Mekong Catfish of Natural Exotic Fishing Pond

Unlocking The Code : Mekong Catfish of Natural Exotic Fish Fishing Pond

With just 10 days to go until the end of 2014, my ambition in repeating a historical feat landing a Mekong Catfish of Fish Valley has always been my number one target for 2014. Ambition and pure determination sometimes comes to an end, I have failed in many occasion through out the year and my best chance this year was in Fish Valley back in Nov when what is believed to be a Mekong Catfish has taken my bait but I was helpless to stop it when I was on my lightest possible setup.

In other words, I look down at my opponent. Disrespect it by trying to land it on a 2-3lb rod rating and PE 0.8 mainline. With just one mighty blow, the lined snapped not once but twice. I have blown two of my best chances and after a couple more tries, the fish lived on to fight another day. The word “IF” comes to my mind after a few days. What if I used a heavier setup, bigger hooks, tougher rod, heavier line? Would I be able to land it? Maybe, but we don’t score points with the word “IF” and I need to land one this year.

Raining, bad omen? bad Sign? or is there is a silver lining after a cloudy day?

Few times I’ve expressed my dissatisfaction in GoPancingMalaysia.net and out of many team members in GPM, Mahfuz stood up and wanting to give a go at the Natural Exotic Fish Fishing Pond, Rawang. We coordinate and I’ve set myself, no matter what happened and the outcome is, I will only use ground bait and I trust Mahfuz combination of special ground bait, pallets, and essence will land at least a Tilapia.

Mahfuz is the Inaugural winner of The Bottom Line 2014 tournament held in FV. He is a very technical and scientific angler and his attention to small details will always make the slightest difference in his ability to catch fish. So I just set a date and a target which is a Mekong Catfish. The bait that we are using is Matsumoto Ground Bait and Fishing Essence. Thanks to their sponsorship of bait during TBL 2014.

Victim No 1, Amazonian Catfish on Matsumoto Ground Bait

We started our session at 2.40pm and will end at 6.40pm. Mahfuz advise me on all possible combination of rig and bait and I just follow what he says. I was on PE 6 jigging rod and paired with Daiwa Fream J 4500 with 80lb test line. My heaviest setup haha and Mahfuz supplier me with the bait and rigs. Were off to a flying start when Mahfuz landed the first catch of the day. Amazonian will defenitely take everything and proves that bait works.

As our session continues, heavy cloud was forming above Rawang and it was bound to raining soon and it did. Heavy down pours! We continue on our quest and soon a slow steady species took Mahfuz bait. It was swimming pretty face but the best thing is, its not giving that easily! Mahfuz predicted that this might the One. It took 4-5 minute to land it and towards the end, it showcase its brownish body and unmistakable eyes that we have nailed our first Mekong Catfish!

Battling the Mekong Catfish under heavy rain, at times it does feel the rod slipping away from our hand as muscling this giant to submission was a tough job

Victim No 2, Mekong Catfish on Matsumoto Ground Bait

Mahfuz had done it! What a surprised that the bait does worked. We just don’t care anymore about the rain. Our emotion exploded and happy that we land our target species of this trip. All the sudden we became the center of attraction at NEFP and nailing one Mekong was a stunning result. We continue on fishing even its raining heavily, we are all fired up and hoped to explore more of Matsumoto bait capabilities.

Moments later, it was my turn to wrestle the big Mekong catfish. Battling almost 7 minutes brings back old memories on how I landed FV Mekong Catfish with just only 8lb test line. Such an amazing power and their will to fight was strong. With heavier setup, I can now control the game and have better range of forcing the fish to submission without worrying the line might snap. Such an amazing way to end 2014, and finally landed my No 1 target on my bucket list. 🙂

Standing under the heavy rain, holding her in my arms.. enjoying the last few moment before it was safely released back into the pond

After it was released safely back into the pond, I looked back and at times I almost gave up my quest for the Mekong Catfish. With heavy rain pouring on my last possible day of catching one has indeed deter my spirit even further. I think I have reached my limit that day, I said to myself that maybe I have a better chance in Hatyai, Thailand.

However, when we reached our breaking point, I put my complete faith on the bait that it would work and out all the odds it worked. One time maybe we can call it a fluke, but two land 2 on the same day proves that we just broke the combination in luring NEFP Mekong Catfish.

As the day progresses, It was a total rout for me haha, Mahfuz enjoying all the variety species landed using Matsumoto Ground Bait and Essence. After my one and only fish, I was satisfied haha.

Victim No 4, Huge Tilapia

Victim No 5, Rohu! second time I’ve seen it landed in NEFP

Victim No 6, the usual Sultan Fish or Jelawat

Mahfuz blown me away with his final Mekong Catfish, No 3 for this trip. Speechless about the effectiveness of Matsumoto bait and how Mahfuz has jumble the right combination during his first ground bait trip to NEFP. Even the guide was impressed with the bait and he mentioned ever since he started working in NEFP, he never saw anyone uses a bait that worked on their Mekong Catfish.

I must say all credit goes to Mahfuz and thank you for this wonderful trip. We have plans to test the bait further and hopefully we can understand more about our bait combination and surely we will bring you the result :). Thank you for reading and Adios 2014 🙂