Extreme Stingray Challenge @ Bangkok [11-15 May 2008]

[stingrray]

[Photo Intensive]




I've always wanted to catch a big ray. Had went many times to Indonesia tanjong pinang but return with disappointment... Heard about thailand freshwater stingray fishing & decide to have a go. I'm very fortunate to know "belial" who share the same interest. Made a few PMs & off I went to make a booking to bangkok. My itinerary as below :
* 11 May - Fly from Singapore to Bangkok
* 12 May - Stingray Fishing
* 13 May - Stingray Fishing
* 14 May - Fishing at Bungsamran Paypond
* 15 May - Return Singapore


I took a budget Jetstar to bangkok...




My hotel is Bangkok City Inn... perhelps a 3star hotel Beside hotel abit old, the inside quite good





12May 'badboy' our guide came early. We left hotel around 8am in the morning. Half way through the journey, 'badboy' received a call. We got a solid hookup & his frens were already fighting the stingray Asked driver to speed up abit & soon we reached river bank. 'Badboy' prepared the sampan & 2anglers jumped up the sampan together with 'badboy'. We didn't paddle the sampan out, instead we 'reel' the sampan to the stingray




'Badboy' even engage his video crew for filming...



I totally exhausted after holding the rod for around 20mins. Next better player please...



Another better angler please...



Lastly, our angler from UK...











Saw the stingray already Can we land it



Whooooom.... it went out again



Local resident also came out to cheer us...



And finally after a long long brutual fight, the freshwater stingray gave up





Guide 'badboy' decide it's better not to lift the stingray out of water. We tow the ray to shore instead...






By then, many locals came to witness this magnificent event



Result from our team effort I asked 'badboy'... "In your opinion, how big is this freshwater stingray? More then 100kg?" 'Badboy' replied "Yes". I asked again "... more then 200kg?" His replied "... not sure"







The stingray had took us out for a ride. We had to 'drove' back to where we started...



Here's one of the bait we using. 2pcs 10/0 hooks with 250lbs jinkai leader...



Now it's time for the celebration...












After our simple lunch. We decide to call it a day. Due to the heavy traffic jams in bangkok, it's wise to go back early A river taxi near Bangkok City Inn...



My dinner...



My supper...



Early next day morning, went for complimentry hotel breakfast



13May, same incident occurs... there's already a hookup. We drove the van to the destination. 'Badboy' adjusting the reel's drag before passing it to us...






It's a small "himantura chaophraya"... with our heavy outfit, the stingray stands no chance



According to our guide 'badboy'... the female stingray that we landed yesterday can grow to very big. She is equip with just one big sting. Today's one is a male stingray. He's much smaller then the female and he's equip with twin barb



'Badboy' is very cautious with the sting. He need to ensure everybody's safety





To prevent injury to the stingray & at the same time to protect angler's safety, the barb was wrapped up with thick cloth.



A team effort result in nice photos... 'Badboy' estimate this ray to be approximate 30kg.



Photo session is short... time for release.








We went for breakfast after that. The local coffee... [why is it half cup when served]





Walk afew street down and we came across some delicious food. Decide to have our lunch See the various thai chilli available







After lunch, it's we went back to our 'headquarter'. Let's have a look at the setups we using... A Lemax 40-150lbs boat rod Shimano tiagra 50 reels






Lucky to have a nice shade behind. We rest under the tree patiently waiting for another take



This is the small sampan I took yesterday...



Our guide 'badboy' fren came to see 'badboy'. We went to have a peep at his lure box



Throughout the day, there's no bite. Till late night there's one more bite. We failed to hook it up



Very late liao, we decide to call it a day. After all we landed one stingray each day liao



My dinner near hotel...



Next day, we heading to bungsamran lake






We decide to share 3rods only... ticket was purchased at the entrance counter.



Mr Smith landed our 1st fish with his Shimano carp rod from UK




A chao phraya landed...



Today me never took breakfast. Ordered a packet of friedrice.



While fishing... I heard 'piak'. Someone's rod broken. Later, the mekong catfish was landed by the local thai. He lost a Genesis Oceancraft PE3-5 Dogtooth Special rod...



A huge mekong catfish...




Early I lost a chao phraya catfish. The line broke when it dash under the wooden planks. Here's my 2nd hookup. With 'badboy' guidences, I landed my 1st Chao Phraya





Another baby chao phraya by me



I so happy, went to buy everybody a round of coconut milkshake



I didn't land much fish at bungsamran but is very happy I landed my 1st chao phraya catfish. Soon it's dark & we headed back hotel. My dinner for the night.



Next day, it's time to go back Singapore. I slept till very late and missed the hotel complimentry breakfast. Decide to have some good food at the airport.



My flight to Singapore...



Here's the nice food onboard.



cheers,
stingrray
PS : Many thanks to organiser "belial" bro for making this trip happen. Many thanks to our very experience guide "Mr. Badboy" that had ensure our good 'harvest'. Many thanks for all anglers for the trip. We landed our big freshwater stingray as a team.

[fiore]

Good Catch Report brader StingRay.. U live up to ur nick!! nice beautiful pictures there uve got!!

[seahorse]

Enjoyed viewing the pics bro....very nice

[yazid]

Steady lah Bro.......Stingrray catch Stingray.........

[DaFrogman]

Well done dude,

Like I said before that is a huge ray on the 1st day.... I wonder if a Jigger 4000P would do the job... a lot lighter to hold....

Great pics, the culinary angle was most impressive....

Regards,

Saimee

[stingrray]

Originally Posted by DaFrogman

...Like I said before that is a huge ray on the 1st day.... I wonder if a Jigger 4000P would do the job... a lot lighter to hold...

Yo bro, in-my-opinion... No other reels can do the job better then a game reel with 2speed. U can use reels like tyrnos/ TLD/ Tiagra/ Penn International/ Accurate ATD. From what I see, the ray didn't peel alot of lines (perhelps we chasing it with boat bah ) but U need the low speed at times to gain inches by inches...




cheers,
stingrray

[MarkR]

Nice one David

I was unlucky first time round...armed with jiggers and ATD but no hook-up....maybe in a month or two

[stingrray]

Originally Posted by MarkR

Nice one David

I was unlucky first time round...armed with jiggers and ATD but no hook-up....maybe in a month or two

No worries bro, I'm willing to accompany U up for your revenge. Put date put time...

[stingrray]

Guys, appreciate all well-wishing & kind words. Thank you all...