Paradise Fishing Resort · Surat Thani
With 37+ species across our two lakes, our list reads like a who's who of the world's most exciting freshwater fish — from world-famous giants like the Mekong catfish and Siamese carp to rare colour forms you won't see anywhere else.
The figures below are the heaviest fish currently stocked in either lake at Paradise Fishing Resort. Live weights updated regularly.
| Species | Record at the resort | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Mekong Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) | ≈ 275 lb / 125 kg | Shark catfish |
| Siamese Carp (Catlocarpio siamensis) | 111 lb / ≈ 50 kg | Carp |
| Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) | 180 lb / ≈ 82 kg | Osteoglossidae |
| Amazon Redtail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) | 36 lb / ≈ 16 kg | Long-whiskered catfish |
| Asian Redtail Catfish (Hemibagrus wyckioides) | 28 lb / ≈ 13 kg | Bagrid catfish |
| Chao Phraya Giant Catfish (Pangasius sanitwongsei) | 30 lb / ≈ 14 kg | Shark catfish |
| Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) | 56 lb / ≈ 25 kg | Gars |
| Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) | 18 lb / ≈ 8 kg | Tarpon |
| Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) | 12 lb / ≈ 5 kg | Barramundi |
| Ripsaw Catfish (Oxydoras niger) | 14 lb / ≈ 6 kg | Thorny catfish |
| Wallago Leerii | 17 lb / ≈ 8 kg | Sheath catfish |
| Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis) | 22 lb / ≈ 10 kg | Sheath catfish |
| Chinese Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) | 18 lb / ≈ 8 kg | Carp |
| Jullien's Golden Carp | 16 lb / ≈ 7 kg | Carp |
| Salween Rita Catfish (Rita sacerdotum) | 42 lb / ≈ 19 kg | Bagrid catfish |
| Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) | 28 lb / ≈ 13 kg | Serrasalmidae |
| Pacu (Piaractus brachypomus) | 31 lb / ≈ 14 kg | Serrasalmidae |
| Giant Snakehead (Channa micropeltes) | 12 lb / ≈ 5 kg | Snakehead |
| Goliath Tigerfish (Hydrocynus goliath) | <1 lb | Alestidae |
| Giant Trevally (Caranx ignobilis) | <1 lb | Jack |
Live weight records are updated when each fish is re-weighed. We're happy for guests to witness a weighing — ask the guides.
Jump to a species:
Mekong Catfish Amazon Redtail Catfish Albino Amazon Redtail Tiger Redtail Catfish Atlantic Tarpon Barramundi Ripsaw Catfish Nile Perch Arapaima Alligator Gar Albino Alligator Gar Pacu Tambaqui Asian Redtail Catfish Asian Black Carp Siamese Carp Chao Phraya Giant Catfish Catla Carp Rohu Carp Arowana Giant Snakehead Chinese Bighead Carp Wels Catfish Wallago Leerii Piraiba Catfish Clown Featherback Tiger Shovelnose Catfish Walking Catfish Hungarian Strain Common & Mirror Carp Koi Carp Sawai Catfish Albino Sawai Giant Trevally Goliath Tigerfish Smallscale Mud Carp Amur Carp (Asian Common Carp) Tilapia Red Tilapia Salween Rita Catfish Jullien's Golden CarpThe famous Mekong catfish is our largest resident, with fish up to 275 lb (125 kg) in the lake. For anyone who has been to Thailand fishing before and done battle with these behemoths, it is a fight that you will never forget — sometimes it can take up to several hours to land one fish. A member of the shark catfish family, they are an unstoppable powerhouse that lives long in the memory of every angler lucky enough to do battle with one.
In the wild they feed mainly on plankton, as they are a filter-feeding fish. Luckily for us anglers, they are also partial to groundbait, pellet and boilies.
They like deep holes, so if you want to target them, aiming for the deepest holes around the lake will give you the best chance.
But hold onto your hats — if you hook one, you are in for the fight of your life.
Stocked to: 275 lb
Certainly one of the real lookers in the lake, the Amazon redtail is certainly not just for show. With short, muscular bodies and heads like slabs of concrete, these guys are going to make you regret every time you skipped shoulder day at the gym. They take their name from their bright red tails and dorsal fins.
A scavenger fish, they cannot resist a deadbait fish or a piece of chicken fished on the bottom or on a float. They will usually be found hanging around the margins or near the hyacinth or lotus — although you can guarantee that if you do hook one in open water, that is exactly where they will drag you to.
Stocked to: 36 lb
A very rare colour form of the fish above — the same fish, but with incredible colours. Without doubt one of the fish that will adorn anglers' mantelpieces for years to come.
Stocked to: 28 lb
This extremely rare version of the Amazon redtail has a mottled pattern on its skin resembling a jungle-dwelling cat more than you would associate with a fish. Again, anyone who lands one of these is going to be the envy of all their angling friends when this picture goes up.
Stocked to: 36 lb
Usually thought of as a fish roaming the ocean, this euryhaline fish can thrive in both salt and freshwater. Known by anglers the world over for their adrenaline-filled acrobatic displays while hooked, the biggest problem you will have is actually landing one of these silver bars. They will propel themselves at great speed through the air, violently shaking their heads and bodies in an attempt to dislodge your hook — and they are masters at it, so keep your rod low, hold on and hope.
They will usually be found cruising around the surface, so float tactics are going to be your best chance of hooking one. They are known to take both deadbaits and pellet.
Stocked to: 18 lb
More commonly referred to as a "barra" in its native Australia, these have become one of the world's most heavily famed fish due to their quick growth rates and tastiness up to a certain size. However, those of us who are lucky enough to have caught one know that if you let them get past that ideal eating size, they grow into a game fish worthy of any angler's hall of fame.
A strictly predatory fish, you will find them hanging around reed beds, lotus pads and lakeside margins. A slowly retrieved lure or a deadbait at the right time of day (first and last light) will give you the best chance of landing one.
Stocked to: 12 lb
This South American catfish is quite unlike anything else on the planet and is a fascinating species. It has a saw-like bone structure that protrudes down the side of the fish and can give you a nasty cut — always wear gloves when having your photo taken with one.
They are a scavenger fish and can be found in the deep holes around the lake or at the bottom of the many ridges that run through the lakebed. A big PVA bag filled with sinking pellet is the way to target them.
Stocked to: 14 lb
Very similar in looks to a barramundi, this large, silver, fully scaled fish has been the target of big-game fishermen in Africa for centuries. Although rarely stocked in lakes anywhere in the world, we managed to get our hands on a couple of these rarely seen beasts.
They are another of our predatory species and can be caught on lure or deadbait in the early mornings and at dusk.
Stocked to: 9 lb
Widely regarded as the number one freshwater species to catch in the world, these fish are truly wondrous. Fully covered in armoured scales all the way down its body and ending in a flourish of red around the tail, this is one species that cannot be taken lightly. Catching arapaima is not for the faint-hearted, and they can be extremely dangerous when in the net. Caution must always be taken by our guests, and our guides' instructions must be followed at all times. If they propel themselves from the net and into your face, you can almost guarantee spending some of your vacation in the emergency room.
The arapaima is an explosive predator and can be caught on dead or live baits in and around the margins or reed beds. If you are lucky, you may even get an acrobatic display during the fight, so keep your rod low to give yourself the best chance of landing what will be the trophy catch for a high percentage of freshwater fishermen.
Stocked to: 180 lb
One of very few species we currently share our planet with that have been here since the dinosaurs roamed the world. They are the perfect predator with long, slim bodies and a big paddle-like tail to help propel them through the water at great speed. They originate from North America but can be found in high numbers swimming around our main lake. Then the business end... the alligator gar gets its name from its long snout, covered in rows of razor-sharp teeth to devour its prey.
They are a very finicky eater and can sometimes move a bait several times before actually attempting to eat it. For an angler this can be frustrating, as you end up getting a lot of what appear to be dropped runs. However, for those willing to persist with it, you could end up with a photo holding a real-life prehistoric monster — and how many people do you know can say that? Fishing out near the islands or margins for these will be your best bet.
Stocked to: 56 lb
Exactly the same biologically as the rest of our gar, this fish with bright orange scales and skin and piercing red eyes is going to make you the envy of gar hunters the world over.
Stocked to: 16 lb
Found in large numbers in the Amazon river basin, this is another of our South American species that thrives in the tropical climate of our southern Thailand fishing resort. Their large, disk-like bodies don't look like they should make for a good fight, but these fish are aggressive and extremely fast.
In their natural environment they feed on fruits, nuts and seed; however, pellet and groundbait is simply irresistible to them, and a nice method ball could catch them almost anywhere in the lake. One of the most recognisable features on a pacu is its human-like teeth, and with extremely strong jaws you will need to let the guides handle the unhooking process if you value your fingers.
Stocked to: 31 lb
From the same family as the pacu, these half-golden, half-black, disk-shaped fish are another species you are going to love to have a picture with — if the pacu is the ugly sister, the tambaqui is most definitely the Cinderella.
Stocked to: 28 lb
Not to be confused in any way with the Amazon redtail, the Asian redtail is a completely different fish. With an elongated body and huge barbels it uses to sense out its prey, some might say it is a much more impressive looking fish. The only similarities to its South American namesake are the vivid red tails.
The Asian redtail is a scavenger which will dig its nest in the sides of the bank or the islands, so stay tight to the margins if you want to do battle with them. Flicking a small piece of deadbait fish in close to the margins, fished on the bottom, is the way to target them here.
Stocked to: 28 lb
Also known as the black roach, this impressive torpedo-like fish grows to incredible sizes under the right conditions and fights well above its size. They originate from East Asia and feed mainly on mussels, snails and plants. A couple of ledgered pellets on a standard hair rig is the way to go if you want to catch one here.
Stocked to: 28 lb
The largest carp species in the world — every serious carp angler has heard of and dreamed of landing a big Siamese. But don't come expecting a nice relaxing fight like you would with a European carp; these things are going to pull, push, twist and turn, and most importantly fight until it feels like you are starting to melt in the tropical heat here. And once you have netted one, you then need to try and hold it for a picture, which is a whole new challenge in itself — they are going to slap and struggle, and a slap is quite commonplace when trying to hold them.
Much like the other behemoth, the Mekong catfish, the Siamese carp is naturally a filter feeder, existing on microscopic foods like algae and phytoplankton — which makes it even more mind-boggling that they grow to such extraordinary sizes. In our lake they can be caught with method balls of groundbait and pellet on a hair, fished either on the float or the bottom.
Stocked to: 111 lb
A close relative of the Mekong catfish and our second member of the shark catfish family is the Chao Phraya catfish, also known as the giant pangasius. They are very similar in size and shape to a Mekong, bar the elongated dorsal and pectoral fins a Chao Phraya has. It also has large pads inside its mouth to grip onto its prey, as unlike the Mekong it is actually a predatory fish. Now believe me when I say that a fight off a Chao Phraya is truly unforgettable for speed, power and sheer ferocity.
We have to be careful with the number of these fish we have in the lake, as they do have a tendency to want to eat all the other fish. So if you want to catch them, a livebait tilapia or a nice piece of mackerel or chicken ledgered into a deep hole is the way to go.
Stocked to: 30 lb
Not as well known as its Southeast Asian counterparts like the Siamese, what this carp species lacks in size it certainly makes up for in looks. They originate from South Asia, and in particular India, and although thought of as more of a food fish in these parts than a sport fish, anyone who has caught one will tell you what great sport they are.
They have an upturned mouth and are unique in the carp world in that they are designed not to feed on the bottom but in mid-water to surface. This means they will almost always be caught on the float.
Stocked to: 13 lb
Another of our many carp species, and another that hails from India, this is another beautiful specimen in the carp family. They are fully scaled and often have a red tinge to them. For serious carp anglers, this is another carp species to tick off the list.
Again, this is a mid-water feeder, so will be caught almost exclusively off the float using pellet and method feed.
Stocked to: 15 lb
There are many species of arowana from all over the world; at the moment we are only stocking one type, the green arowana, which is native to Southeast Asia. This is another of our predatory species, and they can often be seen gliding along the surface looking for their next victim.
A small lure is the best way to target them, but don't be surprised if one attacks any of your other rods when you are retrieving them, as they are not shy in chasing whatever is skipping along the surface.
Stocked to: 13 lb
Probably Thailand's most famous predatory fish, the striking colours on this beautiful creature are to some the pinnacle of angling. With greens and purple adorning the flanks on either side of the fish, you could be forgiven for thinking this fish looks more like something from another planet than a predator that thrives in the muddy swamp waters around the lakes in Thailand.
They are a lie-in-wait predator and will hang around in the reeds and margins waiting for the chance to strike. Pull a lure past their face and wait for the explosive strike and deep lunging fight that follows.
Stocked to: 12 lb
The Harry Maguire of the fish world — this is yet another carp species we have in the lake, and they are named so because they have huge heads compared to their bodies. But these carp are no joke and can achieve weights of over 80 lb (36+ kg) in the right conditions. They feed non-stop, and in the wild are known to consume around 40% of their body weight in food in a single day.
As with a lot of the other carp species, the best way to catch them is a method feeder with a float and pellet underneath. They can be found out in open water feeding on plankton and staying away from predators.
Stocked to: 18 lb
Well renowned all over the European fishing scene for their sheer power and ability to swim just as fast forward as they can backwards. They are certainly not the prettiest fish in the lake, but they are a true powerhouse that can test the ability of even the most experienced of anglers.
They are a scavenger and will take almost any bait they can fit in their huge mouths, but a bit of deadbait chicken or fish on the bottom in the deep holes is the way to target them here.
Stocked to: 22 lb
The Asian cousin of the wels catfish, they look very similar. Although they don't grow to such ridiculous sizes, they are just as much fun to catch. But beware — the pads at the front of their jaws are much sharper and more pronounced than their European counterpart, and getting bitten when trying to take a photo with these slimy beasts is commonplace.
Use the same tactics as for the wels and see which one picks up your bait first.
Stocked to: 17 lb
Another trophy fish that hails from the Amazon basin, the piraiba is also one of the best looking large catfish species in the world. With explosive speed and power to match, this fish is at the top of many anglers' "one to get before I go" lists.
Currently these are only in the stock pond, as we could only source small ones — but they grow rapidly and can get to a length of over 2½ feet (76 cm) in the first year, at which point we will be moving them to the main lake. If you want a chance to catch one straight away, try floating a piece of chicken out in the middle of the stock pond.
Stocked to: <3 lb
Another fish native to Southeast Asia, this is also known as the clown knifefish. Another species that will blow you away with sheer beauty — they are absolutely stunning, if you can hold on to one long enough to get a photo. They have a very slim body for their size and are almost snake-like in their movements; add to this the thick layer of protective slime on their skin, and holding them is a real challenge. The adults have eye spots near the back of their tail to help confuse predatory fish looking for a quick meal.
They are themselves a predator, so will take dead or live bait.
Stocked to: 15 lb
So named because of their long, flat snout and tiger-like stripes down its body, this fish is a real stunner. But don't be fooled by the beauty — they pack a real punch on the fight too. Another fish to hail from South America, they have three sets of long barbels to help them detect their food.
If you want to catch one, aim close to the margins with either small pellet or a small piece of fish. Unlike some of our other species, their mouths are not that large in comparison to their body, so small baits are the way to go.
Stocked to: 18 lb
This Thai native species is more in the lake as a bait fish, and they are plentiful. They don't grow to big, but are useful for livebait — we will have these available for use as livebait on site. If you do want to catch one to add to your species list, scale down your rig to a small ledger set-up and fish a method ball and some pellet. Though in truth, they will eat everything.
Stocked to: <1 lb
Such a divisive fish for anglers. In Europe they are revered — carp fishing is a billion-pound leisure industry over there. Yet in much of the United States and Australia they are despised, and in many places it is illegal to return them to the water (in Australia they are classed as a noxious pest in several states, and in parts of the US, like Iowa, releasing them into public waterways is against the law). They are a bit of an unknown quantity in Thailand, but we have put 50 in the stock pond to see how they will handle the climate and how they will grow.
If you want to catch your first common or mirror in Thailand, float-fish a small bit of bread in the stock pond — they are currently devouring every bit of food that hits the surface.
Stocked to: <1 lb
I'm sure I don't need to write a big introduction to koi carp — they are probably the world's most famous ornamental fish. Essentially a domesticated, selectively bred form of the common carp, they have been bred for centuries in Japan, where prize specimens at auction have sold for over a million pounds. With their incredible range of colours and patterns, they are a genuinely stunning fish to see — and to catch.
Same tactics as the Hungarian carp — float-fish a small bit of bread in the stock pond.
Stocked to: <1 lb
Another one of our native species — you would be forgiven for thinking these were just small Mekongs, but they are in fact their own species. They look very similar to the Mekong with their low-set eyes, but they don't grow anywhere near as large. However, don't be fooled — these fish are strong, really strong, and will test anglers of all abilities when trying to land one.
They can be found competing for the groundbait with the majority of the carp species, so keep filling that method feeder if you want to catch one.
Stocked to: 25 lb
The same as a sawai but with bright white flanks, piercing red eyes and pink/orange colouration on the fins. Another one for the species hunters.
Stocked to: 15 lb
Yes, you have read that right — the GT. Largely thought of as a solely saltwater fish, they can also survive in freshwater. They are unmistakable, with their bright silver body and elongated dorsal fin. They are among the fastest swimming fish in the world and are voracious predators.
If you want to land one, take some light gear and a small lure to the stock pond and cast in by the reeds.
Stocked to: <1 lb
Often thought of as the scariest looking fish in the world due to their rows of razor-sharp teeth. Their numbers have steadily declined in the wild, but you have a chance to catch one here. They are currently growing on in the stock pond and are quite slow to grow, so it may well be a couple of years before we see one in the main lake.
If you want to catch one, try lure fishing the margins of the stock pond.
Stocked to: <1 lb
A lesser known species of carp, they only grow up to around 20 lb (9 kg) but put up a great fight for their size. They can be found competing for the groundbait and pellet, but scale down if you want to catch one. Another carp species to tick off for any dedicated carp angler.
Stocked to: 9 lb
Another one for the carp hunters. They don't grow as big as their European counterparts, but they are fully scaled and look beautiful in a photo if you are lucky enough to bag one.
Normal carp tactics apply.
Stocked to: 15 lb
The second most farmed fish in the world behind carp, the tilapia is often overlooked by anglers. But with its distinctive striped body and spiny dorsal fin, they can be quite the catch once they are over a certain size. They are in both the main lake and the stock pond as a bait fish, but don't be surprised to see one or two decent-sized ones come out when fishing the method feeder.
Stocked to: <5 lb
The same as a tilapia but with stunning red/orange/pink colouration to its flank and fins.
Stocked to: <5 lb
A native to Southeast Asia and a real brute of a catfish, growing in excess of 100 lb, they are immense fighters and can be found in the deepest parts of the lake. As a scavenger they will eat almost anything, but deadbait chicken is definitely a favourite.
Stocked to: 42 lb
A real prize for any carp angler and an unmistakable species, with golden scales covered with black stripes making them stand out among other carp. They also grow to very large sizes, with fish previously caught over 100 lb. We have them in both the stock pond and main lake, and they can be targeted using both float and ledger carp tactics.
Stocked to: 16 lb
Contact Paradise Fishing Resort
WhatsApp: +66 88 639 6656
Email: paradisefishingsurat@outlook.com
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