Fishing in Thailand – October 2020
October produced some Giant Siamese carp!
Welcome
October has been an interesting month as we welcomed familiar faces from all over Thailand during the wettest weeks we have experienced so far this year. Our regulars returned, joined by a few more first timers seeking out the Jurassic experience. The heavens truly opened mid month and the lake benefited from an influx of cooling rainwater as the local farmers took to the flooded fields in search of snakehead for the pot. The sudden drop in water temperature is often associated with slower fishing sessions as the fish can go off the feed. However, anglers experienced quite the opposite and were rewarded with red letter days consisting of multiple giant Siamese carp captures. The rain was relentless and the building team were up against it. The usual Thai approach to waterproofing electrical equipment with plastic bags and cable ties was deemed to be unsafe even by their standards! A few extra days with their families was well deserved after the contracts kept coming and we make the most of this quiet period to further develop Jurassic and what it has to offer. So stay tuned…
Swim selection
We welcomed a full house of anglers for a 2-day social get together shortly after the clouds cleared and people had been itching to get back to the lake. As always, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming at the draw for swim choice as anglers discussed sought after species. Out of all the different species to target here at Jurassic, the elusive 3 figure Siamese carp is one of the most desired. Peter from Bangkok was first choice and selected The Point, a swim with historic form of producing big fish and a potential dream maker. Paul decided on Mountain View, another firm favorite for the carp and a known patrol route. Graham wasn’t too preoccupied upon the carp angling and set about The Bay which allowed him to keep his options open.
Only one bite required
Peter got himself established in the swim and he already had a good idea of where to locate the harder areas if his memory served him right. A solid drop followed by a solid bag with a boilie bottom bait on the right rod whilst the left rod was tucked up the margin out the way. The predator rod picked off a few Amazon redtails but the lifeless carp rod was hard to ignore. Taking the cooler water temperatures into account, he edged the carp rod out into deeper water leading to an aborted take or a big liner… it was to hard to tell. A shimmer of sunlight broke through the clouds in the afternoon, so Peter decided to trust his instincts and get back on the original spot he was happy with. In less than an hour, all hell broke loose and the alarm screamed in terror as the water erupted and a big bow wave bolted from the bank. Peter knew that this wasn’t one he wanted to lose so he checked the clutch and got comfortable. His heart skipped a beat with each ping off the peck fin but the hook held and Yott waited patiently at the water’s edge before slipping the net beneath it. From no signs of life to being only one bite away from a dream maker day at Jurassic.
A red letter day
Paul used to be a very keen match angler in the U.K. and organised multiple matches within the forces whilst he served. Upon moving to Thailand, fishing had been put on the back burner and the rods had been swapped for a camera obtaining some awesome shots of scenery and wildlife. Having photographed a few captures at Jurassic for friends over the last 12 months, this reignited his love for fishing and the tackle started to accumulate. Being from a match background, he was in his element working a feeder in Mountain View. Sometimes he prefers to focus all his attention upon just a single rod, but it certainly did not slow him down. A known spot in the swim is straight out towards the two palm trees at short distance. He made up a mix of ground bait and got to work. A few hours in and not a knock on the rods, not even a liner, but he had seen a few fish surface further out. Adding a few yards to the cast made all the difference and the action unfolded with a balanced wafter secured in the scissors every time. He hooked into the first lump around lunchtime and was lost for words on the other side of the lens as we got the shots. A jet black chunk weighed a few years ago at 112lb. Smiling ear to ear the next few fish were a bonus, so when he lifted into something else substantial at 4pm, he was left speechless at the surging progressive power as the fight unfolded. 11 fish on a single rod ending with his 2nd 3 figure carp of the day. We can safely say he has got the bug back and has since booked up more dates!
Session salvaged at sunset
During his last few trips Graham has been experimenting out in open water at different depths to try and tempt one of the shiftier species and The Bay offers options. An area sometimes referred to as ‘no man’s land’ or ‘the Bermuda triangle’ between the 3 aerators. The first take on the predator rod fished at range led to just a glimpse of what looked like the Loch Ness monster. A long, black, and slender species emerged on the surface before he suffered a hook pull. The hook tip had bent ever so slightly suggesting it had met a hard pad or bone and the description matched that of a Wallago Leari being well over a metre long. He was gutted to say the least. Full of confidence but left with nothing to show for it. With a few fish under his belt by the afternoon, the mood had been lifted and he was feeling optimistic about the carp rod with the spot fizzing up. The alarm melted down in a solid a one-toner as he lifted into a lump. Graham recognised the feeling through the rod blank after years of angling in Thailand and eased off the clutch to absorb the lunges. Just before dusk and the session had been salvaged with another Giant Siamese carp for the album.
Other newsworthy captures
Mark – arapaima 
A. redtail – see video 
Peter – Alligator gar 
Dadthai – G. snakehead 
Dave – Asian redtail 
Phanom – Siamese carp
Mark loved the relaxing atmospheric experience during his first trip to Jurassic. Just two weeks later he headed back for another complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Mountain View was the swim of choice. A steady take saw him lift into what we all believed to be an Amazon redtail catfish but suddenly an arapaima surfaced for a quick breath and proceeded to strip 60 yards of line from the spool. The intense action certainly tested him before he landed his largest freshwater fish to date.
Peter fished opposite, on the right bank in The Bruce in what started as a slow day session. He had little to show for his efforts in the morning and he had been looking forward to a break for lunch. However, the afternoon more than made up for morning as the swim switched on. His enthusiasm to get to the rods, saw him loose his footing and the sound a screaming take was drowned out by laughter around the lake. Less than an hour later he soon silenced them landing an impressive alligator gar meaning he was not the only one that “slipped up”.
Dave came to fish for a day with his friend Dennis after first fishing the lake many years ago. He worked the waggler and a predator rod in The Big Fan leading to several Amazon redtails and an Asian redtail. He returned back to visit the tackle shop a few days later to get some bits in anticipation of his next trip near in mid November.
Tom took to The Point with the wind on his back to shoot an episode of Tackle and Bait where he was demonstrating fishing on the drop with the boilie waggler. The conditions were perfect, and he was looking forward to wetting a line after seeing swirls in the upper layers. The aim was to try and catch a pacu or Siamese carp. Although he was left puzzled and perturbed when his first and only cast led to him landing an Amazon redtail at just 2 feet deep despite seeing other species in the area. It just goes to show you that they really do eat anything from anywhere.
Phanom and Thai produced a series of Siamese carp to keep the action coming on two rods and they were interested in targeting the predators on the float on the others. Whilst Amm set up the floats, Bank set off to fulfil their order of 20 small live bait tilapia. By using small baits, they figured that they would be attractive to smaller species also and they were not wrong. A super aggressive take led to a short but highly erratic fight before an elusive giant snakehead was in the net. Fishing in such a manner should certainly be considered if you fancy your chances in taming one or a tarpon.
Fun for the kids
Feeding the sheep 
Green pastures 
Mountain backdrop
The farm was opened in 2012 and covers around 10 acres in total and follows a European farm-like style throughout with scenic meadows all set against the backdrop of the mountains. The site does not necessarily follow an educational theme but instead offers children the opportunity to get up close and personal and hand feed the sheep or bottle feed the young lambs. In addition to this there are several rides aimed at small children and a restaurant. A trip to Swiss Sheep Farm usually forms part of a trip to Camel Republic and / or Santorini Waterpark given that each attraction does not constitute a full day alone.
The Angler’s Rest Country Pub
The Angler’s Rest country pub continues to take shape and the lake view dining is certainly something special. In order to expand upon this, we have moved the access points to the sides as opposed to the front center of the restaurant. This minor alteration in conjunction with further management of the lakeside vegetation has allowed us to double the seating area that benefits from a direct lake side view.
Jurassic Monster Tackle and application
In this month’s edition we look at a specific method more at home in the European match angling scene. In the first video, Tom delved in to fishing “on the drop” and how to apply this at Jurassic in a safe manner to target species such as pacu and Siamese. In the second video Tom explored simple ways in which you can improve your accuracy and efficiency. By marking the line and fishing to a far bank marker, this allows you to hit that same spot every time. He also incorporates different tackle items into his arsenal and demonstrates just how speed clips can buy you that extra angling time whilst on holiday.
The products and videos are linked to the images above and are well worth a a look at the points covered that can be applied to your angling both at home and here in Thailand.
Species Overview: Alligator gar
The alligator gar is a euryhaline species meaning that they can live in fresh and brackish water and it is the largest species in the gar family. They are native to the Southern Unites States of America and they have been widely introduced into the sport fishing scene in Thailand. They are often referred to as living fossils due to reports tracing their records back to the Early Cretaceous period over 100 million years ago. Their long-term survival has been attributed to a few aspects. A highly vascularized swim bladder connected to the pharynx by a pneumatic duct gives them the ability to breath air in conditions of low dissolved oxygen levels. In addition to this after spawning they produce green eggs with a large yolk sack, and these are toxic to their potential predators increasing their survivability. Another feature is their ganoid scales which have serrated edges and are nearly impenetrable so much so individual scales have been used as arrow heads among tribes. In their native environment they can reach monstrous sizes of up to 3m and up to 2m in Thailand and can be easily identified by the olive green / faded appearance and torpedo shape. Unlike other gar species, the upper jaw of an alligator gar has a dual row of large, sharp teeth that are used to impale and hold prey. Alligator gar are relatively passive, seemingly sluggish solitary fish, but voracious ambush predators that are opportunistic at night. Their method of ambush is to float a few feet below the surface, and wait for unsuspecting prey to swim within reach. They lunge forward, and with a sweeping motion, grab their prey, impaling it on their double rows of sharp teeth.
Resort developments
The builders have been hard at work again this month as we enter the next stage of developments at Jurassic. Whilst we miss not having you here, this quieter period has allowed us to finally find the time to make on site improvements for you to enjoy upon your return. The existing bridge over the waterfall has been moved and positioned over the predator pool. This may come as a relief to some of the regulars who decided to take on the stepping stones after a few too many sherberts and ended up in with the arapaima and alligator gar… Safe to say they sobered up in an instant! Also another bridge has been constructed over the waterfall and the adjoining path has been amended. Both of which are now wider and a solid walkway it set to continue around the whole lake. This means that we can improve access and comfort during wet weather conditions and offer an enhanced customer service.
Stunning sunsets
Sat behind the rods in anticipation during the final few minutes as the lines twitch and big swirls keep forming over the spot. The clock is ticking, and the sun has met the with far bank signaling there is not long left. The left alarm utters a bleep then the right rod suddenly goes into meltdown taking you by surprise.
Testimonial
Malcolm and his wife Wendy joined us at Jurassic for his birthday and here is what they had to say;
“A fantastic experience, first class service and accommodation, very friendly and helpful staff and above all the fishing is superb. Congratulation Eddy and Jules do not change a thing. I arranged my trip through Martin Bowler Thai Fishing and both Martin and his Wife Jo were extremely helpful in every way both with travel arrangements and expert fishing advice. Thank you all for making this best possible 70th birthday present.”
Monthly Wildlife Watch
Giant apple snail 
Pipefish (long snout) 
Asian swamp eel
Have you ever wondered what the tight clutches of pink balls were along the edges of the lake that can be spotted in the mornings? It is an underwater snail, with yellowish round shells that can grow big as its name and lays pink eggs just above above the water level. This snail was introduced from South America to clean fish tanks and was promoted as a food for people. It was found in the wild in Thailand in 1984 and is now the most serious pest in rice and taro fields. This has resulted in an increased use of pesticides. This seems unnecessary, as many wild fish, birds, mammals, and crabs eat the snails. Since such predators are almost extinct due to cats, dogs and hunting, the snails propagate out of control. Also, in natural wetlands, this snail eradicates the native flora, and outcompetes its Thai cousin Pila polita (hoi kong), which has white eggs and darker shells.
The long spouted pipefish is a species of freshwater fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is widely distributed in Southeast Asia, and they in streams and rivers, where they feed on small crustaceans, worms and insects. They can grow to a maximum length of 41 cm, making the, the largest recorded freshwater pipefish. They can often be seem tight in the margins in shoals on the surface and resemble small alligator gar. This species is ovoviviparous, with the male carrying eggs before giving birth to live young
The Asian swamp eel or rice eel is common food source for the people of Thailand and can they are be located in ditches, ponds, streams and paddies. They are nocturnal and their diet consists of shrimp, small fish, insects, worms and frogs. The Asian swamp eel has versatile motility and is even capable of moving over dry land for short distances. This behavior is used for relocation according to resource availability. In the absence of water and food, the Asian swamp eel is able to survive long periods of drought by burrowing in moist earth. If its home becomes unsuitable, it simply crawls ashore and makes its way to a more suitable home by slithering over the land in a snake-like fashion.
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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