Giant Freshwater Stingray Birth

First ever recorded birth

The pregnant female, estimated 170-180kg’s, was landed by the FishSiam team after a one hour battle whilst field testing a new rod.

Whilst being handled in the margins it gave birth to a live newborn measuring 30cm’s. After our previous birth encounter with the National Geographic team on the Ban Pakong earlier in the year, this is a clear sign that surprisingly healthy populations of Giant freshwater Stingray/Himantura Chaophraya are present in both rivers and successfully breeding. The birth was recorded on the 30th July.

In addition, a German client named Peter Lipah landed three GFS in one day from the Maeklong River estimated to weigh 190kg, 180kg which we believe was also pregnant and had just a stump for a tail, and a 50kg male on the 13th August from the Maeklong River at Area 51.

Peter returned to the Ban Pakong River the next day and despite horrendous conditions landed a massive 2m female estimated 180kg.

63kg Giant Siamese Carp

Separately our friend Brendan caught a massive Giant Siamese Carp two weeks ago from Bungsamlan Lake in Bangkok weighing 63kg. Another client who booked with us to fish Topcats fishery in Koh Samui caught a pending IGFA record Niger’ripsaw’ Catfish which I witnessed weighed at 36lb 1oz eclipsing the previous record of 11kg from the Amazon.

Rick Humphreys
FishSiam