Hua Hin Fishing Lodge

[pharvey]

Don't suppose you have any of these b*ggers at the lodge do you Terry?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ngler.html

[Terry]

Fortunately not

I like the statement - "This fish is no tench," said Mr Wade.

We have enough predators for now - Pacu, Arapaima, Redtail Catfish, Tiger Catfish, Alligator Gar to name just some of them.

I think that these Goliath Tigerfish.........

fish-220_1743285f.jpg (32.01 KiB) Viewed 1201 times

might just be a bit too much for our average customer

[Nereus]

Part 8 of the Megafishes Project was screened on National Geographic tonight. The whole episode was shot in Thailand. An Arapaima landed from a pond in the South of Thailand was 7 feet long and weighed 200 lb!
They also reported on an Alligator Gar that was caught in the river around Authuya. Nobody knew what it was, and there is now some concern that there may be more that could have a devastating effect on native fish, as it is a predator.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/a ... s-project/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... ish_2.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... ishes.html

[Terry]

Thanks for those links Nereus - intersting stuff.

I too am very interested in trying to protect freshwater fish species - it is the 'hidden' part of my project if you like.

Ignorance and the overfishing is causing the decline and loss of some wonderful species of fish, which is why I try to secure and keep protected species when I can. Yes, the risk of damaging a specimen by fishing, IS there, but we always try to minimise this and believe that there is room to provide some sport, education and preservation all in one endevour.

Anyway - enough of the self promo

I have a view regarding the Alligator Gar. We have these at the Lodge.
Yes it is a predator and yes it is not a Thai native species and whoever released them into Thai rivers are irresponsible idiots. However, to claim that it will have a devastating effect on native fish is also in my view quite false.

Quite simply, the native Thai fish have almost all been fished to extinction by local fishermen. Sadly there has been too little control over the effects of overfishing and introducing non native predatory species, is often been used as the excuse for elimination of the native fish.

Thai native species include some of the worlds greatest freshwater predatory species - Giant Snakehead (Tomen) other snakeheads and some of the larger catfish to name but a few.

These fish can and do have devastating effects in their own right.

Also do not forget the effect of irresponsible introduction of foreign species over the years that have simply 'swamped' the local species out of their normal habitat. The main culprit here being the Pla Nin (Nile Tilapia) and it's cousin the Pla Tab Tim (Red Devil) - all of them now farmed and available in your local market - to the detriment of the Pla Cohor (Giant Siamese Carp) and other magnificent local varieties.

One of the main reasons that I introduced Arapaima, Amazon Redtail Catfish and Alligator Gar at the Lodge was to keep the ever burgeoning population of Pla Nin under control - and it works

[Terry]

I've had some calls yesterday and this morning from some of our regulars, asking whether we are open tomorrow.

Just to confirm

WE ARE CLOSED TOMORROW CHRISTMAS DAY

for private party with family, staff & friends

Back on 26th and thereafter...........

[Terry]

The following is from a closed thread - deleted before I had a chance to respond...........

'maxmont' said

'hua hin fishing lodge first time visit - brilliant

My family and I are regular vacation visitors to HH. This year some friends invited our oldest son (14) to join them for an outing to the fishing lodge, somewhere we had never been. My son had never fished before. He absolutely loved it. It was a great introduction to the activity and the whole atmosphere up at the lodge is incredibly mellow, tranquil and relaxing. What a wonderful way for anyone to pass a couple of hours on a balmy afternoon - relax in the shade of the huts, have a drink, eat nice food, talk to your mates and haul in a few fish. The pad thai was also very very good. So for anyone who has not been i would encourage you to give it a try. They have all the kit and help is on hand.'

maxmont

Many thanks for this unsolicited recommondation - appreciated - glad you enjoyed yourselves

[dozer]

The following is from a closed thread - deleted before I had a chance to respond...........

'maxmont' said

'hua hin fishing lodge first time visit - brilliant

My family and I are regular vacation visitors to HH. This year some friends invited our oldest son (14) to join them for an outing to the fishing lodge, somewhere we had never been. My son had never fished before. He absolutely loved it. It was a great introduction to the activity and the whole atmosphere up at the lodge is incredibly mellow, tranquil and relaxing. What a wonderful way for anyone to pass a couple of hours on a balmy afternoon - relax in the shade of the huts, have a drink, eat nice food, talk to your mates and haul in a few fish. The pad thai was also very very good. So for anyone who has not been i would encourage you to give it a try. They have all the kit and help is on hand.'

maxmont

Many thanks for this unsolicited recommondation - appreciated - glad you enjoyed yourselves

Hi terry
I also thought the mod was a bit quick of the mark; the post was doing absolutely no harm where it was.

[Terry]

For those of you who may be wondering about how 'Arry' our celebrity Arapaima is doing.............

well, some reckon he's now around 80 -90 kg
I need to build a special rig to weigh him - meanwhile above piccie was taken about a week ago.

There are a couple of other Arapaima at around 35 & 45 kg keeping him company

[PeteC]

Have you concluded Terry that you're getting new fish through reproduction, or would all the young fry be eaten by other species? Pete

[Terry]

As I said in a previous post Pete.......One of the main reasons that I introduced Arapaima, Amazon Redtail Catfish and Alligator Gar at the Lodge was to keep the ever burgeoning population of Pla Nin under control - and it works.

Basically the Nin, Rohu, Tapien all reproduce and keep the predators happy - in a 'balanced' kind of way.

'Arry' does not get any food supplements - i.e. he eats the breeding Nin etc and then gets a few odd bits of chicken, prawn and fish from our customers - he did try and get one of our new born pups the other week
Said pup was down at the waterside for a drink and a cooling bathe............. Fortunately 'Arry' missed.

[Terry]

My recent 'sojourn' in smelly Delhi ends tomorrow and I will be home, back at the Lodge for the forseeable future

Will get some essential maintenance done after the last successful 'season' and chill out with a bit of fishing

[PeteC]

↑ No wonder you've been in such a good mood. One question I've been wanting to ask. Saw a show about snakehead fish invading the waterways of the West. They're native to Thailand and wonder if any have worked their way into your ponds? I assume you have a constant water feed of some type such as a klong which supplies the ponds and perhaps they can get in that way. They walk also if they can't swim. Pete

EDIT: Forgot to mention, they're hated as they take over everything, but many fisherman like to catch them as they put up a tremendous fight.

[Nereus]

My recent 'sojourn' in smelly Delhi ends tomorrow and I will be home, back at the Lodge for the forseeable future

Will get some essential maintenance done after the last successful 'season' and chill out with a bit of fishing

Make sure you visit the Physio and get that head shaking attended too.

[Terry]

Sorry chaps - been a bit busy travelling etc..........now back at the Lodge

Pete

There are several snakehead varieties that are common to Thailand and we have two of them at the Lodge.

channa striata the common snakehead murrel or Pla Chon - sold in the local markets bbq'd on sticks and actually quite a meaty food source. These are predators but do not grow much above 3kg. We have plenty and I allow them to be taken and ate if caught. They are not really a problem and are well under control by the other predators. See below

choncomp.jpg (24.03 KiB) Viewed 775 times

On the other hand, channa micropeltes the giant snakehead or Pla Shado is the one you are referrring to that had invaded rivers in N. America after being carelessly released over there. These fish are KILLERS, and have a fearsome reputation - up to 30 kg or so

shadocomp.jpg (22.65 KiB) Viewed 775 times

I have recently introduced ONE of these into each pond on 'Pl Nin reduction duties' - who knows someone might catch one

Nereus

Fortunately the head stayed quite well balanced - just - and didn't develop any wobbly problems

[PeteC]

Thanks for that info Terry. I've asked around about the eating of Pla Chon and get mixed reactions. Majority though seem not to especially like it, at least over here in the East. Many years ago I used to see them twisting their way across roads and people's yards during the monsoon, but not too much these days. I believe they are air breathers as well as having gills. Some kind of small lung to allow them to survive in open air.

Have to be careful with the word 'snakehead' though as can also mean an older man with many young girlfriends. Pete