has been imported into several fishing lakes and ponds throughout Thailand.
Boeseman Croaker
The Boeseman Croaker is a member of the Perciformes family of fishes and is found in the Mekong River, Ban Pakong River and various other river systems of Thailand
Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
The Bull Shark is a member of the Carcharhinidae family of fishes which include Tiger Shark and Black tipped Reef sharks.
Bull sharks are widely distributed across the globe from the Americas, Asia and Africa.
This aggressive shark species favours warm shallow waters down to depths of 150m, but is commonly found at depths of 30m. This highly developed shark species has the ability to thrive in both saltwater or fresh/brackish water through a process called osmoregulation and can be found in coastal waters in addition to tidal rivers. Bull sharks can be found in various tidal riverside in Thailand such as the Maeklong or Bang Pakong.
Carp, Bighead
The Bighead carp has Chinese origins and is also widespread throughout Asia, including Thailand and reaching as far afield as Europe and even the USA.
Carp, Black Shark Minnow
The Black Sharkminnow Carp or Black Shark is an Asian Carp species which is native to Thailand which feeds on plankton and algae in the rivers and reservoirs of Thailand
Carp, catla
The Catla Carp is a member of the Cyprinidae (carp) family which is indigenous to Northern India. This rarely encountered carp species is present in various waters throughout Thailand reaching weights to 45kg’s.
Carp, Common
The Common Carp is a large carp species which is found throughout the world and has been stocked into various freshwater lakes and ponds throughout Thailand
Carp, Giant Siamese
The Giant Siamese Carp or Giant Barb is found in the lakes and river systems of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Southern Vietnam and is the largest carp species in the world reaching weights exceeding 100kg’s
Carp, Julliens Golden Price
The stunning Julliens Golden Price Carp is one of the rarest of Thailand’s monster carp species reaching weights approaching 70kg’s and a highly sought after prize by anglers visiting Thailand.
Carp, Koi
The Koi Carp is a beautiful ornamental species of carp which is present in several freshwater fishing lakes and ponds throughout Thailand
Carp, Silver
The Silver Carp is native to the lowland rivers and lakes of China, but has been stocked in various fisheries in Thailand
Carp, Yellow Cheek
The Yellow Cheek Carp is a cyprinid species (carp species)with a range which extends throughout Asia from the Amur River in Russia through China and the Lam River in Vietnam
Catfish, Albino Striped
The Striped Albino Catfish is a highly distinctive member of the pangasiidae family of Thailand catfishes which is clearly distinguishable by its brilliant white colouration.
Catfish, Asian Redtail
The Asian Redtail catfish is a highly aggressive and predatory monster freshwater fish which is native to the wild freshwater rivers of Thailand and is capable of reaching weights upto 80kg’s.
Catfish, Black Ear
The Black Ear Catfish is a rarely seen freshwater predatory monster fish which is native to some of the larger rivers of Thailand
Catfish, Chaophraya
The Chaophraya Catfish, also known as the ‘Dog eating Catfish’, is a predatory megafish native to the Chaophraya and Mekong basins in Thailand where it has attained gigantic weights to almost 100kg’s.
Catfish, Crystal Eyed
The Crystal Eyed Catfish is another of Thailands lesser known freshwater predators which keenly seeks out unsuspecting prey with its sensory whiskers.
Catfish, Firewood
The Firewood Catfish is another recent arrival to the Thailand fishing scene from the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America
Catfish, Giant Sea
The Giant Sea Catfish is another member of the Ariidae (Sea catfish) family of fishes which inhabits marine waters and brackish estuaries of Thailand’s various river systems.
Catfish, Goonch
The awesome Goonch Catfish in Thailand is one of Thailand’s most sought after and fearsome predatory catfish feeding on a varied diet of small fish, insects and other aquatic creatures in the rivers of Thailand.
Catfish, Marbled
The Marbled Catfish is a species of whiskered catfish from South America which has recently been introduced to the fishing lakes and ponds of Thailand
Catfish, Giant Mekong
The Giant Mekong Catfish in Thailand is a contender for the world’s largest freshwater fish and has been caught at incredible weights to 293kg’s in the wild. Although endangered in its wild habitat, this species is widely stocked into fishing lakes in Thailand.
Catfish, Niger Ripsaw
The awesome Niger ‘Ripsaw’ Catfish is an imported armoured catfish species from South America which has reached world record weights in the fishing lakes of Thailand.
Catfish, Pirariba
The awesome Pirariba Catfish or Goliath Catfish from the Amazon and Orinoco basins another Amazon monster catfish recently introduced to Thailand’s commercial fishing scene.
Catfish, Redtail
The Redtail Catfish is a member of the Pimelodidae (whiskered catfish) family and is found throughout the Amazon Basin. The Redtail Catfish is presnt in various freshwater fisheries in Thailand reaching world record weights approaching 50kg’s
Catfish, Salween Rita
The Salween Rita Catfish is a rarely seen Thailand catfish species which can reportedly reach lengths of almost two meters and is found in various parts of South East Asia including the Mekong basin in Thailand.
Catfish, Sharptooth
The Sharptooth Catfish is a freshwater predator found throughout the African continent and has been widely exported to Thailand. The Sharptooth Catfish is an aggressive and ravenous predator which feeds on a diet of both live and dead fishes.
Catfish, Striped
The muscular Striped Catfish is member of the Pangasiidae (shark catfishes) family of fish and is a native species to Thailand in the Mekong and Chaophraya basins
Catfish, Suckermouth
The Suckermouth Catfish is a member of the Loricariidae (Armored catfishes) family of fish found in South America and is present in various freshwater environments in Thailand.
Catfish, Thai Shark
The Thai Shark Catfish is a native species of Thailand catfish which is found throughout the Mekong basin and Chaophraya basins in Thailand in addition to being present in Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay peninsula.
Catfish, Thick spined
The Thick Spined Catfish in Thailand can be found in both brackish and marine environments which is armed with sharp spines to ward off predators.
Catfish, Truncated Estuarine
The Truncated Estuarine Catfish is a member of the Ariidae family of fishes (Sea Catfish)and is found in the marine and brackish environments of Thailand’s tidal river systems.
Catfish, Vulture
The predatory and scavenging Vulture Catfish from the South American regions of the Amazon and Orinoco basins and has been imported to Thailand’s fishing lakes and ponds.
Catfish, Vundu
The Vundu Catfish from Africa is an airbreathing catfish species which can attain weights in the excess of 55 kg’s which has recently been introduced into the fishing lakes of Thailand.
Featherback, Grey
The Grey Featherback is a streamlined freshwater predator which is native to Thailand and its surrounding countries which preys on small fish and other aquatic prey.
Featherback, Indochina Blancs Striped
The Indochina Featherback or Blancs Striped Featherback is a predatory member of the Knifefish family of fishes and is widely distributed throughout Thailand.
Featherback, Spotted Clown
The Spotted Featherback or Clown Featherback is a voracious freshwater predator found in various freshwater environments throughout Thailand.
Fire Eel
The Fire Eel is a predatory fish species which is native to Thailand which is found in various rivers and streams throughout Thailand.
Golden Dorado
The Golden Dorado is a native freshwater game fish from South America which is popular with fly and lure fishing enthusiasts which has recently been imported into the commercial fishing lakes and ponds of Thailand.
Goliath Tiger Fish
The Goliath Tiger fish is a fearsome looking predatory monster fish from the Congo River system and Lake Tanganyika in Africa which has now been stocked into the commercial fishing lakes of Thailand.
Gourami, Giant
The Giant Gourami is an extremely beautiful and ornamental fish found throughout South East Asia and is found in Malaysia, Indonesia, Indo-china and Thailand.
Gourami, Kissing
The Kissing Gourami is a curious looking freshwater species found in Thailand which is easily distinguishable by it its strange pouting lips.
Mahseer, Blue
The elusive and wily Blue Mahseer one of Thailand’s most sought after Mahseer species which resides in jungle streams and rivers
Mahseer, Thai
The awesome Thai Mahseer is one of Thailand’s most sought after Mahseer species by both fly fishermen and lure fishing fans.
Mangrove Jack
The Mangrove Jack or Sea Perch is a marine fish which is also found in brackish water and freshwater enviroments which has been successfully introduced in Thailand
Marbled Sand Goby
The Marbled Sand Goby is the largest gobioid fish and although a relatively small fish by Thailand’s standards has a fearsome predatory appearance.
Mrigal
The Mrigal or Small Scale Mud Carp is a native carp species to the Indian subcontinent and has been widely exported to neighbouring countries in Asia including the fishing lakes and ponds of Thailand.
Nandid Perch
The Nandid Perch or Malaysian Leaffish is one of the smaller Thailand freshwater fish species to be found in Thailand which is also known as the Malaysian Leaf fish
Nile Tilapia
The Nile Tilapia is a member of the Perciformes (perch-like fishes) order of fish originating from the African subcontinent in Rwanda and Uganda which has been extensively farmed in Thailand in aquaculture and stocked into fisheries.
Pacu
The Red bellied Pacu in Thailand is a close relative of the Piranha group of fishes found in South America and is a member of the Characiformes (characins) family of fish feeding on a varied diet from fruits to small fish.
Payara
The hard fighting game fish the Payara known as the Vampire fish from the Amazon and Orinoco Basins in South America.
Picuda Dorado
The Picuda is a South American freshwater fish species which has recently been imported to Thailand and stocked into some of Thailand’s commercial fishing lakes and ponds. The Picuda Dorado is a popular sports fish in its native range of Columbia.
Rohu
The Rohu is a member of the Cypriniformes (carps) family of fishes and is widely distributed throughout Asia in Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh in addition to Thailand. The Rohu is an Asian carp species that feeds on various insects, crustaceans, plant and vegetable debris in the wild freshwater rivers and lakes that it inhabits in Asia.
Small Scale Archer fish
The Smallscale Archerfish or Toxotes microlepis is another curious Thai fish species which is well distributed throughout the Chaophraya and Mekong river basins which moves between marine and freshwater throughout its lifetime.
Snakehead, Blotched
The Blotched Snakehead is one of the smaller Snakehead species found in Thailand and is a ferocious predator feeding on various types of aquatic prey
Snakehead, Cobra
The Cobra Snakehead is another less regularly seen Thailand Snakehead species which predates on small fish and other aquatic creatures in Khao Laem Dam and other dams,reservoirs and fishing lakes throughout Thailand
Snakehead, Emporer
The highly prized and much sought after Emperor Snakehead, a serpent-like predatory freshwater Thailand species which feeds on small fish frogs and various other aquatic creatures in Southern Thailand
Snakehead, Giant
The Giant Snakehead is a voracious predatory monster fish species which is native to Thailand and Southern Asia. The highly aggressive and menacing Giant Snakehead reaches weights upto 10kg’s and is an ambush hunter preying on various small fishes.
Snakehead, Splendid
The Splendid Snakehead is a Thailand predatory fish species which is distributed through East Asia and is found in several of Thailand’s reservoirs and fishing lakes
Snakehead, Striped
The Striped Snakehead (or Banded Snakehead) is a freshwater predator which is found throughout Southern Asia and Thailand. The Striped Snakehead is an aggressive predator which feeds on all manner of small fishes reaching weights to 4kg’s
Sorubim, Barred
The Barred Sorubim or ‘Tiger Catfish’ is an aggressive predatory fish found throughout the Amazon basin and South America and has been stocked into fishing lakes and ponds in Thailand.
Sorubim, Spotted
The predatory Spotted Sorubim is a whiskered shovel-nosed catfish found throughout the Amazon basin and South America which is capable of reaching weights in excess of 50kg’s and has been stocked into various fisheries in Thailand.
Spottail Needlefish
The Spottail Needlefish is a small carnivorous fish species which inhabits marine and brackish environments in many if Thailand’s tidal rivers.
Spotted Green Goby
The Spotted Green Goby is a small and ornate Thailand fish species widely distributed in rivers throughout the Mekong Delta and Chaophraya basins.
Spotted Scat
The Spotted Scat is a small fish species in Thailand which is found in various tidal rivers and estuaries which should be handled with care due to spines covered in venom which can cause dizziness and pain.
Stingray, Cowtail
The Cowtail Stingray is a Stingray species found in Thailand in both brackish and marine waters which favours estuarine environments preying on various freshwater and marine prey fishes
Stingray, Giant Freshwater
The Giant Freshwater Stingray in Thailand is the largest freshwater fish on the planet reaching weights approaching 1000 lbs.The Giant freshwater stingray inhabits some of the wildest waters on earth including the Mekong, Maeklong and Bang Pakong Rivers.
Stingray, Whiptail
The Whiptail Stingray or Bleeker’s Whipray is a Thailand marine stingray species which is found in the Gulf of Thailand and the brackish estuarine environments of various rivers in Thailand.
Stingray, White edged freshwater
The White Edged freshwater stingray is one of Thailand’s lesser known and rarest freshwater stingray species and is found in various rivers and canals throughout Thailand.
Tambaqui
The Tambaqui is an imported South American species which displays vibrant green colouration and large human-like teeth which is found in several fishing lakes throughout Thailand.
Wallago Leerii
The predatory Wallago Leerii is a Thai catfish in the family of Sheath Fish which is native to Thailand and Southern Asia.
Wallagu Attu
The Wallagu Attu is a member of the predatory sheathfishes family of freshwater fish which is widely distributed throughout South East Asia and can be found in various rivers and lakes throughout Thailand.
Wels Catfish
The predatory Wels Catfish from Europe has recently been introduced into some fishing lakes and ponds in Thailand.
Yellow Catfish
The Yellow Catfish is a native Thailand freshwater fish species which inhabits both fast flowing rivers and natural reservoirs attaining weights to 3.4kg’s.
Zig Zag Eel
The Zig Zag Eel or Fire Eel is a nocturnal predatory species which feeds on benthic insects, worms and larvae in small streams and forest rivers throughout Thailand.
