Arapaima Fly Fishing at AmazonBKK Bangkok Thailand

Sunset in the horizon over the skies. Nice.
Sunset in the horizon over the skies. Nice.

I don’t know about Bob, but coming from the recent twin tragedies of the Malaysian Airline flights, namely MH370 and MH17, I am a little nervous taking another MH flight into Bangkok.

Having said that, the sunset scene from the skies over Bangkok city was breathtaking and took my mind off the jitters.

Our flight landed in the early evening hours in Bangkok from Kuala Lumpur with Bob having flown in straight from Sydney.

View of a section of Bangkok city from the skies in the evening
View of a section of Bangkok city from the skies in the evening

Understandably, Bob must be really tired from all that traveling. I know I would. Our plan was to check in straight into the hotel and will leave at 0400 hrs the next morning on a 2 hours drive to our first destination, AmazonBKK pond.

In hindsight, it may have been better for us to spend one extra day in Bangkok just hanging out so that Bob could be better rested and better prepared for the two days of fly-fishing sessions for mega-sized fishes.

A short wooden bridge divides the pond and this add to the challenge as big fish will make a dash across underneath
A short wooden bridge divides the pond and this add to the challenge as big fish will make a dash across underneath
We are not the only ones fishing
We are not the only ones fishing

If you want to catch arapaima in the wild (who doesn’t?), you need to either invest in a fair bit of time and spend a bundle of cash and head to the Amazon rivers of South America which would be quite an adventure.

One of the other good alternative is to head to Thailand where you can be quite certain to land at least one arapaima. Possibly more as there are quite a few around in the many ponds across the country. At last count this particular operator claimed there are more than 150 arapaima in their pond (very believable when you look at the place) with a good number of fish exceeding the 100kg (220 pounds) mark.

Bob onto a good sized arapaima early on
Bob onto a good sized arapaima early on
Arapaima are most active here early in the day. Many can be found at the edges of the pond.
Arapaima are most active here early in the day. Many can be found at the edges of the pond.
You can often see many arapaima rolling over the surface
You can often see many arapaima rolling over the surface
Roughly 2/3 of the pond is separated by a wooden bridge and yes, the big arapaima knows how to make use of it.
Roughly 2/3 of the pond is separated by a wooden bridge and yes, the big arapaima knows how to make use of it.
Always quite a sight to watch big fish rising
Always quite a sight to watch big fish rising

This trip is a prelude to Bob’s sailfish fishing trip at Kuala Rompin, the third consecutive year Bob’s fishing with JW.

It’ll work as a way to get a little bit more familiar to the new heavy tackle that he’ll be using. Bob managed to hook a couple of arapaima and landed an impressive variety of fish species at AmazonBKK. However, landing an arapaima eluded him this time.

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Ever popular pad thai
Ever popular pad thai
I love thai food. And a good cup of ice coffee.
I love thai food. And a good cup of ice coffee.
It can be quite difficult to get a good hook-up with the alligator gar
It can be quite difficult to get a good hook-up with the alligator gar
Bob managed to land a rare hybrid amazon redtail shovelnose tiger catfish
Bob managed to land a rare hybrid amazon redtail shovelnose tiger catfish

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Oh, deer!
Oh, deer!
Things that reminds you that you're not in the city
Things that remind you that you’re not in the city
Bob with a fat amazon retail catfish
Bob with a fat amazon retail catfish
Make that a very fat catfish. These guys can eat and eat and eat.
Make that a very fat catfish. These guys can eat and eat and eat.
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Bob enjoying a good fight

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A nice giant snakehead (toman) on fly
A nice giant snakehead (toman) on fly
This arapaima is estimated to weigh between 40-50kg (88-110 pounds). Landed on a 10 weight. If you a better looking photo with your arapaima, you need to get into the water.
This arapaima is said to weigh between 40-50kg (88-110 pounds). Landed on a 10 weight. If you want a better looking photo with your arapaima, you need to get into the water. Big fish are not to be taken out of the water, it is at discretion of the pond operator and crew.
The arapaima being revived in the stretcher before release
The arapaima being revived in the stretcher before release

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Removing the fly from an arapaima
Removing the fly from an arapaima
How big are the arapaima in AmazonBKK? Just look at the size of the head.
How big are the arapaima in AmazonBKK? Just look at the size of the head.

Next stop, IT Monster Lake…

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