Giant Freshwater Stingray Vs. Two Boats: Six Hour Battle

March 11, 2008

Jean-Francois Helias was cruising in a convoy of 2 wooden boats with a total of 7 people on them along the Bank Pakong River in Thailand. The men were equipped with some of the best fishing equipment around and had already caught a smaller specimen that day, which they released back into the river. Nothing however, could prepare them for the epic battle that ensued…

At 6.30pm the giant freshwater stingray took the bait. Weighing in at several hundred pounds and 10 ft squared, the stingray dragged the boats loaded with people for miles, taking them to the Nakorn Nayok River, then to the Prachinburi River, then back to the Bang Pakong River again, to be finally landed at the Nakorn Nayok River. No one knew how long this could last.

Jean Francois Helias and friend reel in Stingray

Helias said:

“We had to take over and go on with the fight. Philippe, Kik and Noi, two of my team guides, and yours truly would be taking turns, helping taming the ray by giving our best personal share of pumping.”

close up of the giant freshwater stingray

When the ray crawled along the river bed, no one could lift it, or reel in any line. It was impossible. Amazingly, everyone persevered. The boats were booked until seven in the morning the next day, so they still had lots of time and the crew thought that seeing as none of the line had snapped, there was no reason to give up for such a rare specimen.

Finally at midnight the ray was exhausted and it gave up. After a brief photo shoot, it was released back in the ocean.

ray caught

The giant freshwater stingray or Himantura chaophraya is a truly magnificent animal and quite a rare specimen. The enormous force: the power, strength and endurance and the sheer beauty is something only nature could create. Unfortunately, the rays are not often treated with respect and put back into the water, like they should. Overfishing is a serious problem. This is partly the reason why the stingray is classed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. That, as well as pollution of course.

Sources: Images and news via Fishing Adventures Thailand

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Written by Chris · Filed Under Ecology

Comments

12 Responses to “Giant Freshwater Stingray Vs. Two Boats: Six Hour Battle”

Kalvin
Posted: Mar 11th, 2008 at 5:33 pm

“Unfortunately, the rays are not often treated with respect and put back into the water, like they should.” So, keeping them hooked on a fishing line, and stressing them out for 6 hours is treating them with respect??? I don’t get it.

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Terry
Posted: Mar 11th, 2008 at 6:19 pm

This just seems cruel, to hook the animal for that long for what, to get a picture of yourself with a big fish?

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Joe
Posted: Mar 11th, 2008 at 7:19 pm

“This is partly the reason why the stingray is classed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. ”

You, sir, should be fucking fined for participating in an act that must CERTAINLY be contributing to the decline of this species. Go to hell.

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Dishes
Posted: Mar 11th, 2008 at 7:24 pm

Yeah respect the fish. Gut it! Cut it! Grill it! Eat it! Yummy!

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Fishy
Posted: Mar 11th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
5

Its a fish for gods sake. Do we really care?

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Smith
Posted: Mar 12th, 2008 at 12:47 am

Its a fish for gods sake. Do we really care?

Apparently you don’t.

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J D
Posted: Mar 12th, 2008 at 1:59 am

D00D OMG I CANT BELIEEEV U WUD DO THAT TO A FISH WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU !!

I LOVE PETA

AND U R GAY FOR DOING THAT EVERYONE KNOWS FISH HAVE SUPERIOR SENSORY AND MEMORY FUNCTION ROFL U NOOB!

seriously though, youre all idiots.

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angler
Posted: Mar 12th, 2008 at 2:09 am

Great Catch its a shame people dont understand how much fun it can be to fish for something like this. im sure the stingray was completely stressed out im sure it started therapy soon after its encounter with you. what a load of crap. You released the damn thing i cant stand people who cant just enjoy the fact that you caught something amazing and then had the respect to release it back to the wild without causing it harm.

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Aaron
Posted: Mar 12th, 2008 at 2:40 am

Nothing like finding a marvel of nature and then killing it so you can take a picture next to it.

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Leaning Left
Posted: Mar 12th, 2008 at 8:25 am

I am having a brain fart… is stingray best server skewered or fried in a lemon butter sauce? I always seem to forget…

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Derrinyc Russell
Posted: Apr 6th, 2008 at 10:25 pm

Stop killing all these sea creatures for your own good.They should be treated just the way you would want to be treated ,as the golden rule says treat others as you would want to be treated. the only reason they attack is beacause they are in self defense mode so stop acting like you don’t know better.You would not like it if you was a sea creature were a sea creature you would not like to be killed so stop killing harmless creatues they in the world for a reason you should study them and not kill them.If I am only 10 years old and know that you should know it you should know it to.Stop pushing the limit!This is from Derrinyc Russell

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