Welcome to another month of captures here in paradise at Gillhams Fishing Resorts. We would like to thank all our readers and everybody that follows us on social media – thank you for all your support. We’ve not had too much happening around the resort this month apart from going into silly season with bookings going through the roof, we’ve had no upgrades etc this month as now were getting ready for Christmas/New year then of course show season starts for us at the end of January. The shows will be mentioned with dates etc in next months newsletter.
The opening part of the newsletter is on one of the largest events in Thailand for many years. Last year Thailand’s king passed away after many months in and out of the hospital and left the Thai people lost and unsure of what to do and whats going to happen. One year of mourning and they finally laid to rest their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Below a brief run down of what happened during the Royal Cremation.
The 26th of October was a very sad day for the Thai people as this was the day they finally lade to rest there beloved King, Bhumibol Adulyadej the ninth Monarch of Thailand. Reigning from 9th June 1946 at the age of 18 years old King Bhumibol Adulyadej then stayed in power for the next 70 years until he passed away at the age of 88 years old on the 13th October 2016.
It was announced that Thailand would be in mourning for the next 12 months, King Bhumibol’s body was to be held at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. Over the next twelve months more than 12 million people paid there respects in person to the late King and left an estimated 890 million Baht in donations to the Royal charity activities. On the 26th of October 2017 King Bhumibol Adulyadej was finally lade to rest. More than 250,000 people lined the streets of Bangkok to pay their respects and also witness one of the biggest parts of Thai history. The whole event was also televised apart from the cremation its self which was held in private among family, friends and Thailand’s elite.
R.I.P King Bhumibol Adulyadej
The Siamese carp have once again been on the feed making some very happy anglers with a total of 242 Siamese being caught with 48 carp over the magical 100lb, the biggest 172lb. The arapaima have still been going well but have dropped down from last months crazy feeding frenzy with a total of 67 landed which included 55 arapaima over 100lb, nine over 200lb and four over 400lb with the biggest estimated at 420lb. Due to not having much rain around the lake has started to warm up slightly bringing the mighty Mekong catfish on the feed. This month we had 34 Mekong catfish landed with 24 over 100lb and 10 over 200lb with the biggest estimated at 230lb.
It’s that time again, so let’s get on with this month’s fishing and find out what else has been caught and which species have been landed. The anglers who visited us for the exotic fishing Thailand has to offer had some good fishing in Krabi this month with a total of 824 fish caught of 23 species, made up as follows: 67 arapaima to 420lb, six arawana to 10lb, seven alligator gar to 60lb, 173 Amazon redtail catfish to 86lb, five Amazon stingray to 65lb, four Asian stingray to 150lb, 76 Asian redtail catfish to 50lb, six barramundi to 4lb, two black shark carp to 14lb, 42 black pacu to 50lb, one Chao Phraya catfish of 55lb, three giant featherbacks to 12lb, six giant gourami to 12lb, four hovens carp to 20lb, 18 Julian’s golden carp to 46lb, 34 Mekong catfish to 230lb, nine Nile perch to 8lb, three ripsaw catfish to 55lb, three sorubim catfish to 32lb, 242 Siamese carp to 172lb, seven tilapia to 5lb and four tambaqui to 50lb, two tiger shovel nose catfish to 25lb.
Matt Jackson booked himself a day trip to Gillhams Fishing Resorts while on holiday with his girlfriend Manar. On arrival Matt was under no elusion that a day ticket angler doesn’t always have a great day but as this was all he could get he would just have to work twice as hard. Matt certainly wasn’t disappointed starting of with an arapaima estimated at 160lb followed up with a nice Siamese crap at 55lb then an alligator gar of 50lb and then finishing of with a nice Amazon redtail catfish of 45lb. Its safe to say Matt will be returning net time he’s in Thailand and maybe even try a stay a few days.
Regular UK angler Adam Griffiths made his annual trip to Gillhams again this month, every year when Adam visits he always makes the trip himself leaving his other half at home partying with friends or has her own holiday visiting family and friends in the Philippines. Adam was species hunting on this trip but was also wanting a few Siamese carp. The first couple of days were quite for Adam but he never let it phase him and he just kept at it knowing his hard work would eventually pay off. After a few day Adam had started getting a few fish and also landed his first big carp of the` trip at 120lb along with a few other species. The trip moved on and the fish tally went with it along with species, two fish that really stood out for Adam were the ripsaw catfish estimated at 30lb and the black shark carp at 14lb. The end result for Adam was 29 fish of seven species with three Siamese crap over a ton 120lb, 150lb and 170lb, both Asian and Amazon redtail cats to 60lb pacu to 25lb and arapaima to 110lb.
Northerners Mick Murray jnr and Mick Murray snr from Manchester UK made another trip over, Mick jnr has been fishing here for a few years now with his dad and was even head Machine driver a few years ago when we done the lake extension. Mick snr hasn’t been able to do a trip over for a couple of years due to health problems but he was back this time fighting fit and back to his old self, out partying most nights showing the young ones how its done. Both Micks caught some nice fish including redtails to 70lb, arapaima to 160lb, stingrays, Nile perch and both had carp over a ton with Mick jnr’s being the biggest at 135lb.
Dave Holtby and Ian Johnson both from UK finally made there trip over to Gillhams after talking about fishing here for a few years. Ian Johnson aka Curly Watts also new Mick Murray as they used to work together back in England which led to more messy nights on the town catching up. Dave had a slow start but ended up landing so great fish including Siamese carp with two over the magical 100lb with one of 120lb then beat that with 138lb and also managed to land redtails and arapaima with the biggest at 160lb. Ian done rally well with the carp and landed 12 Siamese carp with five over a ton at 100lb, 105lb, 120lb, 120lb, 144lb. Other fish for Ian included pacu, Amazon & Asian redtails and topped it all of with a nice arapaima of 120lb.
Gillhams regular Richard Wheeler came for a three week stay on a species hunt after catching many of the main target species on previous trips, accompanying Richard was first time visitor Dave Hearn. While Richard and Dave unpacked it was hard to believe they had room for any clothes with pop ups, pellets, pva bags and mesh and then enough float equipment to keep Drennan in business for the next 50 years, his local tackle shop must have loved him walking through their doors. Dave had bought a few bits with him but kept it pretty simple, he hadn’t been before so just wanted to target the usual species like Siamese carp, arapaima, Mekong catfish and redtails etc.
Richard had a slow start to his trip as he was trying different things and was also targeting different and rarer species. Things started going well though after a few days and Richard started picking up some of the weird and wonderful species. In total Richard caught 22 fish of 12 species including Nile perch, ripsaw catfish, hovens carp, gourami, tambaqui and many others.
Dave Hearn caught some cracking fish also and one species in particular was a real kick in the goolies for Richard. Richard had been fishing a certain swim and was chasing one of his most prized species, the black shark carp and ended up moving after a couple of days and trying somewhere else. True to form Dave moved in on the same swim and the following afternoon landed a cracking black shark carp of 14lb. Dave caught some other nice fish including Julian golden carp to 25lb, Amazon and Asian redtail cats, black pacu just shy of 30lb and Siamese carp with 2 over a ton with his biggest at 145lb. In total both anglers caught some great fish and have both gone home eager to return and pick up where they left off with Richard on the hunt for the black shark carp as target species number one.
Ian Johnson came in for a weeks fishing while on holiday in Thailand with his wife, Ian’s main target species was the Siamese carp due to being a very keen carp angler back in the UK. While Ian spent his days fishing his wife relaxed around the pool and had a few visits to the on site spa. Ian certainly wasn’t disappointed by landing Amazon and Asian redtail catfish, black pacu to 40lb, arapaima to 160lb and ten Siamese carp with his two biggest at 105lb & 150lb. Like so many others Ian is now back home arranging dates for his next visit out here in paradise.
Unfortunately that’s all we’ve got time for this month. We’ll see you again next month with more captures and stories of what’s going on over here in paradise. As always, we would like to apologies to anybody that we missed out of the newsletter, as we can only write about so many. For those of you planning a return or first trip, please send us your enquiry via our enquiries page or email us at Gillhamsfishingresorts@gmail.com
Tight lines from all of us at Gillhams Fishing Resorts. We hope your next fish is the one of your dreams, which it probably will be if you come to Gillhams!
