Thailand Fish Species
Giant Snakehead and Jungle Perch are the 2 main wild sport fish species available in lakes and reservoirs of northern Thailand. These are truly wild native fish species – not pond-reared exotic fish that are hand-fed daily to make them easy to catch.
Thai Mahseer, Burmese Trout and catfish are present in varying numbers in the rivers of northwestern Thailand, especially along the Myanmar border regions.
Giant Snakehead (Channa micropeltes)
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The Giant Snakehead, Channa micropeltes, is the largest in the family Channidae, capable of growing to over 1m in length (3 feet) and a weight of over 20kg (40 pounds). It is widely distributed in the freshwater reservois of South East Asia and some regions of India. Other names include red snakehead, redline snakehead, Malabar snakehead, and Ikan toman (where ikan is Indonesian for fish). The common Thai name is Pla Shado.
The Giant Snakehead is a savage predator, and the Asian equivalent to a pike or muskellunge. Growing to 10 kgs locally, they are aggressive fish that will take lures or flies with spectacular ferocity! Snakehead are faster than a salmon and as powerful as any fish species on earth. |
They have the jaw power of a shark and are as wary as a Brown trout. The wariness of a Giant Snakehead makes it one of the world’s greatest sport fish. Most Snakeheads average between two and four kilograms, but the thought of hooking one of the monsters is what brings the fishing addict back time and again. Catching a trophy size Giant Snakehead is a memorable achievement and similar to catching a 15 kg salmon!
Jungle Perch (hampala macrolepidota )
Jungle perch are more technically known as Transverse Barb. They are common in lakes and rivers throughout Thailand. Growing to a weight of 4 kgs, they can be taken on spinning gear or fly fishing tackle. Large Jungle Perch (2 to 4 kgs) are usually solitary fish and haunt the same brushy shoreline areas as Giant Snakeheads.
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Medium and smaller size Jungle perch (.5 to 1.5 kgs) are more commonly found in open water where they hunt in packs, herding their prey into a tight mass before attacking. When attacking in numbers they can turn the water into a froth of bubbles. |
Jungle perch are a pretty fish with large, silver scales and orange fins. They attack surface lures as well as spoons and plugs. They fight hard and are fun to catch on light tackle. Fishing for Jungle perch is similar to fishing for large and small-mouth bass in North America.
Thai Mahseer (Tor tambroides)
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Thai Mahseer are found in clear, clean rivers in the mountains of northwestern Thailand. Some rivers have excellent fish stocks, with fish in excess of 15kgs.
Adults inhabit pools and runs over gravel and cobble in rivers flowing through undisturbed forests. Juveniles were most commonly collected in or near rapids. Found in small rivers and streams during the dry season. Move downstream at the onset of the rainy season, but generally avoid turbid waters. Mature individuals migrate upstream after two months and spawn in July near the mouths of small streams that the young subsequently ascend. Omnivorous, feeding on both animal and vegetable matter |
Blue Mahseer (Neolissochilus stracheyi)
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Blue Mahseer are found in clear, clean rivers in the mountains of northwestern Thailand.
Inhabits clear forested streams and rivers. Occurs in swift flowing streams. Disappears when human activities degrade aquatic habitats, as seen in other members of the genus |
Burmese Trout (Raiamas guttatus)
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Burmese Trout are present in tributaries of the Salween River.
Inhabits shady areas and muddy bottoms in deep hill streams. Adults usually collected in clear water with moderate to swift currents, juveniles in quiet pools further downstream . Found in medium to large-sized rivers, flooded fields and rapid-running mountain streams. Diet consists of insects and small fishes. |
Tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii)
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Tinfoil Barb are present in tributaries of the Salween River.
Found in rivers, streams, canals and ditches. Occurs in medium to large-sized rivers and enters flooded fields. Largely herbivorous, consuming aquatic macrophytes and submerged land plants, as well as filamentous algae and occasionally insects. Also feeds on small fishes, worms and crustaceans |
Catfish – Northern Thailand (Sperata acicularis)
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Catfish grow to a very large size in some rivers, due to an abundance of food and few predators.
The 12 kg example at left clearly illustrates that – its big! But apparently, there are even bigger ones… |
