Post: #1

American TV star Jeff Corwin reels in 800 pound, 14 foot long stingray in Thailand, the biggest freshwater fish ever caught with a line and rod.

Quote:A stingray weighing nearly 800lb has become the largest freshwater fish ever caught by rod and line.

The gigantic flat fish, which was 8ft wide and 14ft long, took nearly two hours to reel in.

It was caught by American TV nature conservationist Jeff Corwin on the Mae Klong river in Thailand earlier this week.

It was so big that several men on board a small fishing boat had to take it in turns to help on the rod.

After getting the ray alongside the boat it was pulled into a specially-prepared pen where seven people lifted it out of the water so it could be properly measured.

Specialists measured its width, length and girth to calculate its weight.

The epic catch will be featured on 'Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin', which will be broadcast on ABC in the US later this year.

After the catch Mr Corwin tweeted: 'Potential world record freshwater fish, giant stingray, 14ft X 8ft! in Thailand filming for ABC's Ocean Mysteries.'

He added: 'According to National Geographic, Fishsiam and Dr Nantarika Chansue, a leading stingray expert, this is likely to be the largest freshwater fish ever caught with a rod and reel.

'The battle to bring this giant fish to the boat was epic and it took many hours and multiple guys rotating off and on the reel.

'The experience was a true highlight of the series, not only connecting with a record-sized ray but being a part of cutting edge science.'

Rick Humphries, of UK company Fishsiam, whose fishing guides helped reel in the ray, said: 'We have caught over 450 different stingrays and our estimations have been proved highly accurate on the rare occasions we have weighed this species.

'The larger specimens are always female and quite often pregnant, as was the case with this capture.

'The latest capture indicates that these stingrays are growing at a fast and healthy rate.'

It is thought the previous record was held by British angler Ian Welch, who landed a giant stingray weighing between 590lbs and 770lbs in the same river in 2009.

The Guinness Book of World Records lists the Mekong giant catfish, weighing up to 660lbs, as the 'world's largest freshwater fish'.

Check out this video of the river monster:




Some pictures for your viewing pleasure:








Top that motherfucker!

Post: #2

I thought this was another SteveMcMahon thread.

Post: #3

What did they do with it afterwards? I have nothing against catching fish or hunting animals but was there any other goal besides catching this huge animal and letting it die on a line?

Did these guys eat it at least? If not, fuck this scumbag.

Post: #4

Glancing over the thread title, my initial thought was that Jeff Corwin married a land whale.

That thing is so massive, it almost looks fake. Incredible.

Post: #5

I'm hoping the sting ray didn't die. I hate seeing amazing animals like this die just to show off.

Post: #6

How come such an enormous beast didn't snap the line or pull out the hook?

Post: #7

They got an article at the National Geographic site on this. It's a catch and release as those stingrays are endangered.

Post: #8

(03-14-2015 06:00 AM)Handsome Creepy Eel Wrote:  How come such an enormous beast didn't snap the line or pull out the hook?

They had some heavy-duty fishing line, like this (although much heavier-duty):



Some sites said they used 2 liter soda bottles for bobbers and snakefish for bait.

Here is a picture of a snakefish:

Post: #9

Eat your heart out Jeremy Wade.

Post: #10

^^^ I was thinking the same thing, haha... I used to like watching his show back when I had Sat TV.

Post: #11

Yeah usually it is catch and release for these fish. I didn't read the specifics for this one but usually people help the fish recover until it can swim on its own again. Jeff C. is an awesome wildlife expert and conservationist so I am glad to see someone like him catch this. As for what he caught it with it was probably braided fishing line because the breaking strength can be well over 100 lb, you can catch fish multiple times the weight of your lines breaking strength which is where the fishing pole comes into play. Very surprised that the hook didn't bend on such a monster though. Watch Jeremy Wades "River Monsters" and you can see what it is like to brawl with this species of fish.

Post: #12

Wade has to be just envious as hell right now. Like the above poster mentioned, he had a good fight with a large one on one of his episodes. It wasn't this large though. This one is ridiculously huge.

Post: #13

I share Bill Burrs fear of open water. Things that big or bigger lurk underneath and when you consider even a 20lb fish can drown you with ease its a sobering thought.

That said I hate it when they catch and kill fish like this. Whales, sharks, large fish. Such a shame.

Post: #14

(03-14-2015 03:26 AM)El Chinito loco Wrote:  What did they do with it afterwards? I have nothing against catching fish or hunting animals but was there any other goal besides catching this huge animal and letting it die on a line?

Did these guys eat it at least? If not, fuck this scumbag.

They implanted a tracking device in it and plus it's pregnant so most likely they released it back into the river.