Thai Mahseer – Freshwater Fish Species in Thailand
Species: Tor tambroides.
Common names: Greater Brook Carp, Thai Mahseer. Thai Name: Pla Wien.
Distribution: South East Asia. There are reported catches from Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Java and also Borneo, and Myanmar (Burma).
Habitat: The species inhabits both clear rivers and lakes. Preferring clear well oxygenated, running water and dark environments. Mature individuals migrate upstream in the bigger rivers and spawn with the monsoon rains.
When Thai Mahseer are small they have a gold, brown color, when they reach about 1 / 2 kg, they will get a dark longitudinal stripe on the side which decreases as they grow larger. They become brown to green in body and covered with large thick scales. Powerful jaws with protrusive and very fleshy lips adapted for taking food from the bottom. Like other types of the carp family they are omnivorous eating not only algae, crustaceans, insects, frogs, and other fish and also fruit that fall from trees overhead.
Thai Mahseer are an outstanding game fish
They are one of the fiercest fighting freshwater game fish in existence. Pound for pound it has unparalleled strength and endurance. They are hard hitting and fight like tigers when hooked, using the rocks, rapids and the currents of the flowing jungle rivers, to their advantage.
Size: can grow up to more than 100 cm in length and 20 kg, + in weight. The present world record for Thai Mahseer is 12 kg.
Fishing method: Lure fishing can be highly effective, lures like Rapala wobblers, spinner like Mepps or Wibrax and also spoons with swapped for strong split rings and hooks are ideal. Plugs that imitate the local baitfish will increase your chances of a take. It is also a fish that will take flies. They will take nymphs, streamers and also dry flies. Mahseer fly fishing is a newly developed type of fly fishing in Thailand. To target the hard fighting Thai Mahseer on fly is challenging for the fly fishermen. One of the biggest challenges is not to spook this shy and reclusive predator.
Sexing: There is no visible difference between the sexes, except that the female is larger than the male.