Jurassic Arapaima Action

A mixed bag.
Graham has fished in Thailand for several years and prefers to utilize his angling time to target the Siamese carp. So he was keen to try the latest 600kg batch of Jurassic Classic boilies.

He has taken quite a shine to “The Bay” recently, given its access to open water with depths down to 5 meters. He is a firm believer that certain fish can be targeted in different areas of the lake and it has been interesting to compare photographs from past and present. The hard sloping marginal shelves can be easy to locate meaning that some spots out in open water can be overlooked and receive little angling pressure as a result.

Spending some time casting a bare lead to explore the contours, Graham located a harder area at around 40 yards and clipped up two rods it. The Spomb rod was then clipped to a few yards short of the same mark to allow for the arc of the leads before a mixture of boilie and pellet was applied.

The first run of the morning led to an Indian carp, followed up shortly after with a Siamese carp. The takes kept coming throughout the day with all fish failing to a single Jurassic Classic boilie hook bait which included an Asian redtail catfish and several Amazon redtails.

Graham topped up the swim with a few more Spombs and spotted an arapaima surface. Within seconds of retrieving the Spomb, the rod ripped off and he saw it surface again, only this time he was hooked into it. It just goes to show that the Jurassic Classic boilies are a desirable food source for all species which only adds to the mystery of what to expect next.

Always bring a book.
Chris has gained quite a reputation over the past couple of months and has been nicknamed as “Mr. Consistent” based upon his track record when it comes to targeting the predators, despite not taking his angling too seriously. At one point we even checked his bags to make sure he was not bringing them in with him!

He attributes his success to “finding a good book to read” which is the key to him relaxing in his chair by the rods. During his last trip, he crept into swim like a ninja whilst armed with fresh mackerel and a new book. He watched the water for any signs and cast 2 mackerel hook baits along the margins. With the traps set, it was time to get the chair level and get stuck into a book before breakfast.

Chris loves sitting by the rods listening to the sound of the bird calls and to him it is simply about being here and a fish is a bonus. His rather relaxed and discreet approach to his angling has paid dividends for him landing an arapaima or alligator gar every trip before breakfast.

An epic 2 days for James.
James has been living and working in Thailand for several years, but he only recently discovered the angling scene when he was invited to join Dave Brewster for a day trip to Jurassic. From walking through the gates to landing his first fish, his life has not been the same since. He became hooked.

The arapaima has always been in the back of his mind and a species he has been aiming towards but before that, he needed to focus upon the basics first which included casting. On several occasions, James managed to get snagged in trees, hyacinths, paths and bushes just to name a few places. Sometimes the rods would spend more than out the water than in it!

However, his enthusiasm shone through and his eagerness to learn meant that he was more than welcome at Jurassic where we pride ourselves upon accommodating anglers of all abilities. After a few pointers from the fishery team, he slowly learnt the ropes and has enjoyed several day sessions to date. With each fish in the net, it has been a pleasure to see his confidence build as time goes by.

His latest trip saw him draw Lazy Man’s where he was still haunted by the arapaima he had lost on the trip previously. He got to work chopping up pieces of mackerel mixed with chicken hearts and baited an area along the margins. Despite the strong crosswinds, both rods actually landed in the lake and he sat back in anticipation.

Time slipped by and he entered the afternoon with little to show for his efforts which is why it is called fishing not catching! But the best part of the day was yet to come…the witching hour. Only seconds remained and a screaming run ensued which descended into a battle he would never forget. James found muscles he never knew he had. He listened carefully to instructions from the gillies and at long last, his enthusiasm was rewarded just as the sun set. An arapaima was in the cage and it had been all his own doing which made the wait even more worthwhile.

If you are interested in Angling, either as an experienced fisherman or a beginner, the team at Jurassic Mountain Resort & Fishing Park would love to welcome and you. See link to their website and contact details below. https://www.jurassicfishingthailand.com/
enquiries@jurassicfishingthailand.com
Tel: +66 (0)616 312 614