Fishing in Thailand – November 2020
Another month and more monster Siamese carp!
Peter 
Mark 
Peter 
Andy – see video
Welcome
Another month has rolled by and we have welcomed more new faces making the most of the quieter period here in paradise. Regular customers have returned, and more personal bests have been broken as we experience sunny days coupled with a cool breeze. Developments are in full swing and our building team have been kept busy working alongside contractors. We have seized this opportunity and invested to further develop the Jurassic to the next level, offering a truly special experience. This short note is to inform our valuable customers that Jurassic has now changed hands. This being said, we would like to confirm the high level of customer service, excellent fishing, and accommodation our guests expect will remain the same if not be surpassed. We are can also ensure the existing staff are staying, with Tom remaining as the Fishery Manager. One of the three co-founders Jules will remain in a consultancy role to ensure that improvements are being made around the resort to improve the whole holiday experience. Sadly the only change is Eddy; after many years at the height of the fishing industry, he has decided to take some time out with his family. This being said, we wish him all the best, as I’m sure you do.Finally, we are delighted to announce a new addition to the team. Mrs.Jo Bowler has kindly agreed to handle all bookings for the resort.
Maximize your angling time
Peter has been coming to Jurassic for years and has come to learn the importance of different methods at different times of the day. He had been looking forward to escaping the city ahead of this trip but was rather apprehensive after a recent golfing trip had resulted in elbow strain. The thought of cancelling the two days session was not even a consideration but I did suggest he sold his clubs! Would his arm hold up whilst playing fish?… Well, there was only one way to find out. The first day saw him set up in Blind Man’s Bluff as he split the rods between carp and predators. It turned out to be a quiet day across the lake on the bottom and it was not until the afternoon before the action unfolded landing a few Amazon redtail and Siamese carp before sunset. Bearing this in mind and being his last day, Peter wanted to maximise his chances, so he utilised 3 rods in total; 1 carp, 1 predator and a roving float rod. This allowed him to really work “The Point” for a variety of species whilst covering different depths. An epic final day saw him on his feet putting the tendonitis to the test landing 19 fish split between 4 species; 5 Indian carp, 6 Amazon redtails, 2 arapaima to 220lb and 5 Siamese carp to 130lb being the highlight for him. If Carlsberg did physio…
Back on the bank
Mark had not been fishing for a few months, taking the time to explore Hua Hin with his wife. However, upon hearing of Peter heading over from Bangkok and the urge to get back on the bank building up, he booked a 2-day trip to coincide and have a catch up. They fished the same swims on opposite days which saw mark make a start in Blind Man’s Bluff, an area of the lake that is usually selected by predator anglers due to the large water hyacinth beds. The swim is often overlooked and disregarded for carp fishing, but Mark recalled that it had been kind to him in the past and already produced him a giant Siamese carp. Keeping things super simple was the plan of attack using big baits and plenty of it. Double 20mm Jurassic classic boilie tipped with fake corn was the choice on both rods fished no more than 3 rod lengths from the bank. He took the time to prepare 2kg of crumbed boilie and combined these with 12mm pellet and left the mix to soak in Tuna extract glug. Such a pungent aroma of different particle sizes was loaded into double P.V.A. bags and sealed ready for recasts. This proved too much to resist accounting for 13 fish in total and proving that swim 16 certainly should be considered when it comes to catching monster Siamese carp.
Peter makes amends
Peter had recently purchased a new set of rods and reels and he was keen to see how they performed. With the draw in his favour and hopes of targeting the Siamese carp, swim 6 was his first choice. He took the time to perfect a mixture of rice bran meal, coconut milk, and breadcrumb. The mix was packed full of flavour, exploded upon impact, and clouded up the water column. A bed of ground bait was established by repeat casts at regular intervals to the same spot. A light feeder was twinned with a short hook link and a neutrally buoyant hook bait to mimic the free offerings. Mid-morning saw the water erupt as Peter set the hook into something special. He adjusted the clutch accordingly as his new rod absorbed the heavy lunges. After no less than 15 minutes he got his first glimpse of the fish and his heart skipped a beat as he recognized it being one of paler giant Siamese carp in excess of 130lb. He applied steady pressure as the carp started to tire, nearing the surface. Taking a gulp of air signalled to him that it was nearly beat. It rolled once more a few inches from the net revealing an extremely light hook hold. Before he could react, the hook pulled, and the feeder went flying over his shoulder as the specimen slipped beneath the surface. A selection of swear words ensued which was amusing in itself coming from such a humble guy. So close yet so far away… gutted was an understatement! He was left reminiscent of what could have been for the remainder of the day. Approaching 6 pm and despite landing several fish, he was still haunted by the ordeal. Suddenly, a screaming Siren alarm broke his train of thought. Another big bow wave emerged and both he and the gillie exchanged glances. A mutual nod in agreement that he had indeed hooked into another giant with just minutes remaining. The mosquitos had descended but both the gillie and Peter knew that there was no room for error. Peter took no chances as he waited for the fish to present itself on the surface. With the fish safely in the net just before dusk, he had made amends from the morning and his tackle had passed the test.
At long last for Andy
Andy has been coming to Jurassic for a while now and he has enjoyed each trip serving as an escape from the city and the busy hustle and bustle of Bangkok. For Andy and his friend Michael, a trip to Jurassic signals more than just fishing and despite being just a few hours away, Jurassic is a complete contrast that provides a relaxing atmosphere surrounded by flora and fauna. The peace and tranquillity is a world away from city life and is one of the reasons why they keep coming back. The other reason is the thought of landing a three-figure Siamese carp. Andy has witnessed giant Siamese carp landed by fellow anglers on multiple occasions and despite sharing their buzz and being genuinely pleased for them, it has often led to him questioning his approach and he has found himself cutting and changing between techniques. He is a competent angler indeed and has landed several carp each trip, but the giants have always managed to elude him. This session started in Sam’s Sala and he was armed with the Tuna and mackerel oil, a product that has proven itself time and time again and he had full confidence in it. 2 solid bags packed with oil went onto the harder areas and to his surprise, one of the rods ripped off within the first hour. The rod arched over and stayed there and he knew that this was his chance. It was what he had waited for! A slow and powerful fish that stayed deep for most of the fight before rising up the slope at last and we got our first glimpse of it. Nerves kicked in as the line pinged off the peck fins and he feared the worst. Wallowing in the upper layers, Andy slowly guided the fish to the net and let out a huge sigh of relief as the gillie raised the cord. All the ups and downs over the previous trips had been frustrating at times but his efforts had not been in vain and he had restored confidence in his approach.
Other newsworthy captures
Phil – arapaima – see video 
Graham – Asian redtail 
Dadthai – alligator gar 
Michael – Indian carp 
John – Amazon redtail 
Tom – Siamese carp
Philip popped in around midday to pick up a few bits from the tackle shop and bite to eat. Sat overlooking the lake with a cheeseburger as the action unfolded, he couldn’t help but notice that Lazy Man’s was vacant. With a few arapaima rolling along the hyacinths, temptation got the better of him..
Philip popped in around midday to pick up a few bits from the tackle shop and bite to eat. Sat overlooking the lake with a cheeseburger as the action unfolded, he couldn’t help but notice that Lazy Man’s was vacant. With a few arapaima rolling alongside the hyacinths, temptation got the better of him… It wasn’t long before he was booked on and clipped up just inches off them. In under an hour, he was stripped down to his boxers, face to face with his biggest ever arapaima as part of 3 fish landed in the afternoon.
The redtail species have continued to put in an appearance, in particular, this native Asian redtail succumb to a single chicken heart fished tight to the bank from Lover’s Retreat. They breed happily in the lake and can attain weights in excess of 100lb. Speaking of redtails, John has been making the most of this quieter period. To say he lives within casting distance isn’t far-fetched as he resides just around the corner. He enjoyed a great day’s sport in Jamboree consisting of several marginal battles with the Amazon redtail and there were some real chunks among them.
Michael started his first day of 3 in The Point and fished one rod with pellet and boilie and the other on the feeder. The morning period was quite slow before he opened the account with this Indian carp.
Tom and Tania were looking to try something different so they did their research online and read plenty of reviews before booking. Seeing more of the Jurassic media they had started to get excited at the thought of a new experience. After enjoying a lie in and breakfast overlooking the lake, the fishery team pointed them in the right direction. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned angler, our staff are on hand to assist you in your angling much to Tom’s delight as he displayed his first fish for the camera.
. It wasn’t long before he was booked on and clipped up just inches off them. In under an hour he was stripped down to his boxers, face to face with his biggest ever arapaima as part of 3 fish landed in the afternoon.
The redtail species have continued to put in an appearance, in particular this native Asian redtail succumb to a single chicken heart fished tight to the bank from Lover’s Retreat. They breed happily in the lake and can attain weights in excess of 100lb. Speaking of redtails, John has been making the most of this quieter period. To say he lives within casting distance isn’t far-fetched as he resides just around the corner. He enjoyed a great day’s sport in Jamboree consisting of several marginal battles with the Amazon redtail and there was some real chunks among them.
Michael started his first day of 3 in The Point and fished one rod with pellet and boilie and the other on the feeder. The morning period was quite slow before he opened the account with this Indian carp.
Tom and Tania were looking to try something different so they did their research online and read plenty of reviews before booking. Seeing more of the Jurassic media they had started to get excited at the thought of a new experience. After enjoying a lie in and breakfast overlooking the lake, the fishery team pointed them in the right direction. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned angler, our staff are on hand to assist you in your angling much to Tom’s delight as he displayed his first fish for camera.
Take a boat trip to see the whales
Bryde’s whale feeding 
The Bryde’s whale 
Whale watching
Mention whale watching in Thailand and you may get funny looks. Not widely known, the Gulf of Thailand is indeed home to whales, specifically Bryde’s (pronounced ‘bruda’) Whales. These majestic 15-meter long creatures live in the waters off Samut Songkhram and Phetchaburi provinces year-round, but they flock to the northern gulf to feed on an abundance of anchovies during the rainy season. Wild Encounters Thailand tours usually operate eight months a year while ChomWhales runs their touring season from October to early December. The best months to see the whales are from September to November as the waters are most calm during that time. Tours costs from 1,800 baht to 2,300 baht per person. Whale watching involves a long day, with lunch and drinks provided on the boat. It can get hot so the tours are best suited for children ages 5 and up. Prepare hats, sunblock, snacks, and motion sickness medication.
“Walking in a winter wonderland”
Following the first instalment of the eco-friendly solar cell system and the success of the Jurassic Boilie range, we decided to expand our freezer capacity. Fresh bait plays an important role when it comes to fishing so we have recently constructed a 10m3 walk-in freezer. This will allow us to mass-produce and store boilies in tip-top condition prior to your arrival which will include Jurassic Classic and Fruit and Nut. These are just a few boilie products that you will be available to purchase on-site or order for our online store. Predator anglers can also look forward to a wider selection of dead baits to give you the extra edge whilst in search of specific species such as giant snakehead and Chao Phraya catfish. Come to think of it, the freezer has many uses especially for anyone who candle handle their ale!
Jurassic Monster Tackle and application
Spomb – see video 
Jurassic Monster baits 
Solid P.V.A bag – see video 
Anti-tangle sleeves 
Lead clips 
Maggot / worm clips
The Spomb is a great tool and despite being heavily utilized in Europe, it isn’t often used in Thailand despite offering plenty of advantages. When fishing at distances in excess of 50 yards, it becomes difficult to apply to a spot accurately. Catapults can lead to a wider spread and are hard work in the wind and trying to small particles is simply impossible. The Spomb allows you to bait up accurately with baits of all sizes and in this episode, we look at fishing two rods tight on a baited area. The locking mechanism means that supersaturated pellets and boilie crumb can be applied whilst keeping yourself clean operating efficiently, unlike trying to direct a catapult whilst covered in tuna oil!
We caught up with Mark after he dusted off the rods and had a look at his approach which is centred around keeping things simple. We look at the use of big hook baits which has accounted for a consistent track record of singling out big carp off the bottom.
The Jurassic Mountain Tackle range as it continues to expand with new products being added each week that are perfected suited to both your angling at home and here at Thailand. The full range is available in the tackle shop on-site and will soon go live soon on the Jurassic Online Store meaning it can be delivered to your door.
Species Overview: Giant Snakehead
The giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes) known locally as “Pla cha doe” is found in Southeast Asia, Malay Peninsula and Indonesia and they have very few predators in their natural habitat once they reach adulthood. The giant snakehead is the largest in the Channidae family and is fished for by many in backwaters and marshes. The Giant Snakehead species have been reported up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) long with weight to more than 20kg in some cases. To date, the largest weighed and confirmed specimen has been 11.2kg here at Jurassic and they are highly elusive. They can move over land in wet periods as they can crawl and breath air hence the nickname mudfish. They have a primitive lung located behind the gills which allow it to survive in stagnant water where oxygen levels are low, meaning that they can travel on land. However, they can only hunt in water as they cannot support their large body with small fins, and they require the water for propulsion in order to attack. They are one of the most aggressive predators and they are highly territorial, striking fish of all sizes, tearing away chunks of flesh in the process. This makes for exciting lure fishing among marshes and wetlands drawing lures across the surface to imitate frogs and prey fish to intimidate an attack.
The young of the Channa micropeltes are red in colour, with orange and black lateral stripes appearing after about two months. The red fry can be easily spotted near the surface appearing as a red ball and referred to as “nam dang” meaning red water. The parents stay close by to the fry ball during the early stages to ward off any potential predators. During this stage, the adults are most aggressive and will strike anything that comes near their young. As the fry mature, they lose their stripes and redness and instead develop a bluish-black and white pattern on the upper body. Colouration can vary dramatically during adulthood resulting in surreal patterns including black, white, purple, blue and olive green and can vary depending upon environmental conditions.
The species has been successfully utilized in the fish farming production of tilapia and are snakehead are deemed highly suitable for stocking in tilapia cage cultures in low numbers. The predator-prey relationship results in the snakehead being the perfect tool to control overpopulation and eat any stunted and deformed fish leading to an overall healthier and homogenized tilapia stock ready to harvest for the table.
Successful methods to target the species at Jurassic include suspending small (2-4 inch) tilapia live baits no more than 1 meter before the water’s surface with common striped snakehead found along the edge of the water hyacinths whilst giant snakehead can be targeted in open water and in or around water inlets.
A unique property in paradise
A rare opportunity to buy a unique designer multi purpose property (can be a dwelling, home stay, a restaurant or a spa). Surrounded by rice paddies, ponds and stunning panoramic mountain views. It’s a beautiful home or could easily be furnished to provide a great commercial opportunity, such as a restaurant, bar or spa.
Many of you who have frequented Jurassic will know this property as it sits majestically at the bottom of the lake and fishery on the other side of the canal, or if your friendly with Jules you might have even sat and enjoyed a few glass of vino in it! Covid has provided the business with a great opportunity to expand the project and this property will be sold off to raise finances for the new lake project.
Land Area approx 1500sqm
Living Area approx 170sqm
2 Beds
2 Baths
Large Terrace (with Seating as a restaurant can accommodate up to 30 covers)
As a spa, 2 VIP Rooms (currently bedrooms) and open plan area
Parking for several cars
Fish Pond/Moat around 3 sides of House
Asking Price 11,500,000BHT
Financing possible with a deposit in excess of 60%
For further details regarding this property please contact Jules by email at jules@wordpress-1242400-4445492.cloudwaysapps.com
Palms in paradise
Fan Palm Tree
An alternate angle of one of the fan palms that surround the lake contributing to the diverse array of flora and fauna that can be found.
Testimonial
Daniele came to see us at Jurassic with a group of friends and these are his words:
“Five Star Fishing. I stayed at the end of the year in this beautiful fishing lodge surrounded by nature. The welcome is perfect and the staff are polite and helpful. Obviously I chose this structure for sport fishing in their lake: spectacular! Even with a few bites, I had a lot of fun and still catch two Siamese carp over 25 kg in Europe we dream it! For the rest, the resort offers a very good restaurant, super breakfast, excellent draft beer. But the best is represented by the rooms, indeed, by the suites, which are real two-room apartments: double bedroom, private bathroom with shower, and living room with sofa and TV. Top! PS the structure is luxury for Thailand, but for an Italian we are definitely in the mid-range in terms of price, taking into account the service and quality”
Monthly Wildlife Watch
Dragonfly 
Tanaecia butterfly 
Great owl moth
Most species of damselflies (and dragonflies) require a minimum temperature in order to fly. Despite being ectothermic, they can control their body temperature to some extent by stretching out in the sun to warm up and by adjusting their orientation to the sun (tipping abdomen up) to control the amount of solar radiation they absorb. Because of this temperature limitation, most species of damselflies are diurnal. Damselflies are very agile fliers. Like the other Odonates, damselflies can control the frequency, amplitude and angle of their two sets of wings independently. Though the two pairs of wings typically beat out of phase with one another, damselflies can control them independently, and can even move all four wings at different frequencies. Despite this, damselflies do not fly with the speed and agility of their close relatives, the dragonflies. Damselflies can fly on average, about 10 km/h, whereas some species of dragonflies can fly at speeds greater than 70 km/h.
Several species of butterly frequent the tropical gardens that surround Jurassic as they seek out blooming flowers. I beleive this species to be known as The Common Earl, a nymphalid butterfly that is native to South and South-East Asia. The genus Tanaecia comprises of about 30 species, found variously in India, Burma, Thailand, West Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, south China, the Philippines, Java and Bali. Males of most species are dark chocolate brown with broad slightly metallic blue or green marginal bands. Females of all species are paler and are patterned with a series of white or greyish streaks, indented with dark chevrons.
Erebus macrops aka the great owl moth is a species of moth and is found in the subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. They have an exceptionally large wingspan of up to 16cm and their diet includes fruit and natural fibres from the host plant. They are a nocturnal species that can often be spotted in the morning taking rest inside the salas from the night before.
Until next month – tight lines!
Jurassic Mountain Resort & Fishing Park
43/6 Moo Baan Kokesehti Tambon Na Yang, Na Yang, Cha-am District
Phetchaburi 76120
Thailand
For all enquiries/bookings contact: enquiries@wordpress-1242400-4445492.cloudwaysapps.com
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