This page is devoted to a roundup of the weekly news
from Phuket and Chalong pier.

Week No. 22

Offshore:

Anglers who regularly visit Phuket will no doubt be familiar with the onset of
our SW monsoon season. Fishing generally slows down during the changeover period
and livens up again when the South Westerlies are in full swing.

This year was no exception and apart from some very impressive Skipjack Tuna,
a few lure-munching Barracuda and the odd Wahoo, fishing results
over the last month have been spasmodic to say the least.
One or two of the local fleet did manage to make contact with some cruising GT’s,
giving the anglers a brief but exhilarating round of popper-casting action.

Further offshore a couple of boats enjoyed some fair action
including one trip from Ranong to Phuket. Thai Fishing Guide’s Michael
was on board a new addition to the Phuket fleet, delivering the vessel to Chalong Bay.
He took the opportunity to test some new Shimano equipment en route.
Michael was delighted to be rewarded with a couple of worthy opponents
when a double hook up of Sailfish made his day. The Shimano Tiagra game rods
– married with Tiagra 30’s – made short work of the 35+kg beauties
and certainly added some spice to what would have been a fairly mundane task.
He came very close to another exciting episode when a Black Marlin
showed interest in a medium jet-head pulled on the short corner.
Alas, after following the offering for a brief spell, the billfish lost interest
and no hook-up followed.

One top-ender gameboat did manage a hook up with a Marlin
when fishing the seamount 15-miles off the Similan Islands.
The fight lasted only a short while before a premature release
disappointed the angler but delighted the fish.

Catch-of-the-month must go to a local longtail boat skipper
who hooked, fought AND BOATED a 179-kg Hammerhead Shark.
The fight lasted well over 6-hours before the brute came to boatside.
Sadly, the great fish was killed but we are assured that it was eaten
– and enjoyed by the entire population of the fisherman’s village.
Unfortunately, only a couple of photographs were taken of the capture
and I can assure you – they are unpublishable!

Freshwater Fishing:

Thai Fishing Guide’s guided trips to Bangkok’s Bungsam Lan Lake
are continuing to thrill and astonish anglers from all over the world.
Tangling with those muscle-busting Giant fish is not for the faint hearted
or anyone lacking in stamina. Literally every trip results in a ridiculous quantity
of huge catfish and a great chance of encountering
some of the lake’s other giant opponents.

On a recent trip, a single angler started his day at 09.30am
and by 1.30pm he was exhausted from bringing in fish.
He remarked that he was positively shocked by the consistency of bites
and staggered by the power of the lake’s infamous catfish.

On a more recent trip, Thai Fishing Guide’s Meik was asked to test
the new Shimano Exage, multi-piece traveling spinning rod.
At first he was reluctant – due to the size and strength of the lake’s formidable inhabitants
– but he gave it a try. He fished a small “bait bomb”, ledgered on the bottom
– thinking that maybe a Pacu or possibly a carp would accept his offering.
No such luck! Meik’s bait was on the bottom for less than a minute
when it was grabbed by – you guessed it – a giant Mekong Catfish.
Meik’s heart sunk as the creature took off like a missile and homed in on the uprights of the jetty.
It took all our guide’s skills to eventually steer the determined fish away from the obstacle
and after a 30-minute battle, bring the 40-lb bruiser safely to the net.
Meik was astonished by the performance of the rod
and has added one to his private collection.

At the risk of sounding immodest – or possibly downright conceited
– I would like to mention the results of a little experiment that we conducted
over the last 3-trips to this amazing lake. Maybe it can be put down
to TFG’s “magic” formula bait additive or possibly it’s because
we now know the most productive spots on the lake.
It may even be pure coincidence (no such a thing say eminent psychologists)
but our guests have out-fished every other angler on the lake
during our last 3-visits – by miles!!!

Par Lai Lake – Phuket:

Since some much-needed rain took the water level up to the brim, the lake
has been fishing exceptionally well. As with every fishing venue in the world,
Par Lai Lake can have its off days when the fish simply don’t oblige
– but thankfully, such days are few and far between. On a recent trip,
one angler managed to go virtually “through-the-card” with 2-Striped Catfish,
2-Snakeheads, several Pacu, a couple of Tarpon and a whole bunch of Tilapia.
The lake is a great “rainy season” alternative to offshore saltwater trips.
The unique setting is respected and admired by virtually every angler
and on “Golden Days” the action can be practically non-stop.

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