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Game Fishing

Pattaya

Pattaya is an excellent place for game fishing with the possibility of catching sailfish, marlin, Mahi mahi (dorado), tuna, and other species. The shallow island reefs are also home to many species of light-tackle gamefish including sea bass, barracuda, giant trevally, queenfish and mangrove jack. Pelagic species like black marlin and sailfish, as well as king mackerel and tiger sharks are found in blue water.

Late November is a good time to go after marlin, tuna and any number of other fighting fish, and large black marlin, up to 300kg, have been caught. Also found are yellowfin tuna (20kg), wahoo (40kg) and numerous barracuda, dorado and skipjack tuna. Tiger, hammerhead and bull sharks, plus the occasional mako, might also take the bait during day or night-fishing trips.

There are about ten reputable Thai fishing captains and a half dozen qualified professional fishing guides in Pattaya. Most will provide rods, reels, tackle, and bait but you are more than welcome to bring your own gear. The chances are that you will be able to arrange to go out any day of the week which suits you. Most boats leave around 5:00 a.m. and return at approximately 6:00 p.m, but there are also overnight fishing trips available.

Almost all of the charters are on board traditional Thai fishing boats, which are up to 18 meters in length. These not only give good fishing but also the chance to share in a bit of Thai culture. Mostly, the waters are calm enough for everyone to enjoy a day out, the Pattaya Gulf is sheltered and therefore not subject to the large swells and rough seas.

Organized by the Pattaya Sports Fishing Club, this is usually on a Sunday. Each team pays a 600 Baht entry to the club (paid 24 hours before the start) and you must enter the boat name or boat captain and the fishermen on board. Each team hires their own boat with no limit on persons or tackle on board.

The start is at 4:00am and the weigh in for trophies is at the Municipal Pier in South Pattaya. Hiring a boat can be arranged by the club and there are no shortages of off-shore boats and guides available.

Weigh in starts at 5:30pm and closes at 6 pm. The Pattaya Sports Fishing Club will award individual trophies for the biggest fish caught, by weight and the 2nd biggest fish by weight. Also a team trophy for the most fish over 1kg, by weight. Excluding the 1st and 2nd place fish, only one trophy is awarded per individual. Sharks, rays and skates etc. can only qualify for 50% of total weight.

For more information contact Frank Collins, PSC Fishing Chairman, at 038-361-167, fax 038-361-929, or e-mail psca@loxinfo.co.th. When you are in Pattaya, stop by one of the PSC hangouts - the Local Fish & Trips, J & M Bar, The Bull Ring Bar, the Wonderful Bar on Soi Yamoto, or Cafe Kronborg on Soi Diana Inn and talk fishing.

The Pattaya Sports Club is a member of IGFA (International Game Fish Association) which entitles all Pattaya Sports Club members to qualify for IGFA records. As a member of IGFA, the Pattaya Sports Club fishing section supports IGFA's policies of species preservation and environmental awareness.

Local operators are:

Km 165 Sukhumvit Highway, Bangsaray Village, A. Satthahip. Call (038) 436-757

Soi 4 Beach Road, North Pattaya. Call (038) 428-725

40/7 Moo 4 Samaesan Village, A. Satthahip. Call (038) 211-4659.

Phuket

Phuket is the sailfish capital of Asia, plus waters around Phuket contain all the prize fighters of the game fishing world! As well as being a place from which you can do a day charter, it is also the base for long range trips to the Similan Islands, Rok Nok, and the Andaman Islands.

As Phuket's game fishing industry is still in its infancy, there is an abundance of gamefish to be found in the region. Mangrove estuaries and shallow island reefs are home to numerous species of light-tackle game fish including sea bass, barracuda, giant trevally, queenfish and mangrove jack. Farther out in the deeper waters of the Andaman Sea roam a multitude of blue-water, pelagic species like black marlin and sailfish, as well as king mackerel and tiger sharks.

Techniques range from trolling with artificials, dead and live bait, trolling with the downrigger, casting poppers, jigging and spinning, to drift and bottom fishing. Fishing is good year round, from June to October, during the south west monsoon, wahoo are plentiful. From September to December, black marlin and sailfish are jumping.

You can charter a boat with friends for the day (or longer) or join a pre-organised fishing trip. Trips to nearby islands such as Racha, operate all year round while longer range trips, such as to the Similan Islands, north of Phuket, operate only during the high season (from November to March).

The islands of Racha Yai and Racha Noi offer some of the best fishing to be had on a day charter. Sailfish roam the islands and during the afternoons the action can be quite spectacular with multiple hook-ups possible.

Racha Yai
 
Without doubt, Racha Yai produces more sailfish strikes than any other - mainly because most people head straight there! The islands hold a good bait population and often sailfish can be seen with schools of small tuna attacking the balls of bait. Free jumping sailfish are so common that sometimes it's hard to know which way to look.

Live bait and belly-strips with teasers seem to be the most productive methods.  However, often king mackerel and wahoo can be a pain, biting the live baits in half. For a larger boat, the island is only an hour away which gives you more fishing time during the early evening when the fishing is at it's best.

Racha Noi

Before reaching Racha Noi there is a very large coral reef known locally as Tan Kram where, at the right lunar phase, shoals of giant trevally can be seen crashing bait schools. If you cast poppers into the shoal, often several hundred fish as big as 30 kg each can be seen.

The Drop Off

Roughly 25 miles out from Phuket lies a continental shelf.  It뭩 not a very steep drop compared to those which you find in some other areas and it holds some good fish. Black marlin hang around the shoals of tuna and can be caught using lures or live baits. Also. some nice school size yellow fin tuna of up to 15 kg can also be caught along with wahoo, dolphin fish and barracuda.

Andaman Islands

This is south-east Asia's newly discovered marlin hot spot. You can also find broadbill swordfish, sailfish and monster dogtooth tuna. The Andaman Islands are located 405 miles north-west of Phuket and consist of 329 tropical islands. After a 50 year period of virtual isolation from the outside world the Indian government has made a decision to allow limited, environmentally conscious tourism development in the islands. For those interested in fishing in one of the last pristine environments on earth, this is it.

Keen fishermen should note that the Phuket International Sport fishing Tournament is held every November and attracts competitors from all over the world.

For more information visit the following sites:

Samui

There are also opportunities for game fishing aound Samui in the Angthang National Park, Koh Phangan and Koh Mud Sum.

Chiang Mai

Did you know, the most expensive fishing rods in the world are made in Chiang Mai, which is also the home of ten trout fly companies and two of the world's foremost neoprene manufacturers?

If you are in Chiang mai and get the fishing itch, you can do some fishing at "By the Pond" only 15 minutes drive south of Chiang Mai. Drive 3 kms past the main Mahidol superhighway traffic lights after the Westin Hotel and look for "By the Pond" just after the next traffic lights on the left side of the Nong Hoi Crossroads. Transport is available and rod hire, fishing and bait are Baht 50/hour. Telephone 01 765 7267 or e-mail: bythepondcm@hotmail.com for more information.